Honda wins from behind

Kevin Benavides (Honda), who left in 31st place this morning after breaking his gear box yesterday, was determined to get back into the race and pulled off a spectacular coup, winning the 4th stage ahead of Pela Renet (Husqvarna) and his team mate Paulo Gonçalves (Honda), who moved back to the top of the leader board. Tomorrow, for the last stage of this first round of the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship, things will be getting tense, with five riders within 2 minutes of each other in the overall standings and slugging it out for the win!

This stage victory is key for Benavides who injured his right hand less than three weeks before the Dakar. “I am really, really, really happy”, he exclaims.  “This win is the fruit of all the work I’ve put in since my crash and will give me my confidence back. It’s a new start in my career, even though, after yesterday’s penalty, I’m no longer in the running for the race.” 

In these Specials through the dunes as in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, whether they leave at 2’ or 3’ intervals, at the end of the day they all catch each other up and ride together. The one with the biggest handicap is the always the one who opens the trail as he has to slow down at every dune. 

Pela Renet, who came in second, is starting to feel more comfortable with the navigation. “Since the Dakar, I have started to enjoy navigating”, he says. “This morning I set out 5th and as always it’s better to start behind.  I caught the others up 30 km after the refuelling and opened a large part of the second section with the wind blowing. I am really happy as I can feel I’m making progress.”  

In third, Paulo Gonçalves (Honda) rode his own race and took back the top spot on the leader board with a lead of 33 seconds over Matthias Walkner (KTM). “Today I did what I could. I caught up the guys ahead of me and I’m leader now but there is still one more day to go with another 220 km to cover. I know it’s not great to start in front on the last day but I’ll do my best. Tomorrow the special will be a bit faster than the last three days, but there are lots of dunes in the middle. We shall see…”   

Fourth today and second overall, Matthias Walkner (KTM) says: “It was a nice stage but we all rode together…Tomorrow I shall just try to give me very best!”  The man from Austria was followed by Mohammed Jaffar (KTM), then Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna), who is happy about his place for the last day. Mohammed Al Balooshi (KTM) finished 7th ahead of Sam Sunderland (KTM) who can still take the prize tomorrow.  “Tactical racing isn’t my thing”, confides the man from the UK, “I prefer to be the fastest to win. But one year that cost me the title, so I try to calculate a bit more now, even though it goes against the grain. Tomorrow, just because I set off last, it won’t be a pushover. It will be tough and anything can happen. You can’t take anything for granted.”

In quad, Rafal Sonik had problems yet again and stopped on the trail after PC1 with a broken engine. Alexis Hernandez from Peru took advantage of the opportunity and won the Special ahead of another Latin American, Guatemala’s Guillioli Schippers, and Kees Koolen from The Netherlands.  Al Musallam came fourth ahead of Camelia Liparoti who has put in a fine performance from day one.  

SS2
1. Kevin Benavides (ARG) Honda CRF 450 Rally 3hr 38min 15sec
2. Pierre Alexander Renet (FRA) Husqvarna 450 Rally 3hr 40min 49sec
3. Paulo Gonçalves (PRT) Honda 450 CRF Rally 3hr 43min 49sec
4. Matthias Walkner (AUT) KTM 450 Rally Factory 3hr 46min 56sec
5. Mohammed Jaffar (ARE) KTM 450 Raly Replica 3hr 48min 29sec
6. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) Husqvarna 450 Rally  3hr 50min 00sec
7. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) KTM 450 Rally Replica 3hr 50min 27sec
8. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally Factory 3hr 52min 52sec
9. Antoine Meo (FRA) KTM 450 Rally Factory 3hr53min 30sec
 
Quads
1. Alexis Hernande Ponce (PER) Yamaha Raptor 700 R 4hr 07min 29sec
2. Rodolfo Schippers (GUA) Yamaha Raptor 700 R 4hr 12min 04sec
3. Kees Koolen (NED) Barren Racer One 690 4hr 14min 39sec
4. Fahad Al-Musallam (KUW) Yamaha Raptor 700R 4hr 17min 33sec
5. Camelia Liparoti (ITA) Yamaha Raptor 700 R  4hr 28min 04sec
6. Kamil Wisniewski (POL) Yamaha Raptor 700 R 4hr 36min 00sec
 
Overall
Bikes
1. Paulo Gonçalves (PRT) Honda 450 CRF Rally 15hr 32min 56.8sec
2. Matthias Walkner (AUT) KTM 450 Rally Factory 15hr 33min 30.6sec
3. Pierre Alexander Renet (FRA) Husqvarna 450 Rally 15hr 34min 07.3sec
4. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally Factory 15hr 34min 12.5sec
5. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) Husqvarna 450 Rally  15hr 34min 27.2sec
6. Antoine Meo (FRA) KTM 450 Rally Factory 16hr 27min 41.1sec
7. Mohammed Al-Balooshi (ARE) KTM 450 Rally Replica 16h40min 26.7sec

Quads
1. Rodolfo Schippers (GUA) Yamaha Raptor 700 R 19hr 09min 54.9sec
2. Fahad Al-Musallam (KUW) Yamaha Raptor 700R 19hr 11min 38.2sec
3. Kamil Wisniewski (POL) Yamaha Raptor 700 R 19hr 27min 08.4sec
4. Camelia Liparoti (ITA) Yamaha Raptor 700 R 20hr 09min 34.4sec
5. Maxim Antimirov (KAZ) Honda TRX 700 20hr 22min 50.4sec

FIM Communications