Paulo Goncalves was able to make the most of a far-from-easy fourth day at the Sardinia Rally Race. After having to open the track on both of the day’s special stages the Portuguese rider finished by successfully defending his position.

Paulo Gonçalves once again got lumbered with the tricky job of having to open the track today, after his second win yesterday. The Team HRC rider set a strong pace that served to mark out the route for the pursuing rivals, none of whom were able to reach him before the arrival at the refuelling point. Paulo recorded the eighth-best time. Things fared better in the second special, where after pushing even harder, he was able to round off the day with the fourth-fastest time on the stopwatch. Once again no-one was able to stop him crossing the line in San Teodoro in first place.

Goncalves moves up to fifth in the general race rankings some 11’52 behind the leader, a distance that the Portuguese rider will be looking to whittle down tomorrow. Likewise, the Team HRC adept will be striving to close down the gap with arch-rival Marc Coma.

Honda rider Jacopo Cerutti, who is being monitored by Team HRC, turned in a fine first part of the day with a second-place finish behind Mathias Walkner, before conceding time to the front-runners in the latter part.

The fifth stage of the Sardinia Rally Race, which winds up the eighth edition of this event, will be fought out over a looping route from San Teodoro that will include two time-specials; the first featuring 100 kilometres and a second of less then 50 kilometres.

Paulo Goncalves

SS6: 8th - SS7: 4th PROVISIONAL: 5th

We have finished another complicated day at the Sardinia Rally. After yesterday’s win, I had to open the track today. I had some problems with the radar zone and had to slow down more than normal and the other riders who were behind caught me up. I started the second timed-section from the front, opening with a good rhythm and I finished without being reached. In the end I dropped very little time to the other riders. But, after all, to come here to Sardinia and be at the front, opening the track without losing too much time is very lucky. I’m really pleased with the work that team HRC has been doing and with the bike performance. We are ready to continue attacking in the final stage tomorrow.

Private: Wolfgang Fischer

Team HRC Team Manager

Today we had the second part of the marathon stage on day four of the Sardinia Rally. Paulo Goncalves had a very good start and set a very great rhythm. By opening and being first all day long, he was able to defend his position at the front of the field, losing only a few seconds to his opponents. He is now ready for the last day tomorrow and will try and catch the others and improve his overall fifth place. All ready to go for the final fight tomorrow.

2015 Cross Countries Rally
Stage Round 4 , 4   Sardinia

Stage 4 Results - SS6

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Walkner Matthias AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM 1:55'54
2 Cerutti Jacopo ITA Honda RS Moto Honda +1'25
3 Coma Marc SPA Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +1'45
4 Thain Rodrig FRA Team Casteu Husqvarna +2'16
5 Monleon Armand SPA KTM Warsaw Rally Team KTM +2'31
6 Vecchi Luca ITA MRT KTM +3'14
7 Rodrigues Helder POR Yamaha Racing Yamaha +3'16
8 Goncalves Paulo POR Team HRC Honda +3'18
9 Pavan Mirko ITA NSM Racing Team Beta +3'19
10 Gerini Maurizio ITA Honda RS Moto Honda +4'16
11 Casteu David 9 FRA Team Casteu KTM +4'54
12 Van Beveren Adrien FRA Yamaha Racing Yamaha +4'57
13 Faria Ruben 8 POR Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +5'29
14 Cominotto Vanni ITA CF Racing Team Husqvarna +7'23
15 Viladoms Jordi 11 SPA Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +7'47
2015 Cross Countries Rally
Stage Round 4 , 4   Sardinia

Stage 4 Results - SS7

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Monleon Armand SPA KTM Warsaw Rally Team KTM 55'03
2 Walkner Matthias AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +0'02
3 Pedrero Joan SPA Sherco TVS Rally Factory Sherco +0'04
4 Goncalves Paulo POR Team HRC Honda +0'27
5 Thain Rodrig FRA Team Casteu Husqvarna +0'31
6 Rodrigues Helder POR Yamaha Racing Yamaha +0'58
7 Casteu David 9 FRA Team Casteu KTM +1'34
8 Gerini Maurizio ITA Honda RS Moto Honda +1'46
9 Vecchi Luca ITA MRT KTM +1'48
10 Van Beveren Adrien FRA Yamaha Racing Yamaha +1'48
11 Faria Ruben 8 POR Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +2'59
12 Coma Marc SPA Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +2'03
13 Quintanilla Pablo CHI KTM Warsaw Rally Team KTM +2'15
14 Cerutti Jacopo ITA Honda RS Moto Honda +2'16
2015 Cross Countries Rally
Stage Round 4 , 4   Sardinia

Provisional Standings after Stage 4

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Walkner Matthias AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM 14:25'54
2 Monleon Armand SPA KTM Warsaw Rally Team KTM +5'10
3 Coma Marc SPA Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +6'34
4 Rodrigues Helder POR Yamaha Racing Yamaha +7'22
5 Goncalves Paulo POR Team HRC Honda +11'52
6 Cerutti Jacopo ITA Honda RS Moto Honda +12'57
7 Viladoms Jordi 11 SPA Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +20'14
8 Faria Ruben 8 POR Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +20'37
9 Casteu David 9 FRA Team Casteu KTM +21'29
10 Vecchi Luca ITA MRT KTM +22'47
Location Information

Since the beginning, Bike Village had set the ambitious goal to let Sardegna Rally Race be considered among the great rallies. On the eve of the seventh edition, this goal is perfectly reached. The fans of these fascinating races born in the desert have found in the Sardegna Rally Race… read more.

Budoni, Olbia-Tempio, Italia - View in Google Maps