Goiânia, Brazil – Honda completed a dominant performance at the 2026 Sertões by securing its 12th motorcycle title in the largest rally in the Americas on Sunday, August 30, in Goiânia.
The manufacturer, which holds the record for the most victories on two wheels at the event, completed a one-two finish with Brazilian rider Bruno Crivilin of Honda Racing claiming his first overall Sertões victory ahead of Portugal’s Martim Ventura of Monster Energy Honda HRC.
Both riders were among the standout performers of the 34th edition aboard their Honda CRF450RX Rally machines, but their biggest moment came during the final stage, when teamwork proved every bit as important as outright speed.
A dramatic final stage
Crivilin entered the eighth and final day with a comfortable advantage and only needed to complete the 127-kilometre special, which started in Goianésia, to secure the title.
However, his rally suddenly came under threat when he encountered a cow on the course. While trying to avoid the animal, Crivilin hit a tree and damaged his motorcycle badly enough that he was unable to continue unaided.
Martim Ventura, who was competing in the Sertões for the first time and was running immediately behind his team-mate, stopped to help. The Portuguese rider sacrificed his own chance of taking the overall victory and towed Crivilin towards the finish.
The decision proved decisive. Crivilin reached the finish and secured the title, while Ventura completed a historic Honda one-two.
Honda victories across three classes
In addition to the overall motorcycle victory, Honda secured wins in three separate categories.
Bruno Crivilin won Moto 1, while Martim Ventura took the Moto 2 category. In Moto Brasil, Alexandre Valadares “Brankim” successfully defended his title to become a two-time class champion.
Honda Racing also achieved a one-two finish in Moto Brasil, with Goiás rider Bárbara Neves finishing second in the category on her debut.
Both Valadares and Neves competed aboard the new Honda CRF300F, which made its Sertões debut in 2026 and added another chapter to Honda’s history in the category for nationally manufactured motorcycles.
Defending 2025 champion Tosha Schareina of Monster Energy Honda HRC had started the rally strongly, winning the prologue and leading the event through the third stage. Crivilin moved into the overall lead from the fourth day onwards.
Schareina’s challenge ended during the fifth special, when technical problems forced the Spanish rider to retire.
More than 4,000 kilometres across Brazil
The 2026 Sertões featured eight stages and covered more than 4,000 kilometres, including 2,611 kilometres of timed competition.
Both the start and finish were held in Goiânia, in the Brazilian state of Goiás, with the event also counting as the fifth round of the 2026 Brazilian Rally Raid Championship.
Honda Racing Rally is led by team manager Dário Júlio Lopes and is supported by Pro Honda, Honda Consórcio, Axalta, DID, Ogio, NGK, Pirelli, Alpinestars and ASW.
Bruno Crivilin
“The rally only ends when I hand in the time card here, and now the race really is over. A lot of people were saying, ‘It’s easy, it’s the final stage and you have a good advantage’, but the truth is that nothing is guaranteed until you cross the finish line.
“Fortunately, I have great team-mates. Martim helped me and brought me here. This Sertões title belongs to all of us and to Honda. Of course, everyone in the team has a share in this trophy. Without them, none of this would have been possible.”
Martim Ventura
“That was the objective from the beginning of the rally: to take Honda to victory. I came here to do my best, but the main focus was always for Honda to win.
“It was a long rally and Bruno was always one level above. He deserved the victory more than anyone. I might have been able to win myself, but when I saw him in trouble, all I thought about was helping him. That was my role.
“I learned a lot during this Sertões. I improved on the bike, discovered new techniques and developed my riding across the different types of terrain. I also learned that, in the end, things work out. For me, and I think for many people, this rally was a great lesson.”
Alexandre Valadares “Brankim”
“This year the rally was full of emotion from beginning to end. On the sixth day I had problems that left me very worried, but eventually everything worked out.
“Then, when everything seemed calm on the final stage, with 30 kilometres remaining, I found my team-mate Bruno being towed by Martim Ventura. At that moment I thought, ‘There is no way something like this can be happening!’
“But that was exactly when the team spirit became most important. The three of us came in together and managed to finish the rally. It was an emotional and unforgettable finish.”
Bárbara Neves
“I am extremely happy and fulfilled. These were intense and exhausting days, but I made it here thanks to the support of some very special people.
“I can only thank my family and friends for the welcome and for being with me during this achievement. You cannot complete an event like the Sertões alone. You need a strong team structure, but you also need the support of family and friends, because psychologically that makes a huge difference.
“If your mind is not in the right place, you cannot keep going. I knew I was not alone and that many people were behind me. That gave me the strength to reach the finish.”
2026 Brazilian Rally Raid Championship – Round 5
Sertões 2026
Unofficial results – Final classification after eight stages
Overall Motorcycles
1. Bruno Crivilin #11 – Honda CRF450RX Rally – Honda Racing – 37h10m43s
2. Martim Ventura #84 – Honda CRF450RX Rally – Monster Energy Honda HRC – 37h35m04s
3. Guilherme Bissoto #22 – 38h38m38s
13. Alexandre Valadares #29 – Honda CRF300F – Honda Racing – 44h40m57s
19. Bárbara Neves #16 – Honda CRF300F – Honda Racing – 46h30m37s
Moto 1
1. Bruno Crivilin #11 – Honda CRF450RX Rally – Honda Racing – 37h10m43s
2. Adrien Metge #10 – 45h57m29s
3. Dimas Mattos #62 – 46h55m46s
Moto 2
1. Martim Ventura #84 – Honda CRF450RX Rally – Monster Energy Honda HRC – 37h35m04s
2. Guilherme Bissoto #22 – 38h38m38s
3. Marcelo Medeiros #18 – 39h53m17s
Moto Brasil
1. Alexandre Valadares #29 – Honda CRF300F – Honda Racing – 44h40m57s
2. Bárbara Neves #16 – Honda CRF300F – Honda Racing – 46h30m37s
3. Moara Sacilotti #14 – 49h49m49s
Stage 8 results
Overall Motorcycles
1. Adrien Metge #10 – 1h43m45s
2. Guilherme Bissoto #22 – 1h47m29s
3. Marcelo Medeiros #18 – 1h52m59s
17. Alexandre Valadares #29 – Honda CRF300F – Honda Racing – 2h07m53s
25. Bárbara Neves #16 – Honda CRF300F – Honda Racing – 2h19m47s
26. Martim Ventura #84 – Honda CRF450RX Rally – Monster Energy Honda HRC – 2h19m53s
27. Bruno Crivilin #11 – Honda CRF450RX Rally – Honda Racing – 2h21m53s
Moto 1
1. Adrien Metge #10 – 1h43m45s
2. Dimas Mattos #62 – 2h17m14s
3. Bruno Crivilin #11 – Honda CRF450RX Rally – Honda Racing – 2h21m53s
Moto 2
1. Guilherme Bissoto #22 – 1h47m29s
2. João Fornazari #20 – 1h55m48s
3. Martim Ventura #84 – Honda CRF450RX Rally – Monster Energy Honda HRC – 2h19m53s
Moto Brasil
1. Alexandre Valadares #29 – Honda CRF300F – Honda Racing – 2h07m53s
2. Moara Sacilotti #14 – 2h17m16s
3. Bárbara Neves #16 – Honda CRF300F – Honda Racing – 2h19m47s
Source: Honda Brasil / Mundo Press
