Monster Energy Honda Team rider Kevin Benavides has managed to finish round one of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship on the rostrum. The Argentinean took third place overall in the rally. Nacho Cornejo clinched the Junior category title.

The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge wrapped up today with Monster Energy Honda Team present on the podium. It was a hard-fought third place for Kevin Benavides, who battled right up until the final kilometre of the rally. Kevin finished hot on the heels of the stage’s eventual winner to secure his place on the final prize winners’ platform.

The final stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge got off to a hotly-disputed motocross-style start with the riders starting out in line. The strongest riders had soon bonded into a group over the opening stretches of the 218 kilometre special. The course gradually took to dusty tracks, obliging many competitors to slow the pace down to avoid accidents on very treacherous terrain.

Paulo Gonçalves finished the stage in sixth, moving up a position in the overall standings, just ahead of Ricky Brabec who had ridden alongside him for practically the whole special. Likewise Michael Metge, who posted eighth place on the day.

Cornejo wins in Junior
José Ignacio Cornejo suffered a fall during this final special as he followed other riders into the middle of a cloud of dust. Nevertheless, he finished the stage in the top ten and took eighth final position in the general rankings. Additionally, ‘Nacho’ scooped the prize for best junior in the competition.

It won’t be a long wait until the next appointment with Monster Energy Honda Team when the squad compete in the Merzouga Rally in Morocco from April 16-20. The team expects to include Joan Barreda back from injury after a wrist operation in February.

Kevin Benavides 2

STAGE: 2nd FINAL: 3rd

I’ve finished third in Abu Dhabi. I think it's a good start to the championship. Today we had a motocross-type and over the final 60 kilometres we had a tough battle to decide the stage. I defended my third place very well. I'm happy because I think the speed and pace I had in the race were very good. The sensations aboard the bike were very good too and that leaves me very satisfied. It is the start of the championship, a lot is still to come, but we will work harder to continue improving and that will pay off with victories in the coming races.

Paulo Goncalves 4

STAGE: 6th FINAL: 5th

Apart from the result, starting the World Championship with a fifth place wasn’t at all bad, especially if we take into account that I haven’t been on the bike for some time since the injury. The last race was back in Morocco. I knew that this would take its toll, but I did my best to try to overcome such a tough test. We have to keep working and in the next world championship competition I think we can do much better. With the bike there were no problems at all. Despite the harsh conditions here, the team has done a great job.

Ricky Brabec 11

STAGE: 7th FINAL: 6th

We’re happy to arrive at Yas Marina circuit again after to have finished the first round of the world championship. Not such a good start to the series, this is quite a dangerous rally with the undulation of the dunes and major cuts. I’ve not made a mistake or dropped the bike once the whole time. So that’s a plus in my book. I’m looking forward to the rest of the year.

Michael Metge

STAGE: 8th OVERALL: 9th

Today we all started out together. Everyone against each other; There was some dust and it was a bit dangerous and I dropped a bit of time. We started attacking after refuelling and I was able to catch the group in front of me. I had a good feeling with the bike, which has been perfect every day. I have improved every day aboard it in the dunes and I hope to continue like this in the next race.

José Ignacio “Nacho” Cornejo 15

STAGE: 9th OVERALL: 8th - Junior WINNER

We all started out together and then, when we got onto the track it became more difficult to follow because there was a lot of dust being raised. I fell - fortunately it was nothing, and I was able to continue. We finished the rally and we’ve had some good feelings over the race. Plus we’ve improved the speed, which was important too.

Private: Raul Castells

Monster Energy Honda Team Manager

I want to congratulate Kevin on his third place in the general standings. It was a very difficult race, tough, and also dangerous because of the cut dunes and because the riders were so fast. I congratulate also the riders and the team. Everything went well and after this first race of the year, where we have settled as a team and we will continue working towards our final goal, which is the Dakar, race by race. The bikes, like the riders, have worked well and we are very satisfied with that too.

2018 Cross-Country Rallies
Stage Round FIM-1 , 5   Abu Dhabi

Stage 5 results

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Walkner Matthias AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM 2:46'40
2 Benavides Kevin 2 ARG Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +0'0.5
3 Sunderland Sam GBR Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +0'19
4 Price Toby AUS Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +0'46
5 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +1'25
6 Goncalves Paulo 4 POR Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +2'01
7 Brabec Ricky 11 USA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +2'05
8 Metge Michael FRA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +2'13
9 Cornejo José Ignacio "Nacho" 15 CHI Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +2'29
10 Giemza Maciej 19 POL Orlen Team KTM +8'27
2018 Cross-Country Rallies
Stage Round FIM-1 , 5   Abu Dhabi

Final Standings Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2018

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna 16:51'11
2 Sunderland Sam GBR Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +5'11
3 Benavides Kevin 2 ARG Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +8'34
4 Walkner Matthias AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +9'36
5 Goncalves Paulo 4 POR Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +18'35
6 Brabec Ricky 11 USA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +20'46
7 Price Toby AUS Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +29'45
8 Cornejo José Ignacio "Nacho" 15 CHI Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +30'05
9 Metge Michael FRA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +38'19
10 Melot Benjamin 39 FRA Team Esprit KTM KTM +2:15'37
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)