Thrilling Ruta 40 climax: Paulo Gonçalves triumphs in Argentina

Monster Energy Honda Team’s Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves has clinched the overall victory in the Desafío Ruta 40, the fourth round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship. Ricky Brabec finished fifth.

 The final stage of the Desafío Ruta 40, from Villa Union to San Juan, which featured two hundred kilometres of special timed stage, concluded to the joy of Paulo Gonçalves and the entire Monster Energy Honda Team. The squad romped to a final triumph in the race after five days of merciless Argentine desert. The Portuguese rider posted second on the final day, after 17:06:02 in the saddle, to claim the top step of the podium in what will go down as one of the toughest ever rallies.

 Ricky Brabec finished the Desafío Ruta 40 in fifth overall position, with the American taking the fourth fastest time on the day, some five minutes behind the stage winner.

 The next race for Monster Energy Honda Team will be the Desafio Inca in September, held from 13th to 16th, which will take place in the Ica region of Peru.

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BAJA TT IDANHA-A-NOVA: NA LUTA PELO TÍTULO

João Ramos e Victor Jesus, após o período de descanso, vão regressar à competição, dias 7 e 8 de Setembro na BAJA DE IDANHA-A-NOVA, aos comandos da Toyota Hilux da equipa Toyota Caetano Motorsport.

 Nas palavras de João Ramos “Após o intervalo de férias, reentramos no Campeonato de Portugal de Todo o Terreno, onde faltam duas Bajas, a Baja TT de Idanha-a-Nova e a Baja de Portalegre. Com o balanço das pontuações realizado e dos possíveis cenários das duas ultimas Bajas, verificamos que pelo fato de deitar o pior resultado fora, estamos numa posição muito tranquila em relação aos nossos adversários. Como tal, contrariando o modo como mais gosto de encarar as provas, lutando pela vitoria, iremos simplesmente gerir e controlar, pensando apenas na luta pelo Título.”

 Sexta-Feira, dia 7 de Setembro, os concorrentes rumam a Sra. Almurtão, para cumprir uma passagem pelos 8 quilómetros que compõem o prólogo desta prova, pelas 15H. Ao final da tarde do mesmo dia, seguem pelas 17H30 para o primeiro sector selectivo de 85.44 quilómetros de extensão.

 No Sábado, a competição continua, pelas 8H20 com a segunda passagem pelo sector selectivo de 140,29 quilómetros e com uma terceira passagem de 179,90 quilómetros de extensão, pelas 14H25.

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Mário Franco (Open) e Vasco Melo (Stock) lideram Taça Yamaha

A Taça YAMAHA YXZ 1000R vai regressar às competições do Campeonato Nacional de Todo-o-Terreno, desta feita, para disputar a sua quinta jornada que decorrerá na Baja TT Idanha-a-Nova a qual se cumpre nos dias 7 e 8 de Setembro. 

As magnificas paisagens beirãs de Penamacor e Idanha-a-Nova vão ser o cenário de mais uma disputada corrida inserida nesta competição monomarca promovida pela YAMAHA Motor Portugal. Actualmente liderada por Mário Franco (classe Open) e Vasco Melo (Classe Stock), a Taça Yamaha YXZ 1000R conta com 13 equipas inscritas na classe Open e 6 na Stock.

 Quando faltam apenas cumprir três etapas para o final da temporada de 2018, a equipa da YAMAHA Motor Portugal acredita que a Baja TT Idanha-a-Nova será mais uma excelente demonstração do potencial dos modelos YAMAHA YXZ 1000R no CNTT e mantém o objectivo de registar mais um sucesso no campeonato que permita divulgar de forma ampla esta competição monomarca: “a aposta da YAMAHA no desenvolvimento deste desafio é uma aposta ganha. É com enorme satisfação que registamos a elevada adesão dos proprietários de veículos YXZ 1000R a esta competição. O intuito era precisamente criar condições especiais e acima de tudo uma pontuação independente que coloca os proprietários destes veículos em direta disputa com outros com características idênticas”, referiu Luís Pinto Figueiredo, Marketing Manager da YME-Portugal.

 A Baja TT Idanha-a-Nova, prova organizada pela Escuderia de Castelo Branco, arranca desportivamente na sexta com a realização do prólogo composto por 7,14 km cronometrados. Ainda no sexta os concorrentes vão disputar um troço de 105 quilómetros. No dia seguinte a competição encerra com a realização de uma especial de 250,40 quilómetros.

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Troféu Polaris cumpre quinta etapa em Idanha

A Baja TT Idanha-a-Nova, que se disputa nos próximos dias 7 e 8 de setembro, vai receber a quinta jornada do Troféu Polaris RZR 2018, uma etapa que se vai realizar nas magnificas pistas dos concelhos de Penamacor e Idanha-a-Nova.

 A competição destinada ao modelo RZR do construtor americano Polaris vai contar mais uma vez com uma dezena de equipas repartidas por duas classes uma destinada a máquinas com motor Turbo e outra atmosférico.

 Quando faltam cumprir três jornadas deste troféu ambas as classes prometem animados despiques pelo título. A competição destinada aos modelos Turbo, Sérgio Bandeira, vencedor da última prova disputada em Reguengos de Monsaraz, dispõe de apenas mais cinco pontos que Luís Marchante e com Helder Barreirinhas a nove. A classe sem Turbocompressor é liderada por Alexandre Freitas sendo que o segundo classificado Paulo Fernandes está a apenas um ponto. Vencedor das duas últimas corridas Alexandre Silva ocupa a 3ª posição.

 A Baja TT Idanha-a-Nova, prova organizada pela Escuderia de Castelo Branco, arranca desportivamente na sexta com a realização do prólogo composto por 7,14 km cronometrados. Ainda no sexta os concorrentes vão disputar um troço de 105 quilómetros. No dia seguinte a competição encerra com a realização de uma especial de 250,40 quilómetros.

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Injury update for Kevin Benavides and Mathias Bellino

Riders Kevin Benavides and Mathias Bellino, participants in the 2018 Desafío Ruta 40 with the Monster Energy Honda Team, were both forced to retire prematurely from the race after separate accidents.

 World championship leader Argentinean rider Kevin Benavides, was involved in an accident at kilometre 60 in the first stage of the Desafio Ruta 40, suffering a hard blow to the head. The race medical team who treated him at the nearest checkpoint advised further checks at the hospital in Belén where the rider was transported to undergo various tests. After spending twenty-four hours under observation Kevin was sent to the hospital in Salta, his home town, to continue medical examinations.

 During the second stage, whilst holding second place on the day, French rider Mathias Bellino, Monster Energy Honda Team’s wildcard entry for the Desafío Ruta 40, crashed in a rocky section near kilometre 168. The rider remained on the ground after taking a very heavy impact in the back area. Once he had been attended to by the race medical services, he was transferred to the hospital in Belén for further checks. Mathias has, however, been conscious at all times. Since then, Mathias has been moved from Belen to Buenos Aires where, after being treated at a well-known clinic in the Argentine capital, he underwent an operation on Thursday morning for a serious back injury. Mathias has, however, been conscious at all times. Out of respect for both rider and family, Monster Energy Honda Team will not offer further statement regarding his condition until a final report on the extent of the injury has been officially issued.

 Monster Energy Honda Team would like to offer our most sincere thanks to the riders who stopped on the track to help our riders and also for the great show of support which has been received.

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Positive second-to-last stage at the Ruta 40 for Paulo Gonçalves who extends the overall leadership

The fourth stage of the Desafío Ruta 40 brought with it good results for the Monster Energy Honda Team. Despite opening the track, Paulo Gonçalves minimized the handicap and managed to finish the day on the podium. Brabec was fourth on the penultimate stage.

In spite of the hindrance of having to open the field, as the Desafío Ruta 40 reached its fourth day, Paulo Gonçalves was able to maintain a swift pace high in the mountains linking Tinogasta and Villa Unión. In doing so the rider was able to keep the aspirations of his pursuing rivals firmly in check. The Portuguese rider of the Monster Energy Honda Team managed to finish the longest special of the Ruta 40 in a very healthy third position on the day, conceding a mere four minutes to the second placed adversary in the overall standings. As a consequence, Paulo continues to lead the race with just one day to go, and has an advantage of almost three and a half minutes over the nearest rival. The Portuguese rider will now endeavour to maintain the gap at the head of the leader board in tomorrow’s final stage as the race concludes in San Juan.

Ricky Brabec climbed positions in the overall rankings with a fine ride in spite of the bitterly cold conditions that were far from the Californian’s liking. Brabec finished with the fourth best time of the day and tomorrow will seek to secure the fifth spot he currently occupies in the overall standings.

Tomorrow sees the final stage, which will be battle over very varied terrain taking in mountain track, sand filled river bed and high speed off-piste. The stage includes 200 kilometres of timed special out of a total 447-kilometre stage. The start will take place in Villa Union with the rally wrapping up in San Juan.

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Paulo Gonçalves wins the third stage and takes over the Ruta 40 leadership

Another complicated day in Fiambalá where the Monster Energy Honda Team colours shone in the immensity of the Argentine desert. Stage three of the Desafío Ruta 40 saw victory for Paulo Gonçalves and third place for Ricky Brabec.

 Today’s Desafío Ruta 40 was originally scheduled to cover a total of 210.89 kilometres of special stage in the Fiambalá desert, with characteristics similar to those of the gruelling previous stage with off-piste and navigation through the dunes the order of the day. However, for security reasons, race authorities decided to reduce the mileage of the special to 141.04 km with the finish-line at the CP3 location. Competitors subsequently had to return by road to the Tinogasta bivouac.

 The fastest rider of the day was again Paulo Gonçalves, eating almost three minutes into the lead of Pablo Quintanilla, the main rival for overall victory. The Portuguese Monster Energy Honda Team rider retakes the head of the overall leader board with a 1’13” advantage over the Chilean.

It proved a good stage for Ricky Brabec. Monster Energy Honda Team’s American rider occupied third position some 5’10” adrift of his team-mate. Ricky is now sixth overall and will battle over the coming days to improve on this overall result.

Tomorrow, Thursday, sees the fourth stage, with the longest special of the race at 357.55 kilometres out of a total of 514.43. The action takes place between Tinogasta and Villa Union in the northwest of the province of La Rioja. The main characteristic of the day will be high mountain tracks at almost 4000 metres above sea level, some of which are in very poor shape. Riders will need their wits about them to avoid some of the potential hazards in the roadbook.

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Brutally tough second stage at the Desafío Ruta 40

The Desafío Ruta 40 today put the competitors through one of the hardest ever stages in its history as it crossed the Fiambalá Desert. Riders had to tackle a highly demanding 320-kilometre special stage filled with tricky navigation and challenging off-piste racing. Paulo Gonçalves, who opened the track today, lies fourth overall.

 The severity of this Ruta 40 second stage proved to be not only a physical punishment, but a mental one too. The navigation in the Fiambalá desert became increasingly more demanding, with many sections where competitors had to ride their bikes in a near perfect line, without deviating from the virtually marked route, to be able to link one point in the roadbook with the next one. With so many kilometres of off-piste and dry river beds, the stage turned out to be one of the toughest editions of the Ruta 40 ever ridden.

 The best Monster Energy Honda Team rider was Paulo Gonçalves, who as winner of yesterday’s stage, started the stage that set off from Belén. The Portuguese ace performed well on the stage and with some neat riding and navigation skills managed to minimize the handicap of having to start from the front, while leaving tracks for his adversaries to follow. By the time Paulo had arrived at Tinogasta, he had scored the fourth fastest time of the day and had conceded just seven minutes to the eventual stage winner. Goncalves now occupies this same position in the general standings, some 2’25 off the leader.

 American Ricky Brabec had a minor incident with his bike this morning at kilometre 76 of the special. Fortunately, he was able to resolve a mechanical issue, although not without dropping time. Brabec was eventually able to get back in the fray and reached the bivouac of Tinogasta with the seventh quickest time of the day.

 Unfortunately, the wildcard of the team, Frenchman Mathias Bellino suffered a heavy fall at kilometre 189 of the special and had to be taken to the hospital in Belén, The rider is currently undergoing a thorough examination to find out the extent of his injuries. The team wishes to express its sincerest gratitude to all the riders who stopped to attend to Mathias.

 Tomorrow, Wednesday, sees the third stage of Ruta 40. This will consist of a 258.78-kilometre timed special with start and finish in Tinogasta.

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Paulo Gonçalves wins the first stage and leads the Ruta 40. Kevin Benavides falls

A bittersweet first stage of the Desafío Ruta 40 for Monster Energy Honda Team. Kevin Benavides, one of the hot favourites for an overall win, was forced to retire after taking a heavy fall. Nevertheless, the winning laurels went to team-mate Paulo Gonçalves, riding the longest stage of Ruta 40.

 With the scrutineering, the prologue and the ceremonial start out of the way, the Desafío Ruta 40 headed out of Tucumán and moved into the province of Catamarca before finishing up in Belén in a tough, complicated and gruelling stage. The roadbook read 286.51 kilometres of timed special out of a total of 573.42 kilometres on the day. Riders faced a special that included several rivers, a fair amount of rocks and off-road stretches which presented some serious dangers.

 In one of these hazardous zones, at kilometre 200, Kevin Benavides came a cropper, falling and suffering concussion after a blow to the head. After the rider had battled on to CP3, medics refused to allow the local hero to continue and promptly whisked him off to the hospital in Belén to undergo tests.

 Benavides’ stable-mate at Monster Energy Honda Team, Portuguese stalwart Paulo Gonçalves, proved to be untouchable on the day. After setting off from fourth place, the rider set a blistering pace, avoiding the dust en route and crossing the finish line after 4:02:05, a feat which places Gonçalves at the top of the overall standings.

 American Ricky Brabec fared well after being lumbered with opening the track. The rider took the opportunity to continue gaining navigational experience, leading the field until he was eventually caught by Gonçalves. Nevertheless Brabec managed to post fifth place on the day.

The wild-card of the team, Mathias Bellino, got his first taste of the rally and made it through to the finish with some mistake unimportant in his first stage with the Honda CRF450 RALLY. Every kilometre of the tough slog would have served as a deep learning curve. The Frenchman arrived in Belén to post the seventh fastest time of the day.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, the race heads towards southwest, arriving in the town of Tinogasta in the province of Catamarca. The second stage will have an initial liaison section of 11.47 kilometres before the 166.81-kilometre timed special stage. After a neutralization section of some 3.7 kilometres, the day’s second special begins at 147.24 kilometres. After a final 84.61-kilometre liaison section competitors will find themselves at the bivouac in Tinogasta.

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The Desafío Ruta 40 gets underway with Monster Energy Honda Team a candidate for victory

Monster Energy Honda Team are all fired up and ready to roll in the 2018 Desafío Ruta 40, which kicks off today, Sunday, with the dispute of a curtain-raising prologue.

 After last week’s hugely successful Atacama Rally campaign, where Kevin Benavides clinched a decisive victory, this week the action hops the border into the neighbouring Argentina, home soil for Kevin Benavides, current bi-champion of the Desafío Ruta 40. The Monster Energy Honda Team rider is the clear favourite for the triumph as the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship enters its fourth round. Benavides currently shares top spot in the overall championship. The race gets underway today in San Miguel de Tucumán, before winding up five stages later in San Juan.

 Local star Kevin Benavides will line up alongside fellow squad members Paulo Gonçalves, who finished runner-up in last year’s edition of the Ruta 40 and American rider Ricky Brabec, fifth in 2017. On this occasion the two other team riders will be absent; Joan Barreda, forced out by an injury sustained a week ago in the Atacama, who was recently successfully operated on in Barcelona; likewise Chilean Nacho Cornejo misses the event. The team has, however, decided to count on the incorporation of ‘wild-card’ rider, Frenchman Mathias Bellino, who will be behind the bars of one of the Honda CRF450 RALLYs over the 2285-kilometre race.

 Yesterday the team made their first contact with the terrain, confirming that everything is all set to go and leaving the bikes ready to start the race once the mandatory technical and administrative shakedown had been completed.

 The Desafío Ruta 40 commences today, Sunday, with a 6.3-kilometre prologue that will take place around the area of El Cadillal some twenty kilometres from the Hippodrome of San Miguel de Tucumán where the race’s bivouac is situated. At 20:00 hrs (local time) there will be a ceremonial exit from the provincial government building in the Plaza de la Independencia. The first stage, between San Miguel de Tucumán and Belén will be the longest in terms of total kilometres at 573.42 kilometres, although not the longest timed special at 286.51 kilometres.

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ED RACING’S AL-DOSSARI ENTERS JORDAN BAJA AND SETS SIGHTS ON VICTORY

Saudi Arabian driver Essa Al-Dossari is one of the first international drivers to enter the exciting new Jordan Baja, an FIA candidate event for the forthcoming FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies.

The three-day off-road event for cars, motorcycles and quads will take place in the stunning Wadi Rum area on September 27-29. Al-Dossari has been out of international rallying action since crashing his ED Racing Nissan Navara on the second stage of April’s Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. But the Saudi is relishing a return to the hot seat in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan after the car’s return was put on hold in June by the cancellation of the Aseer Rally in Saudi Arabia.

 Al-Dossari said: “I sent my car to South Africa to have it prepared. They have carried out some small modifications to suit the Middle Eastern terrain better. Hopefully the performance of the car will be better. We found some things that we needed to work on after the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. 

 “I have registered to enter the Jordan Baja and my aim is to go there and try and claim the win. I think the Jordan Baja will suit my driving. The terrain is very similar to the deserts we cross in Saudi Arabia at the Ha’il Rally. I do not know yet who my main competition will be, but the aim is simple and that is to take the first position.” 

Al-Dossari will be partnered by the UAE navigator Ali Hassan Obaid.

The first event of its kind to be organised by Jordan Motorsport will be based out of the Red Sea city of Aqaba and will be fought out over 383.80 competitive kilometres through breathtaking scenery in Wadi Rum – a UNESCO World Heritage site that has featured in a number of Oscar-winning films.

Entries for the new Jordan Baja close at reduced rates on Thursday, August 30. The final cut-off for entries will be Tuesday, September 11.

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Baja TT de Idanha-a-Nova pode decidir os novos campeões nacionais

- Campeões podem ficar decididos na Baja TT de Idanha 

- Prólogo muda de figurino e localização 

- Partida de Setor Seletivo na Senhora do Loreto promete emoção redobrada 

- Parque de Assistência muda-se para a Zona Industrial de Idanha-a-Nova


 Terminada que está a habitual pausa de verão no Nacional de Todo-o-Terreno, pilotos e máquinas já se preparam para a próxima prova da temporada, a Baja TT Idanha-a-Nova.

Com a organização a cargo da Escuderia de Castelo Branco, a corrida promete emoção e pode até apurar os novos Campeões Nacionais em Autos, Motos, Quads e SSV. Com uma lista de inscritos que promete surpreender e um figurino renovado, começando logo pela nova localização do Prólogo, a Baja TT Idanha-a-Nova perspetiva-se difícil para todos os que se deslocarem à Beira Baixa. “Ao que tudo indica vamos ter uma lista de inscritos invejável, muita luta pela vitória e possivelmente apuramento de alguns Campeões Nacionais. Uma organização não pode querer mais do que isto. Estamos muito motivados e as alterações que fizemos aos traçados vão promover lutas ainda mais intensas”, começou por afirmar Sérgio Sequeira, membro da Escuderia de Castelo Branco e Diretor de Prova de Motos, Quads e SSV.

 Na Cerimónia de Apresentação da Baja TT Idanha a Nova, que decorreu esta sexta-feira, o responsável da Escuderia de Castelo Branco elencou ainda as novidades para a edição deste ano e destacou a mudança de localização do Prólogo.

  “Fizemos várias alterações, começando desde logo pela localização do Parque de Assistência que passa a estar localizado na Zona Industrial de Idanha-a-Nova. Depois mudámos a localização do Prólogo, para uma zona que promete mais emoção para o público. Há também para destacar o início de um setor seletivo na Senhora do Loreto, bem próximo da Senhora do Almurtão onde habitualmente se iniciam os setores seletivos”, destacou.

 No que toca à prova propriamente dita, no Campeonato de Portugal de Todo-o-Terreno, a luta entre Hélder Oliveira e João Ramos pode terminar com a celebração do título por parte do piloto aos comandos do Mini Paceman da CattivaSport, que chega a Idanha com três pontos de vantagem sobre Ramos. O portuense, por seu lado, tentará levar a sua Toyota Hilux ao lugar mais alto do pódio e adiar a discussão do título para a última jornada do Campeonato.

 Já nas Motos, nos Quads e nos SSV, António Maio, Arnaldo Martins e João Monteiro podem também sagrar-se campeões em Idanha-a-Nova. Os três pilotos que estão a dominar a temporada nas respetivas categorias dependem, contudo, dos resultados dos mais diretos adversários para alcançar tal façanha. A Baja TT Idanha-a-Nova está agendada para os dias 7 e 8 de Setembro e contará com um total de 317,54 km, divididos em duas etapas.

A primeira inicia-se com a passagem pelo novo prólogo com extensão de 7,14 km, ao qual se segue o primeiro setor seletivo de 105,00 km. Já a segunda etapa, conta com um setor seletivo de 250,40 km que promete desafiar as capacidades dos pilotos inscritos no evento organizado pela Escuderia de Castelo Branco.

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Final victory for Kevin Benavides in the Atacama Rally

The Atacama Rally, on Chilean soil, turned out to be hugely successful for Monster Energy Honda Team’s Argentinean rider Kevin Benavides, who clinched overall victory and the leadership of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship.

 The final day, on a 155-kilometre looping route, starting and finishing in Copiapó, was battled out over the same course that had been used in Stage One. Competitors had to have their wits about them and were faced with some challenging navigation in the dunes as well as some off-piste and dry river beds.

Kevin Benavides rounded off the Atacama Rally as he had started; proving to be the sharpest rider in the race, claiming the final stage and the overall rally victory after an intense final day. The Argentine dominated, stamping his mark of authority throughout the stage and leaving adversaries unable to keep his trail. Moreover, the victory takes Benavides and the Honda CRF450 RALLY to the head of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship leader board, where he now shares the same points as the incumbent world champion.

Benavides’ team-mates in the Monster Energy Honda Team, Paulo Gonçalves, José Ignacio Cornejo and Ricky Brabec all continued to improve day by day, today occupying fifth, sixth and seventh positions respectively in this final stage and sixth, seventh and ninth in the final rankings.

The next appointment for the Monster Energy Honda Team will be at the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina to be held at the end of next week. The race will take place from 25th to 31st August getting underway in San Miguel de Tucumán and concluding in San Juan.

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Kevin Benavides, leader of the Atacama with one stage still to go

In the penultimate stage of the Atacama Rally, Argentinean Monster Energy Honda Team rider Kevin Benavides retook the leadership in the overall standings as the rally arrives at the crunch final stage.

The 371.39-kilometre fourth stage of the Atacama Rally ran a looping route which both started and finished in Copiapó, taking in Chañaral and Caldera en route. The special saw the riders face 253.54 kilometres against the clock.

 José Ignacio Cornejo posted his best partial time in the second-to-last stage, with a fourth place, just a minute adrift of the stage winner. The Chilean showed great pace and scorched through the race, leaping three positions in the general rankings where he now holds eighth. American Ricky Brabec marked the day’s fifth fastest time, three minutes off Cornejo.

 A sixth place finish for Kevin Benavides proved enough to take back the leadership, as the Atacama Rally heads towards its final stage. Benavides had dropped precious minutes in search of an awkward waypoint located in the final stretches of the special. The Argentine does, however, sport a three minute-advantage over today’s stage winner Toby Price.

Paulo Gonçalves posted the same time as his Monster Energy Honda Team partner, meaning he takes equal sixth place and moves up one place to sixth in the overall leader board.

Tomorrow, Saturday, sees the fifth and final day of this Atacama Rally. Once again, it will take the looping form heading out from Copiapó, this time with a total of 205.54 kilometres including a 154.94-kilometre special.

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Kevin Benavides keeps the options open as the Atacama Rally hits the halfway point

After the dispute of the third stage of the Atacama Rally, featuring a 259.27-kilometre timed special, Monster Energy Honda Team rider Kevin Benavides, remains firmly in the podium zone with good prospects of an overall win.

The Atacama Rally has reached its halfway point with the dispute of the third stage. Today, despite an hour and a half delay due to the morning fog, participants finally got away and had to tackle a total of 335.17 kilometres on the looping Copiapó route, which took riders to Ojos del Salado during the 259.27-kilometre special. The terrain covered several kilometres of dunes plus faster track and dry river beds.

The riders of the Monster Energy Honda Team earned satisfactory results, with Kevin Benavides taking third place in the special leaving the Argentinean in second overall spot on the race leader board, 4’56” behind the leader, with two days still to run. Kevin again opened the track from the start to the finish of the special.

Paulo Gonçalves has improved from the previous days and finished one minute behind his team-mate, in fourth position. The sixth best time of the day was for José Ignacio Cornejo and Ricky Brabec posted ninth on the day.

Tomorrow sees the fourth stage of this Atacama Rally. After starting out in Copiapó, pilots will make a loop through Chañaral and Caldera before heading back to Copiapó. The total course will be 371.39 kilometres including 253.54 kilometres against the clock.

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Kevin Benavides claims the leadership with a second consecutive stage victory

The longest stage in the Atacama Rally, held today in Copiapó, turned out to be a great success for Kevin Benavides behind the bars of the Honda CRF450 RALLY. The Argentinean Monster Energy Honda Team rider set off this morning from first place and proved to be not only unreachable, but also managed to chalk up the day’s fastest time.

 This second stage, the longest of the Atacama Rally, with a total of 440.88 kilometres – including 375.91 against the clock – had the start of the special stage delayed due to the usual appearance of the ‘camanchaca’, a dense local fog that kept the security helicopter, which guarantees race safety, firmly grounded. Once the action got underway, it did so over 73 kilometres less than had previously been scheduled, reducing the special to a total of 303 kilometres.

 Benavides set a cracking pace on a battle ground of mostly track, but with some off-piste where he was able to really put the Honda CRF450 RALLY through its paces. By the end of the 303 kilometres, the Monster Energy Honda Team rider had opened a one minute margin over the nearest second-placed rival. As a result Benavides now lies 1’53” ahead of Pablo Quintanilla in the general rankings.

American Ricky Brabec was the second quickest of the Monster Energy Honda Team, posting fifth, 3’17” adrift of his team-mate. Paulo Gonçalves and José Ignacio Cornejo both turned out solid performances and will be looking to claw back time from their adversaries over the coming days.

Tomorrow sees the third stage of the Atacama Rally. There will be a timed special of 259.27 kilometres on a day where competitors will cover a total of 335.17 kilometres.

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Bittersweet taste after the first Atacama Rally stage: victory for Benavides as Barreda retires

Monster Energy Honda Team got to grips today with the first full stage of the Atacama Rally, grabbing a decisive win for Kevin Benavides in the dunes of Copiapó. Joan Barreda suffered a heavy fall that saw him obliged to drop out of the race.

 Yesterday’s short afternoon prologue in Tierra Amarilla, a town just fifteen kilometres from Copiapo, brought some surprises, as the top riders were at their smartest strategically, to avoid starting out from the front when the first stage of the competition got underway. Thus, Paulo Gonçalves, José Ignacio Cornejo, Joan Barreda and Kevin Benavides all chalked up less-than-their-best qualification times, which paid off in the form of optimal starting positions for today’s first stage, most posting twenty-fifth place or more. Ricky Brabec finished tenth in the prologue which meant the American was the first of the Monster Energy Honda Team riders to take the field, eventually producing a fifth overall position.

Today’s looping special, beginning and ending in Copiapó, took in a total of 266.30 kilometres against the clock. The rest was made up of 91 kilometres of liaison to form a total of 358.87 kilometres.

By the time the stage was done, the fastest of all the participants had proved to be Argentine Monster Energy Honda Team rider, Kevin Benavides. The delayed start benefited the rider who was been able to set a formidable pace, strong enough to post the day’s best time. However, with the addition of the prologue time, Kevin now lies in second spot in the overall standings.

Paulo Gonçalves experienced some navigational hiccups today which saw him drop some time before finishing eighth. Meanwhile American rider Ricky Brabec found himself opening the track during the first kilometres of the special. The Californian made it through to the flag with an error-free ride and continues to accrue valuable navigational experience. Ricky finished ninth on the day.

The young Chilean Jose Ignacio Cornejo set a solid pace but lost time due to a fall which meant that he finished the day amidst the group of his team-mates, in tenth place.

Bad luck for Joan Barreda, who started very strongly in the opening stretches of the race, but a fall at kilometre eight of the special left him in bad physical condition. The Spanish rider was able to continue until the neutralization section but at that point was forced to retire from the rally. The rider is currently under observation checks to ascertain the full extent of the injuries sustained in the fall.

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Ready to rumble in Copiapó. The Atacama Rally gets underway

The Atacama Rally, third round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, kicks off this Monday with the curtain-raiser – a short prologue stage that will determine the competitors’ starting order for the first full stage. A buoyant Monster Energy Honda Team is all set and poised to take up the action.

 After making the first contact with Chilean terrain and overcoming the mandatory administrative and technical checks, Monster Energy Honda Team is hot to trot for the Atacama Rally which gets underway tomorrow, Monday, at 17:00 hrs (local time in Chile, GMT -4).

The squad made up of Kevin Benavides (Argentina), Paulo Gonçalves (Portugal), Ricky Brabec (USA), Joan Barreda (Spain) and local rider José Ignacio Cornejo, will dispute the short 2.5-kilometre prologue in Tierra Amarilla, near Copiapó, where the opening ceremony will also take place.

The result of the prologue will be decisive in establishing the starting positions for the first full Atacama Rally stage. The top finishers will be able to choose their positions – the fastest rider being the one who gets to choose last – for the starting order of the stage held on Tuesday August 14. The full stage will run from Copiapó-Copiapó, covering 358.87 kilometres, including a total of 266.30 kilometres of timed special.

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Hungarian Baja: One-two for the MINI John Cooper Works Rally

Nani Roma wins in Hungary

Przygonski extends his FIA World Cup lead by finishing second

 The Hungarian Baja, event number eight on the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup calendar, ended with a huge success for X-raid. Joan ‚Nani‘ Roma and Alex Haro (both ESP) won the Baja with their MINI John Cooper Works Rally, followed by their team-mates Jakub ‚Kuba‘ Przygonki (POL) and Tom Colsoul (BEL) – who also raced a MINI JCW Rally – in second position. With this second place, the Pole also extended his lead in the FIA World Cup standings.

 The Baja was started on Friday with a short prologue that was won by Przygonski, with Roma coming third. The other four special stages were contested on Saturday. Roma and his MINI JCW Rally prevailed in SS3 and Przygonki in the fourth and fifth special stages. After having raced about 400 kilometres against the clock, Roma won the Baja with a 15-second lead over his team-mate. And with 258 points on his tally, Przygonski now holds a 57-point lead in the World Cup over Vladimir Vasilyev (201 points) in second position. Martin Prokop (184 points) follows in third.

 Round nine on the FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup calendar – the Baja Poland – will be held in just two weeks.

 Nani Roma “I’m really delighted with having won the event. Kuba gave us quite a hard time. He was very fast. To contest a Baja right after a rally such as the Silk Way wasn’t easy. The speed is far lower. The MINI ran fantastically. On Saturday morning, torrential rain was falling and consequently, the track was very slippery and driving was anything but easy. In the afternoon, the conditions changed completely.”

Kuba Przygonski “It was a rather demanding event with a lot of water. We had a great battle with Nani and came close to winning the event. He is extremely experienced and it was great that we were able to match his pace. The points we scored by finishing second were important but now I’m looking forward to the Baja Poland.” 

Hungarian Baja overall standings:

1. J. Roma (ESP) / A. Haro (ESP) MINI JCW Rally – 3h 48m 22s
2. J. Przygonski (POL) / T. Colsoul (BEL) MINI JCW Rally – 3h 48m 38s
3. V. Vasilyev (RUS) / K. Zhiltsov (RUS) Toyota – 3h 58m 20s
4. X. Pons (ESP) / R. San Juan (ESP) Toyota – 3h 58m 39s
5. M. Prokop (CZE) / J. Tomanek (CZE) Ford – 4h 03m 35s

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Mário Patrão vice-campeão na Taça do Mundo de Bajas

Piloto da KTM conquistou 2ª posição na Hungarian Baja 

Mário Patrão sagrou-se este fim-de-semana vice-campeão do mundo de Bajas na modalidade de Todo-o-Terreno depois de completar a sua participação na Hungarian Baja na segunda posição, imediatamente atrás de Stefan Svitko piloto eslovaco que em 2016 terminou o Dakar na 2ª posição. 

Foram semanas intensas de preparação para esta prova e o piloto apoiado pelo CRÉDITO AGRÍCOLA esteve à altura do título adquirido em Portugal de Mr. Bajas. Partiu do notável 6º lugar na Baja España Aragon com sede de alcançar mais e melhor.

 Aos comandos da sua KTM E450 EXC, Mário Patrão acrescenta agora este título mundial aos sete absolutos que tem no seu palmarés alcançados no Campeonato Nacional de Todo-o-Terreno de forma consecutiva.

  “Foi uma prova muito díspar, disputada em condições muito variadas. Para mim um enorme desafio do qual me orgulho. Cumpri as metas estabelecidas e a prova correu-me muito bem. Se o 2º lugar nesta Hungarian Baja foi conquistado a pulso, já o 2º lugar na Taça do Mundo é um prémio merecido pela nossa aposta na internacionalização. Fizemos um trabalho intenso para estar presente nesta prova e o esforço foi recompensado! Agradeço aos meus patrocinadores pelo apoio constante e pelas condições que me proporcionam. Um muito obrigado à minha equipa de assistência e a todos aqueles que de uma forma ou outra me apoiam e me ajudam”, salienta o piloto apoiado pela BAHCO.

 A Hungarian Baja iniciou-se com uma super especial de 12 quilômetros tendo no dia seguinte sido disputados mais dois troços de 220 quilómetros cada que Mário Patrão cumpriu num tempo total de 4h07m10s. Agora è tempo de fazer uma curta paragem para em setembro regressarmos ao campeonato nacional de TT.

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OVERDRIVE RACING’S VASILYEV AND PONS FINISH THIRD AND FOURTH OVERALL IN HUNGARIAN BAJA

Russian driver Vladimir Vasilyev and Spaniard Xavier ‘Xevi’ Pons finished third and fourth in the overall standings at the Veszprém-based HunGarian Baja, round round eight of the 2018 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies, on Saturday.

 The result enabled 48-year-old Vasilyev to maintain his challenge for a second FIA World Cup title, although the Toyota Hilux driver did cede a further five points to series leader Jakub Przygonski, the Pole finishing second overall behind Joan Roma in the first of two Eastern European rounds of the series in the space of a month.

 Vasilyev, who was partnered by his usual navigator Konstantin Zhiltsov, now trails the Pole by 57 points with 30 still available to the winner of each of the remaining Bajas in Poland and Portugal and 60 going to the winner of the Rally of Morocco in October.

Xavier ‘Xevi’ Pons enjoyed his second event with Overdrive Racing and reached the finish 19 seconds behind the Russian in a solid fourth position with fellow Spaniard Rodrigo San Juan.

Overdrive Racing’s CEO Jean-Marc Fortin said: “Both Vladimir and Xevi delivered solid performances to reach the finish in third and fourth. The Toyotas ran without problems, but Vladimir is still on the road to recovery from a big crash in Russia two weeks ago and Xevi is still learning about pure bumpy off-road tracks. This was a good finish for him and will give him confidence for the rest of the season.”

Pons and Vasilyev completed the opening 11.4km super special stage in fourth and sixth positions on Friday afternoon. Przygonski won the stage in a time of 6min 49sec.

Roma moved to the top of the leader board after the first of the two selective sections on Saturday morning. The Spaniard won the longer of the two parts of the competitive section to edge into a 46-second lead over Przygonski.

Vasilyev climbed to third with the fastest time on the short part of the stage and the third quickest time on the longer section. The Russian trailed the leader by 4min 24sec heading to the service point.

Pons was fourth overall after setting the fourth quickest time on both sections of the special. Pons and Vasilyev were second and fifth quickest on the repeat of the short section of the stage to maintain third and fourth overall, but the longer part was shortened to 153km and finished at PC2 because of inclement stage and weather conditions.

Roma clocked the target time of 1hr 13min 24sec to confirm the outright win over Przygonski by 16 seconds. Vasilyev’s stage time of 1hr 18min 31sec was enough to wrap up third place and Pons reached the finish in fourth overall.

Action resumes in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies with the Columna Medica Baja Poland on August 30-September 2.

2018 HunGarian Baja– results after SS5 (unofficial @16.45hrs)

1. Joan Roma (ESP)/Alex Haro (ESP) MINI John Cooper Works Rally 3hrs 48min 22sec
2. Jakub Przygonski (POL)/Tom Colsoul (BEL) MINI John Cooper Works Rally 3hrs 48min 38sec
3. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) Toyota Hilux 3hrs 58min 20sec
4. Xavier Pons (ESP)/Rodrigo San Juan (ESP) Toyota Hilux Overdrive 4hrs 3hrs 58min 39sec
5. Martin Prokop (CZE)/Jan Tománek (CZE) Ford Raptor RS Cross-Country 4hrs 03min 35sec
6. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Marek Sykora (SVK) Ford F-150 Evo 4hrs 14min 45sec

FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies – standings after round 8:

1. Jakub Przygonski (POL) 258pts
2. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS) 201pts
3. Martin Prokop (CZE) 184pts
4. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU) 60pts
5. Yasir Seaidan (SAU) 58pts, etc

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Mário Patrão na Hungria com título mundial em mira

Mário Patrão inicia hoje a sua participação na Hungarian Baja terceira e derradeira jornada pontuável para a Taça do Mundo de Bajas, competição na qual o consagrado piloto português aspira lutar por uma das primeiras posições.

 As últimas semanas têm sido extremamente metódicas no que diz respeito à preparação para esta prova, pelo que a expectativa está a um nível muito alto. O piloto apoiado pelo CRÉDITO AGRÍCOLA, na sua estreia, alcançou um notável 6º lugar na Baja España Aragon, onde se defrontou com os melhores pilotos mundiais da disciplina.

 Aos comandos da sua KTM E450 EXC, Mário Patrão que tem no seu palmarés sete títulos absolutos consecutivos alcançados em duas rodas no Campeonato Nacional de Todo-o-Terreno, vai ter pela frente uma prova onde participa pela primeira vez e que apresenta uma extensão total de seis dezenas e meio de quilómetros, dos quais quatrocentos e cinquenta serão cronometrados.

  “Vai ser seguramente uma prova dura, difícil, mas ao mesmo tempo desafiante. Sinto-me cada vez melhor do ponto de vista físico o que me dá uma enorme confiança e motivação. O trabalho árduo será compensado. Tenho ao meu dispor uma moto muito bem preparada e que apresenta excelentes argumentos para uma prova com estas características. Vou competir contra adversários muito fortes e, estando em jogo um título mundial, parto para esta Hungarian Baja disposto a lutar por ele”, revela o piloto apoiado pela BAU.

 A Hungarian Baja arranca hoje com uma super especial de 12 quilômetros. O resultado desta primeira etapa ditará a ordem de partida para a etapa a disputar amanhã com dois troços de 220 quilómetros cada.

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Monster Energy Honda Team get back to work in Chile

The Atacama Rally sees the full Monster Energy Honda Team back in action for Round Three of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship. There won’t be any beach or holidays for the riders this summer, but they can, however, look forward to plenty of sand at the races.

 Kevin Benavides, Paulo Gonçalves, Joan Barreda, Ricky Brabec and Nacho Cornejo, the five riders of the Monster Energy Honda Team, are en route to Chile this week to take part in the Atacama Rally whose points count towards the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship.

 Four months have elapsed since the Monster Energy Honda Team competed in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the opening event of the world championship. The squad’s Argentine rider made it onto the podium on that occasion, while Gonçalves finished fifth and Brabec sixth. Nacho Cornejo became the top junior with an eighth overall place in the Middle East race. Joan Barreda, after recovering from the wrist operation he had undergone in mid-February, returned to competition for the following Merzouga Rally in April, where he made off with a hard-fought victory, while Benavides added to the team’s successes with second place on the rostrum alongside his team-mate.

The Chilean race, which will have its nerve centre in the city of Copiapó, will start with the mandatory administrative and technical checks on Sunday, August 12, before the five Honda CRF450 RALLY can finally put pedal to the metal in the Atacama Desert. The action will run from Tuesday 14th August to Saturday 18th. The bivouac for the race will be located in Tierra Amarilla.

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TITLE-CHASING VASILYEV AND PONS TO REPRESENT OVERDRIVE RACING IN HUNGARIAN BAJA

Russian driver Vladimir Vasilyev and Spaniard Xavier ‘Xevi’ Pons will represent Overdrive Racing in this weekend’s HunGarian Baja, round eight of the 2018 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies.

 The 48-year-old Russian claimed victory in the 2014 FIA World Cup. Recent outright success at Spain’s Baja Aragón Teruel - on his first appearance with Overdrive Racing at the wheel of a Toyota Hilux - has lifted the G-Energy Team driver to within 52 points of the series-leading Polish driver Jakub Przygonski and 11 points in front of third-placed Czech rival Martin Prokop.

With Bajas still to run in Hungary and Portugal this season - and 30 points available to the winner of each – plus a maximum of 60 points heading to the winner of the Rally of Morocco in October, Vasilyev and navigator Konstantin Zhiltsov are quite rightly confident that they can make a late bid for a second FIA World Cup title in five seasons.

Former WRC driver Xavier ‘Xevi’ Pons joined Overdrive Racing for the first time in Spain last month and was lying in third overall at the start of the final morning before a technical issue cost him a potential podium finish. The experienced Spaniard returns to drive the second Toyota and teams up with fellow Spaniard Rodrigo San Juan de Eusebio.

Overdrive Racing has won the Hungarian event on two previous occasions. Qatar’s Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah climbed on to the top step of the podium with French navigator Matthieu Baumel in 2014 and repeated the feat last season with his Toyota Hilux. Dutchman Bernhard Ten Brinke and Belgian navigator Tom Colsoul finished second with the team in 2015.

Organised by Garzone Events, the Hungarian race is based at the baroque-style town of Veszprém, located 17km from Lake Balaton and in close proximity to the Bakony forest, a mountainous region in Transdanubia.

After technical checks and scrutineering at the nearby BudaWest airport, teams will head to the ceremonial start in Óváros Square, Veszprém, and then tackle a super special stage of 11.40km on Friday evening (August 10). This will determine the all-important starting order for the first of the two longer competitive sections.

Drivers will then tackle two runs through a selective section of 219.50km on Saturday before the ceremonial finish in Veszprém on Saturday evening.

FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies – standings after round 7:

1. Jakub Przygonski (POL) 237pts
2. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS) 185pts
3. Martin Prokop (CZE) 174pts
4. Yazeed Al-Rajhi (SAU) 60pts
5. Yasir Seaidan (SAU) 58pts
6. José Luis Pena Campo (ESP) 48pts
7. Ahmed Al-Shegawi (SAU) 45pts
8. Aron Domzala (POL) 36pts
9. Claude Fournier (FRA) 31pts
10. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah (QAT) 30pts, etc

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JORDAN MOTORSPORT PROUDLY ANNOUNCES NEW JORDAN BAJA WILL RUN IN SEPTEMBER

Exciting new desert Baja to run out of Aqaba into Wadi Rum area of Jordan 

Jordan Motorsport has proudly announced the new 2018 Jordan Baja, the Hashemite Kingdom’s first entry into the world of cross-country rallying since the Marlboro BP 2000 Desert Challenge ran in 1987, 1988 and 1990. The three-day off-road event for cars, motorcycles and quads will take place in the stunning Wadi Rum area on September 27-29.

 Based at the Red Sea resort of Aqaba in the south of the country and in close proximity to the deserts around Wadi Rum near the border country with Saudi Arabia, rally officials hope that the Jordan Baja will catch on quickly with competitors and establish itself as a permanent fixture in future FIA and FIM motor sporting calendars.

 The Baja will run as an FIA candidate event for possible future inclusion in the FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies, where rally officials hope it will join other three-day Baja events currently running in Russia, Dubai, Italy, Spain, Hungary, Poland and Portugal.

The competition for cars running in FIA T1, T2 and T3 categories will be held in conjunction with the Royal Motorcycle Club of Jordan Cup for Baja Rallies competition (RMCJ-BR), which will look after the secondary event running for motor cycles and quads. The route will be entirely on a sandy surface and competitors will face 383.80 competitive kilometres in a route of 776.89km.

Othman Nassif chairs the organising panel alongside deputy chairman and clerk of the course George Khoury and his deputy Omar Zarour, with the team calling on all the expertise they have built up hosting the Jordan Rally, the opening round of this year’s FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) and a former round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC).

Mousa Hazineh will be in charge of safety and Ashraf Juwinat and Zeid Abu Zeid will head the field and operations’ sections as assistant clerks of the course.

“We are delighted that a lot of hard work and planning has come to fruition and we are able to announce what we hope will be an exciting and challenging Baja and the start of a new future in cross-country rallying for Jordan,” said Othman Nassif, chairman of the organising committee.

“We are blessed with some stunning desert terrain in Jordan and we have a strong team with WRC pedigree that also puts on a very popular and well organised round of the MERC. This is a new and exciting challenge for all of us and we are looking forward to hosting this brand new addition to the motor sport calendar in the Middle East region.”

The event will be based at the Movenpick Hotel in Aqaba, while the start, finish and service park will all be located in the confines of the city.

Supplementary regulations are attached and also available from www.jordanrally.com. Entries are open and close at reduced rates on Thursday, August 30. The final cut-off for entries will be Tuesday, September 11.

The service park and rally offices open in Aqaba on Monday, September 24. Administration and scrutineering checks will be carried out on Wednesday, September 26 and the pre-event press conference precedes the ceremonial start (15.00hrs) in Aqaba and a timed four-kilometre super special stage (16.37hrs - first car) on Thursday, September 27.

Two challenging and scenic selective sections of 122.00km and 67.90km will be repeated twice through the stunning deserts around Wadi Rum and take centre stage on Friday, September 28 (first car - 08.48hrs and 12.58hrs) and Saturday, September 29 (first car - 09.35hrs and 12.47hrs) before the podium finish and prize giving in Aqaba from 18.00hrs.

Motorcycles and quads will tackle each of the stages before the cars.

The Marlboro BP 2000 Desert Challenge, Jordan’s only previous off-road event of its kind, ran for the first time in 1987. The late Kuwaiti driver Tariq Al-Wazzan ran out as the winner in a Range Rover. Abbas Al-Mosawi won the following year in a Mitsubishi Pajero and Qatar’s Saeed Al-Hajri won the last race in 1990 at the wheel of a Ford Bronco.

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