The trans-Andean country would appear to be jinxed for the Monster Energy Honda Team, who continued to have bad luck on a gloomy stage between Tupiza and Oruro. In spite of the setbacks, Paulo Gonçalves posted runner-up spot on the fifth day of racing.

First Joan Barreda and Michael Metge, then Ricky Brabec all went astray around kilometre 147 today, dropping precious time to rivals. The French rider managed to get back on the right track and limit the damage to some minutes. Barreda, meanwhile, frustratingly saw the front runners lengthen their lead over him.

The atrocious meteorological conditions that have been pounding the area over recent days finally forced race organizers to cut short the scheduled route. In the end, the timed special was fought out over a total of 219 kilometres.

At that point, the best of the Monster Energy Honda Team bunch was Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves who occupied the second step of the stage five podium.

In yesterday’s Rally Dakar 2017 fourth stage, race authorities hammered the team with a one hour sanction per rider for what the organization claims was “refuelling outside the authorized zone”. The indications which had been given during the rider and team’s briefing were not altogether clear and the team thought that they were at the organization’s refuelling as they entered Bolivia.

The penalization sees the riders sacrifice their top positions in the general standings. The squad’s leading rider is currently Paulo Gonçalves, tenth, followed by Joan Barreda. Michael Metge and Ricky Brabec are separated by three seconds in twentieth place.

Tomorrow, day six, is the final stage before the competition’s rest day on Sunday in La Paz. The stage runs from De Oruro to the Bolivian capital some 4,000 metres above sea-level and will feature the longest special of the Rally Dakar 2017 with 527 kilometres against the clock. The stage takes in the famous and much-venerated Lake Titicaca.


TOMORROW’ STAGE

Saturday, January 7
STAGE 6 ORURO – LA PAZ
SELECTIVE SECTOR 527 km TOTAL 786 km
ORINOCA SPECIAL STAGE: THE GOAL IS THE CAPITAL
Everyone will have the chance to take a photo in front of Lake Titicaca! The dunes to overcome early in the special stage will be just one of the challenges of this long day. The fastest will complete there running in daylight but for many, headlamps will be invaluable. Reaching the rest day in the Bolivian capital will be considered a success in itself.

Check the Stage 6 maps here.

Joan Barreda

STAGE: 23rd, +37'10 OVERALL: 12th, +1:12'39

Today was a really complicated day until we got to the section with really tricky navigation where there was a point incorrectly marked in the roadbook which made me doubt. This put me off for the rest of the stage. In addition, the rain complicated everything too. I hope that all that lies ahead is favourable to our riding style and that we are able to regain some of the time that we have lost.

Paulo Goncalves 17

STAGE: 2nd, +7'07 OVERALL: 10th, +1:08'21

Today I had quite a good stage with some complications for the navigation. I started out well and got to open the way but about 20 kilometres from the finish I made a slight error that cost me a couple of minutes. We have to keep fighting. We still have seven days ahead that will be really hard but it might give us time to recover some of the time disadvantage that we have.

Ricky Brabec 9

STAGE: 29th, +42'08 OVERALL: 21st, +1:49'27

Today’s stage started out with fast tracks with lots of rain coming down. The roads were fast and the pace was quick. There was a bit of confusion at kilometre 147 with everybody. The second special was cancelled so the day was quite short for us with a long liaison section. The bike has been running really well and we are all in great shape still. We will just have to keep battling on.

Michael Metge 15

STAGE: 19th, +31'58 OVERALL: 20th, +1:49'25

The start of the special was very technical. I kept up a fast pace and was able to mark a good time. The bike was running really well and I was able to open up a bit. After I passed through a place that appeared to be differently signalled and I lost some time. The storm affected all of us and after they shortened the special. Luckily, we haven’t yet arrived at the halfway stage of the rally so could still reduce the time and pick up positions.

Private: Roberto Boasso

Team Manager

Today was a difficult day for all of us. The stage was hellish with a lot of rain that meant that it was very difficult to ride properly. They cut the special short but fortunately all our guys were able to make it back to the bivouac where we will begin the preparations for the next stage. Nothing is lost yet and there’s still a lot of race ahead. The riders and the bikes are running well, so in other words, we are still in with a shout.

2017 Dakar Rally
Stage Round DAK17 , 5   Dakar

Results Stage 5

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Sunderland Sam 16 GBR Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM 2:21'51
2 Goncalves Paulo 17 POR Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +7'07
3 Van Beveren Adrien 6 FRA Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team Yamaha +7'29
4 Pedrero Joan 12 SPA Sherco TVS Rally Factory Sherco +9'40
5 Caimi Franco 67 ARG Honda South America Rally Team Honda +12'13
6 Farres Gerard 8 SPA Himoinsa Team KTM +15'07
7 Quintanilla Pablo 3 CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +18'12
8 España Cristian 87 AND Tallercall KTM +21'32
9 Salvatierra Juan Carlos 32 BOL Duust Rally Team KTM +23'44
10 Oliveras Daniel 82 SPA Himoinsa Team KTM +24'29
11 Rodrigues Joaquim 27 POR Hero Motorsports Team Rally Hero +26'45
12 Patrao Mario 28 POR JETMAR / KTM PORTUGAL KTM +27'33
13 Metge Adrien 26 FRA Sherco TVS Rally Factory Sherco +28'44
14 Duplessis Martín 34 ARG Asistencia Med KTM +28'52
15 Nosiglia Daniel 50 BOL MEC Team Nosiglia Honda +29'16
16 Smith Todd 76 AUS Duust Rally Team KTM +29'28
18 Metge Michael 15 FRA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +31'58
22 Barreda Joan SPA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +37'10
28 Brabec Ricky 9 USA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +42'08
2017 Dakar Rally
Stage Round DAK17 , 5   Dakar

Provisional Standings after Stage 5

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Sunderland Sam 16 GBR Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM 15:22'05
2 Quintanilla Pablo 3 CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +12'00
3 Van Beveren Adrien 6 FRA Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team Yamaha +16'07
4 Farres Gerard 8 SPA Himoinsa Team KTM +20'57
5 Walkner Matthias 14 AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +29:01
6 de Soultrait Xavier 23 FRA Viltais Racing Team HFP Yamaha +36'06
7 Svitko Stefan 2 SLO Slovnaft Rally Team KTM +48'43
8 Renet Pierre-Alexandre 31 FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +54'45
9 Duplessis Martín 34 ARG Asistencia Med KTM +1:04'55
10 Goncalves Paulo 17 POR Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +1:08'21
11 Rodrigues Joaquim 27 POR Hero Motorsports Team Rally Hero +1:10'20
12 Barreda Joan SPA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +1:12'39
13 Rodrigues Helder 5 POR Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team Yamaha +1:23'38
14 Caimi Franco 67 ARG Honda South America Rally Team Honda +1:27'10
15 Klymciw Ondrej 45 CZE Klymciw Racing Husqvarna +1:36'22
20 Metge Michael 15 FRA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +1:49'25
21 Brabec Ricky 9 USA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +1:49'27

Dakar 2017 Stage 5 Monster Energy Honda Team

The trans-Andean country would appear to be jinxed for the Monster Energy Honda Team, who continued to have bad luck on a gloomy stage between Tupiza and Oruro. In spite of the setbacks, Paulo Gonçalves posted runner-up spot on the fifth day of racing.

Location Information

The greatest and toughest rally in the world, the Dakar’s history has been written in the heart of some of the world’s most stunning deserts and belongs to the world of the greatest sporting challenges of our time. Both a motor race and an orienteering challenge, the Dakar Rally pits… read more.

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