Monster Energy Honda Team got the 2017 Baja Aragón off to a flying start with Joan Barreda romping home in first place and team-mate Michael Metge, third in the curtain-raising event.
Joan Barreda – his Honda CRF450 emblazoned with the number one – scorched his way through the short nine-kilometre prologue to clinch victory with a six second advantage over the nearest second-place rival.
Michael Metge, who had finished third overall last year, also kept up a cracking pace on the Honda CRF450 RALLY, posting third on the day some fifteen seconds behind his Monster Energy Honda Team companion.
Tomorrow will see two special sectors with a total of 350 kilometres to run.
Joan Barreda
We’ve won the prologue and I’m happy about that as the prologues are always complicated as there is such a lot of sprinting involved. I had to stay very focused over the first few kilometres and after I was able to let go a bit. The bike went really well and the sensations are good. Now it’s time to start thinking about the upcoming stages and find a steady pace which will allow us to ride some good stages.
Michael Metge
The prologue always brings some pressure as the first part of the race is crucial. I had to attack right from the get-go and not make any mistakes in this super special. I thought that I might have had a slight clutch issue but in the end it was nothing and I was able to finish in a good third position, which I think will be great for tomorrow’s stage.
Prologue results
| Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Team | Constructor | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barreda Joan | SPA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | 4'54.4 | |
| 2 | Cervantes Iván | SPA | Himoinsa Team | KTM | +5.9 | |
| 3 | Metge Michael | FRA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | +15.3 | |
| 4 | Pedrero Joan | SPA | Sherco TVS Rally Factory | Sherco | +20.5 | |
| 5 | Solà Marc | SPA | Himoinsa Team | KTM | +27.3 | |
| 6 | Adrià David | SPA | Pont Grup Yamaha | Yamaha | +29.0 | |
| 7 | Metge Adrien | FRA | Sherco TVS Rally Factory | Sherco | +33.5 | |
| 8 | España Cristian | AND | Team CE Rally | KTM | +35.8 | |
| 9 | Arana Txomin | SPA | GOR Sport | Husqvarna | +35.8 | |
| 10 | Asensio Héctor | SPA | Asensio Racing Team | KTM | +38.9 |
Location Information
The mystery of Dakar desert and Baja California left their mark within the sports men and adventurers who were willing to fulfil their spare time with challenging experiences. At the beginning of the eighties, when the mythic Paris-Dakar was already consolidated as one of the most important raids events, a… read more.
Palacio De Exposiciones Y Congresos De Teruel, Caudé, España - View in Google Maps
Records
| Winner 2017 | Joan Barreda |
| Winner 2016 | Joan Barreda |
| Winner 2015 | Gerard Farrés |
| Winner 2014 | Gerard Farrés |
| Winner 2013 | Joan Barreda |
| Winner 2012 | Joan Barreda |
