Shaking off yesterday’s troubles which ruled out any chance of winning the overall rally, Joan Barreda today re-established himself with a second-stage triumph in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. Paulo Gonçalves remains in third and Brabec finishes among the top riders.

The longest stage in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge got underway with a motocross-style start and concluded with a rampant Joan Barreda clocking the best score in the timed special. It was certainly no easy day out in the Al Garbia desert for the Spaniard aboard the Honda CRF450 RALLY. With no reference points ahead to guide him, Barreda showed some classy navigational skills that saw him romp home 11 minutes ahead of the stage’s runner-up.

Likewise, Paulo Gonçalves did a fine job of keeping Marc Coma in check, trailing him in the overall by 5’33.

Ricky Brabec, Team HRC’s rookie, crossed the line in sixth and also occupies sixth on the overall leaderboard.

Paulo Goncalves

Stage: 12th Overall: 3rd

It was a very special day, very nice, starting out in MX. We were together almost the whole day. It was important to finish ahead in the final part so as to choose the starting-order amongst the top riders. In the end everyone slowed down, so let’s see what strategy is used tomorrow. The bike is running like a dream when you consider just how difficult the Abu Dhabi course is, with such a lot of sand and high-temperatures. I’m really pleased with the way that Team HRC has been working.

Joan Barreda

Stage: Winner Overall: 43rd

I’m satisfied. Today was a great day after the bad one yesterday. I rode a good pace, opening the way all day alone. I had a problem yesterday but we have figured out what it was and are working to get it sorted out; it’s the same specification that we had in the Dakar. Some things are being worked on that will be at our disposal from the summer onwards. I really have great faith in the work that Honda is doing on the bike.

Ricky Brabec

Stage: 6th Overall: 6th

Yeah, today was great. The mass start was a little bit different. Paulo and I just sat back and watched what everyone was doing. I think he finished where he wanted to. The bike felt better and rode the sand-dunes much better. Also, there were no mistakes today so that is always a plus.

Private: Wolfgang Fischer

Team HRC Team Manager

Today’s stage it was a good chance for Joan Barreda to make up a bit for the mishap of yesterday, after he lost a lot of time. He won the stage in a dominant way. The stage was quite technical in the end for the riders at the front to have the choice for the starting position. It was an opportunity for Paulo Goncalves to make the most and not give the other riders any chance to slip by, securing his best opportunity to start from the rear tomorrow.

2015 Cross Countries Rally
Stage Round 1 , 2   Abu Dhabi

Results Stage 2

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Barreda Joan SPA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda 3:57'09
2 Sunderland Sam 3 GBR Gas Gas Factory Team Gas Gas + 11'29
3 Walkner Matthias AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM + 11'32
4 Al Balooshi Mohammed 31 UAE MX Raid Dubai KTM + 14'29
5 Faria Ruben 8 POR Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna + 14'54
6 Brabec Ricky USA Team HRC Honda + 15'06
7 Salvatierra Juan Carlos BOL KTM Warsaw Rally Team KTM + 15'34
9 Quintanilla Pablo CHI KTM Warsaw Rally Team KTM + 16'08
11 Coma Marc SPA Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM + 16'20
12 Goncalves Paulo POR Team HRC Honda +16'20
2015 Cross Countries Rally
Stage Round 1 , 2   Abu Dhabi

Standings Stage 2

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Sunderland Sam 3 GBR Gas Gas Factory Team Gas Gas 7:22'53
2 Coma Marc SPA Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM + 3'30
3 Goncalves Paulo POR Team HRC Honda + 9'03
4 Walkner Matthias AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM + 12'41
5 Faria Ruben 8 POR Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna + 13'11
6 Brabec Ricky USA Team HRC Honda + 14'10
7 Al Balooshi Mohammed 31 UAE MX Raid Dubai KTM + 15'49
8 Quintanilla Pablo CHI KTM Warsaw Rally Team KTM + 19'16
10 Salvatierra Juan Carlos BOL KTM Warsaw Rally Team KTM + 28'12
42 Barreda Joan SPA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda + 7:53'23
Location Information

The legendary UAE Desert Challenge, one of the world’s most prestigious international cross country rallies founded by Emirati Motorsport legend, former EMSO President and the new FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem back in 1991, and over the years has seen many of the biggest names in international motorsport tackle the… read more.

Abu Dhabi - United Arab Emirates - View in Google Maps

Records

2021 Matthias Walkner (KTM)
2019 Sam Sunderland (KTM)
2018 Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna)
2017 Sam Sunderland (KTM)
2016 Toby Price (KTM)
2015 Marc Coma (KTM)
2014 Paulo Gonçalves (Honda)