The fifth and final day of the Qatar Rally – the second round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship – has concluded with Paulo Gonçalves in runner-up position. Kevin Benavides likewise placed among rally’s elite with a fifth overall position.

Monster Energy Honda Team close one of the toughest dates in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies calendar after a noteworthy performance. The overall victory might have evaded the team, but a high-level, hitch-free display and reliable bike performance mean the squad comes home with a more than positive scorecard.

The fourth special disputed on the final fifth stage today linked the north-eastern and south-eastern areas of the Qatari peninsula with a total of 343 kilometres against the clock. The day got off to a start over rocky terrain before finishing in the dunes of the Sealine seafront area.

Argentinean Kevin Benavides started the proceedings in second position on the Honda CRF450 RALLY, determined to thwart the attack of the pursuing pack. The group, with the advantage of being able to follow his tracks and make up time, were however, unable to catch him. Kevin conceded less than six minutes to the stage winner Pablo Quintanilla.

For Paulo Gonçalves, Monster Energy Honda Team’s Portuguese rider, the day was all about consolidating his second overall position. Paulo got off to a brisk start and held a swift pace throughout, eating five minutes into the time of the race’s eventual overall winner Sam Sunderland. The runner-up spot in Qatar has elevated Gonçalves up to third place in the championship standings, while Benavides leaps from fifteenth to ninth.

Next date for the Monster Energy Honda Team in the world championship will be the Atacama Rally, the third event, in Chile, from 12th to 18th August.

Paulo Goncalves

STAGE: 2nd +0'08 OVERALL: 2nd +7.42

We have finished the second race of the world championship and it is always positive to finish a race on the podium. It was an interesting race on all levels: it was competitive, physical and required a lot of navigation. It was hard in all of these respects. I’m happy because I kept a high level throughout the rally. I finished second and I’m very happy with the bike, the team and all the work we have done too. We have good sensations to keep on working with and we will be all fired up for the next rally.

Kevin Benavides

STAGE: 6th +5'49 FINAL: 5th +17'48

I’m very happy to have finished the race in fifth overall position. Today I started out ahead and it was very difficult to make a difference strategically, as there was so much navigation to be done. I’m pleased because I gave it 100% even through I’m not physically at full fitness. It was a lot of hours on the bike on other types of terrain with a lot of navigation to find a good pace. Now it’s time to go back home and do a deep analysis of the whole week and continue working towards the next race.

2017 Cross-Country Rallies
Stage Round FIM-2 , 5   Qatar

Results Stage 5

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna 3:46'55
2 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +0'08
3 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team KTM +2'52
4 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +3'01
5 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team KTM +5'00
6 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +5'49
7 Giemza Maciej POL Orlen Team KTM +42'11
8 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team KTM +42'36
9 Tomiczek Adam POL Orlen Team KTM +51'07
10 Al Balooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team KTM +54'01
2017 Cross-Country Rallies
Stage Round FIM-2 , 5   Qatar

Final Standings Qatar Rally 2017

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team KTM 15:50'18
2 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +7'42
3 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team KTM +13'11
4 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +15'02
5 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +17'48
6 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +20'01
7 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team KTM +2:18'25
8 Al Balooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team KTM +3:34'36
9 Tomiczek Adam POL Orlen Team KTM +4:33'25
10 Giemza Maciej POL Orlen Team KTM +5:31'28
Location Information

We have great pleasure in welcoming you to the desert landscapes of Qatar and we hope that our varied desert terrain of soft sand, of dunes, of hard and rocky terrain all provide suitable challenges for our FIA and FIM World Championship contenders and competitors over the five hard days… read more.

Losail International Race Circuit, Municipalidad de Al Daayen, Catar - View in Google Maps

Records

2017 Sam Sunderland (KTM)
2016 Sam Sunderland (KTM)
2015 Marc Coma (KTM)
2014 Joan Barreda (Honda)
2013 Marc Coma (KTM)
2012 Marc Coma (KTM)