Joan Barreda wins yet another stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, commanding from the start after a spectacular motocross-style start. Paulo Gonçalves, is second in the overall standings keeping open his chances of winning the rally.  

Joan ‘Bang Bang’ Barreda rode a superb fourth stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, winning the special and remaining alone up front from the start to the finishing-line in Qasr Al Sarab. It was a different start from the normal ones, with riders setting off in groups of fifteen at the same time. Barreda got off to a flying start on the Honda CRF450 RALLY, and upped the pace after the refuelling, crossing the line with a 1 minute 20 second advantage over Marc Coma. The rider who hails from Spain’s Castellón stands third on the overall leader-board.

Paulo Gonçalves kept up a cracking rhythm throughout most of the day, taking care not to lose Barreda and Coma, although a slight error on one of the dunes saw him lose a little time. In spite of this, the reigning world champion finished in third and climbs a place in the overall standings, just one and a half minutes behind Marc Coma as the race heads into its final stage.

Team HRC’s third rider HélderRodrigues, put in a comfortable ride to finish fifth. The Portuguese rider who has put Monday’s mishap behind him moves up to seventh place in the overall standings.

Tomorrow sees the fifth and final stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, with a 244.77 km special. Team HRC will be fighting to the final metre to obtain victory in the test and notch up a respectable final overall team result.

Eurosport International TV will broadcast the highlights of the second stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge today, Wednesday, at 23:05 hrs.

Tomorrow’s Stage

Stage 5 – Qasr Al Sarab-Yas Marina Circuit

Liaison: 7.8km   Special Stage: 244.77km   Liaison: 107.30km

Joan Barreda

"Today was a really good day. After the first day without a very good feeling and some problems, suddenly we found a good pace and a good rhythm. The last two or three days we’ve found a really good speed, always pushing. We have another victory. I know that it is not easy to win this rally, but tomorrow we will be giving it our all."

Paulo Goncalves

"Today was a very hard day. Before the refuelling we were all riding together at a slower speed. After refuelling we speeded up. A few kilometres from the end as me, Joan and Marc were together, I got a bit caught up in one of the dunes. But tomorrow we have chance to win the race and we will try. I hope it all goes well."

Helder Rodrigues

"It was a motocross day in the desert today. There was a MX type of start then a lot of open desert. The job today was for Paulo to do his best to win the race. Also Joan had a good stage. I tried to do my best to help the team rather than trying to win. I think tomorrow Paulo has a chance to win. Marc starts from behind. I’ll start behind Paulo. That will be my aim tomorrow."

2014 Cross Countries Rally
Stage Round 1 , 5   Abu Dhabi

Results Session

Sunny
Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Barreda Joan SPA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda 03:37'20
2 Coma Marc SPA Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +01'20
3 Goncalves Paulo POR Team HRC Honda +02'29
4 Viladoms Jordi SPA Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +03'22
5 Rodrigues Helder POR Team HRC Honda +04'31
6 Al Balooshi Mohammed UAE KTM UAC KTM +06'12
7 Stanovnik Miran SLO Team Stavnovik KTM +09'33
8 Abu Issa Mohammed QAT Abu Issa Yamaha +21'47
9 Lloyd Oliver GBR Team Speedbrain Speedbrain +29'05
10 Sonik Rafal POL Poland National Honda +29'20
2014 Cross Countries Rally
Stage Round 1 , 5   Abu Dhabi

Provisional Standings after Stage 4

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Coma Marc SPA Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM 14:12'10
2 Goncalves Paulo POR Team HRC Honda +01'31
3 Barreda Joan SPA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +05'49
4 Viladoms Jordi SPA Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +32'51
5 Stanovnik Miran SLO Team Stavnovik KTM +1:28'24
6 Al Balooshi Mohammed UAE KTM UAC KTM +1:31'01
7 Rodrigues Helder POR Team HRC Honda +1:58'43
8 Lloyd Oliver GBR Team Speedbrain Speedbrain +2:38'17
9 Chunchungguppe Santosh IND Team CS KTM +02:45'37
10 Piatek Jakub POL Team Hanesco KTM +2:46'38
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)