Ventura takes charge with Rally 2 stage one win in Morocco

Martim Ventura came out fighting on stage one of the Rallye du Maroc, with the Monster Energy Honda HRC Rally 2 rider delivering a superb performance to take the stage win and move into the overall lead.

After Bruno Crivilin’s prologue victory yesterday, the Monster Energy Honda HRC Rally 2 riders were ready for a much longer day aboard their Honda CRF450RX RALLY bikes.

Leaving Agadir before sunrise, they faced a lengthy 264 km road section before launching into the 272 km special.  A varied route awaited them, with stony tracks giving way to a first taste of the spectacular dunes in the Tata region, while camel grass, broken terrain and dusty conditions added to the challenge on the way to Zagora.

Starting seventh, Ventura was determined to make his mark after feeling he could have delivered more in the prologue.  The current Rally 2 World Cup leader wasted little time making amends, setting a blistering pace through the opening part of the special and putting himself at the sharp end of the standings.  With the experience gained from his Rallye du Maroc debut last year, Ventura looked increasingly at home in the Moroccan desert and maintained his strong pace all the way to the finish.  A brilliant ride earned him his ninth World Rally-Raid Championship stage victory, finishing nearly a minute clear of his nearest Rally 2 rival.

The result also moved Ventura into the overall Rally 2 lead, putting him in a strong position with four stages still to come.

Fresh from his prologue victory, Crivilin continued to impress in what is only his second rally-raid.  Still learning the intricacies of reading a road book and adapting to the constantly changing terrain, the Brazilian faced a steep learning curve on his first full stage in Morocco.  Despite the challenge, he settled into the stage and enjoyed the varied route on his way to another impressive result.  Third place kept Crivilin on the provisional overall podium as he continues to build valuable experience in the discipline.

Preston Campbell was the first of the Monster Energy Honda HRC Rally 2 riders onto the stage and also enjoyed the fast-paced route, particularly his first encounter with the Moroccan dunes.  He finished just behind Crivilin and will now look to reduce the gap to Ventura over the coming stages as he targets a move into podium contention.

With the opening full stage complete, the riders have arrived at the Zagora bivouac, which will serve as the team’s base for the remainder of the rally.  There will be little respite on stage two, however, with another demanding day ahead.  A loop from Zagora will feature 300 km against the clock as Ventura looks to defend his Rally 2 lead and his teammates aim to stay firmly in the fight.