TEAM HRC continues to lead the Morocco Rally. In a 298 km second stage, including 240 against the clock, ‘Speedy’ Gonçalves carved out an amazing victory that places hims at the top of the leaderboard. The other TEAM HRC riders put in fine performances too, with Sam Sunderland third and Joan Barreda in fifth.
Another day, another type of rally. After the sand and dunes of yesterday’s opening stage, today saw an entire day of rocky mountain terrain with a lot of navigation. Joan Barreda started out first and rode a fine race, although this allowed the other riders to follow his tracks and thus gain time. His colleague TEAM HRC rider Paulo Gonçalves, seemed at ease on his Honda CRF450 RALLY and kept up the consistency in the first leg, before pushing hard in the later stages. Around Zagora he was practically unbeatable. Gonçalves finds himself leading in the overall standings after two days of rally.
British rider Sam Sunderland also put in a fine performance, overcoming a slight navigational error early on in the special and finishing in third. Joan Barreda’s fifth place leaves him behind Gonçalves in the overall standings. A good all-round team effort.
The tough rocky terrain suited much less Argentine Javier Pizzolito, who is looking forward again to the sand and dunes, where he hopes to better today’s seventh place.
Finally, Hélder Rodrigues, who set out from fourth position suffered an electronic failure some fifteen km from the end of the stage.
Paulo Goncalves
1st
2:50’22
TEAM HRC
It was a mountain and rocky stage with a lot of navigation. I think I did well trying to stay on course. The Honda CRF450 RALLY never ceases to amaze me. In the hard terrain the traction is very important and it’s been great to see how it handles the curves. Let’s see how the next four days play out in this tough rally.
Sam Sunderland
3rd
+2’09
TEAM HRC
A very tough one today with loads of navigation and a lot of rocks. I kept up a great speed until the end after I had a small error near the start. I lost a little time but after was able to push hard. I navigated well and I’m happy.
Joan Barreda
5th
+3’45
TEAM HRC
I’m very pleased. Having two fast riders like Marc and Paulo behind pushing all day, means that I’ve got to be happy with the result. There was a lot of difficult navigation and I had to mark out the route up front. Tomorrow I start behind them so hopefully I’ll catch up and we can stay together.
Javier Pizzolito
7th
+6’52
TEAM HRC
We’ve finished a really hard, complicated stage with a lot of rocks. I’m getting used to that type of terrain now. It’s been a very positive stage and the idea was to not lose time. I think if I keep up this pace I should be able to make it up among the leaders.
Stage 2 Results
1
Paulo Goncalves
02:50’22
PRT
HONDA
TEAM HRC
2
Marc Coma
+02’00
ESP
KTM
KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
3
Sam Sunderland
+02’09
ENG
HONDA
TEAM HRC
4
Chaleco López
+02’51
CHI
KTM
KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
5
Joan Barreda
+03’45
ESP
HONDA
TEAM HRC
6
Ben Graham
+06’31
AUS
KTM
KTM AUS Rally Factory
7
Javier Pizzolito
+06’52
ARG
HONDA
TEAM HRC
8
Kurt Caselli
+07’01
USA
KTM
KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
9
Alessandro Botturi
+09’19
ITA
SPEEDBRAIN
Team Speedbrain
10
Ruben Faria
+09’37
POR
KTM
KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
Overall standings after Stage 2
1
Paulo Goncalves
5:19’30
PRT
HONDA
TEAM HRC
2
Joan Barreda
+00’17
ESP
HONDA
TEAM HRC
3
Marc Coma
+01’47
ESP
KTM
KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
4
Chaleco López
+08’40
CHI
KTM
KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
5
Sam Sunderland
+09’50
ENG
HONDA
TEAM HRC
6
Javier Pizzolito
+13’56
ARG
HONDA
TEAM HRC
7
Alessandro Botturi
+18’02
ITA
SPEEDBRAIN
Team Speedbrain
8
Alain Duclos
+18’56
FRA
SHERCO
Sherco Rally Factory
9
Ben Graham
+25’24
AUS
KTM
KTM AUS Rally Factory
10
Ruben Faria
+28’46
POR
KTM
KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
Event information
TOMORROW STAGEStage 3 : Under the sun of MahmidLiaison : 65km
Selective sector: 250km
Liaison : 98km
Back in the sand! The Cheggaga erg will be the playground of this third stage where co-pilots will have to keep an eye on the caps. The start will be on a rolling, fast track before the competitors descend into the valley via a simple but uneven track. On a sandy and undulated track, they will follow the Cheggaga Erg to reach Lake Iriki. Amateurs of speed will enjoy this fast portion on the lake, but co-pilots should keep an eye on their notes in order to reach the most Westerly point of the rally. The return takes place at the cap in order to cross the chott and access the dunes. Those who like the sand will be delighted! As these are the most beautiful dunes of the rally. Pilots must follow the caps to escape the erg via beautiful easy tracks with many parallels to reach the finish.