The twisting tracks of the island of Sardinia will this weekend host the fourth round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship. Paulo Goncalves will be there to represent Team HRC.
Portuguese Honda stalwart Paulo Goncalves is set to be the sole participant for Team HRC as the Sardinia Rally kicks off this weekend. ‘Speedy’ arrives at the Italian event hot off the back of a win in the Desafío Ruta 40. Although the Argentinean rally results weren’t included in the world championship points system, the race was crucial, nonetheless, to gain vital experience on Dakar-style terrain in the countdown to the great 2016 odyssey. In the top-level category, Paulo finished third in the Sealine Qatar Rally and lies ninth in the competition’s general rankings and will be looking to leapfrog several places up the leader-board by the time the Sardinia Rally closes next Thursday.
The Sardinia Rally poses one of the most particular and demanding dates of the world championship calendar as riders compete – not on rally bikes – but rather enduro bikes equipped with a navigation kit. The lighter enduro machines are more manageable and easier to handle on the narrower, zigzagging routes of the island.
Proceedings get underway on Saturday 6th from the Hotel Is Molas in Pula, a town in the south of the island, with the scrutineering and technical checks before the event’s curtain-raiser takes place the same afternoon at the Capoterra motocross circuit.
Sunday sees the first stage with both the start and finish taking place in Pula. The race will wind its way from the south-eastern part of the island to the north east with the final destination at the tourist haven San Teodoro. The rally features a marathon third stage where competitors will have to camp out in a tent.
