Paulo Gonçalves no topo da tabela após etapa 1 na Sardenha

Paulo Goncalves tops the table after first full stage of Sardinia Rally Team HRC’s Paulo Goncalves achieved a noteworthy start to the Sardinia Rally Race, after finishing the special stage with a second place finish on the day, which turns the Portuguese rider into the rally’s overall leader.

 The Sardinia Rally got off to a dream start for Team HRC with Paulo Goncalves establishing himself at the head of the leader-board. Although initially finishing in third place, penalizations favoured the Portuguese rider who was able to move up into second final position.

 As had been previously anticipated, the first full stage was a demanding affair, full of navigation, which wound its way through narrow, rocky paths that proved a constant struggle to keep the bike under control. Nevertheless, the Portuguese rider astride the Honda CRF450, setting out from sixth starting position, was able to score a commendable time, finishing just six seconds adrift of Catalan Joan Pedrero after 160 kilometres of timed special. Paulo Goncalves now heads the overall table with a four-second gap over second place Armand Monleón.

 Jacopo Cerrutti, the promising young Honda rider, took sixth final place and lies in fifth overall after the first stage. Tomorrow, the Sardinia Rally will offer up a double special stage with 100.2 and 102.2 kilometres respectively, starting out again from Pula, but this time finishing in Fordongianus.