Monster Energy Honda Team continue to make satisfactory progress in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship as the results from the second round in Qatar improve on those previously obtained in Abu Dhabi.
The second race in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship disputed in Qatar this weekend has closed with Monster Energy Honda Team on the rostrum. The Qatar Rally – renowned for its tough navigation – once again put the duo through their paces over five gruelling stages, both of whom finished in top positions. Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves finished runner-up overall and Argentine Kevin Benavides, fifth.
Improving on the previous race performance, Gonçalves consistently maintained a swift pace, clinching second place overall, which leaves the team stalwart in third spot in the championship standings. His Monster Energy Honda Team companion Kevin Benavides continued with his battle to get back to full strength after last December’s unexpected wrist injury. In his second race back, Benavides even managed to open the track and was clearly starting to feel comfortable again aboard the Honda CRF450 RALLY. The machine had performed well in far-from-easy terrain with scorching temperatures and hard track that made a particularly tough test for the engine’s power and the performance of the suspension.
Next, for the team, comes a series of tests in California, U.S.A. for several of the Monster Energy Honda Team riders. Subsequently Joan Barreda and Michael Metge will defend the Baja España title in July. The third round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship will take place in August with the Atacama Rally in the Chilean desert.
Final results Qatar Rally 2017
Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Team | Constructor | Time/Gap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sunderland Sam | GBR | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | 15:50'18 | |
2 | Goncalves Paulo | POR | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | +7'42 | |
3 | Walkner Matthias | AUT | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | +13'11 | |
4 | Quintanilla Pablo | CHI | Husqvarna Factory Rally Team | Husqvarna | +15'02 | |
5 | Benavides Kevin | ARG | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | +17'48 | |
6 | Renet Pierre-Alexandre | FRA | Husqvarna Factory Rally Team | Husqvarna | +20'01 | |
7 | Meo Antoine | FRA | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | +2:18'25 | |
8 | Al Balooshi Mohammed | UAE | Ride to Abu Dhabi Team | KTM | +3:34'36 | |
9 | Tomiczek Adam | POL | Orlen Team | KTM | +4:33'25 | |
10 | Giemza Maciej | POL | Orlen Team | KTM | +5:31'28 |
Championship standings
Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Team | Constructor | Time/Gap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sunderland Sam | GBR | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | 61 points | |
2 | Quintanilla Pablo | CHI | Husqvarna Factory Rally Team | Husqvarna | 40 points | |
3 | Goncalves Paulo | POR | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | 39 points | |
4 | Walkner Matthias | AUT | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | 39 points | |
5 | Renet Pierre-Alexandre | FRA | Husqvarna Factory Rally Team | Husqvarna | 28 points | |
6 | Meo Antoine | FRA | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | 25 points | |
7 | Al Balooshi Mohammed | UAE | Ride to Abu Dhabi Team | KTM | 23 points | |
8 | Tomiczek Adam | POL | Orlen Team | KTM | 20 points | |
9 | Benavides Kevin | ARG | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | 19 points | |
10 | McBride David | GBR | Vendetta Racing | KTM | 17 points |
Location Information
We have great pleasure in welcoming you to the desert landscapes of Qatar and we hope that our varied desert terrain of soft sand, of dunes, of hard and rocky terrain all provide suitable challenges for our FIA and FIM World Championship contenders and competitors over the five hard days… read more.
Losail International Race Circuit, Municipalidad de Al Daayen, Catar - View in Google Maps
Records
2017 | Sam Sunderland (KTM) |
2016 | Sam Sunderland (KTM) |
2015 | Marc Coma (KTM) |
2014 | Joan Barreda (Honda) |
2013 | Marc Coma (KTM) |
2012 | Marc Coma (KTM) |