If nothing else, Team HRC’s Paulo Gonçalves proved by his performance today at the 2016 Atacama Rally that he is still one tough customer.
Goncalves, who suffered a painful abdomen injury in Stage 2, roared back to score the Stage 4 win today. Goncalves’ condition has reportedly been on the upswing since the crash, and today he showed his competitive spirit by blazing the singletrack from Bahia Inglesa to Vallenar in Chile and holding the lead on the return loop to Bahia Inglesa to win the stage, which was shortened by 20 kilometers.
Early morning mist delayed the start as the rally’s chase helicopters could not take off for the penultimate stage. After the stage got underway, Goncalves came through with a time of 2 hours, 29 minutes and 33.5 seconds, 20 seconds faster than Red Bull KTM’s Toby Price. The win moved Goncalves into third place overall in the rally after teammate Kevin Benavides crashed. Goncalves now sits 6 minutes and 24 seconds out of the lead.
“Today we had quite a long stage with 320 kilometers of fast track and some dangerous rocks,” Goncalves said. “We had to be very careful. I tried to keep up a good pace because the abdomen pains of the last two days had eased up, and I made it to the end of the stage with the fastest time. I’m particularly pleased about the way the bike is developing, which is really proving to be good thanks to all the work that has been put in by Team HRC. Tomorrow there are still 100 kilometers left to go, and we have to try and do it well.”
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Pablo Quintanilla also put together another solid run in Stage 4, finishing third, just another 5 seconds behind Price. More good news for the Chilean who is seeking his fourth consecutive Atacama Rally win, his time has been restored, leaving him back in second place overall, just 26 seconds behind Price. Setting up a whale of a showdown for the overall win in tomorrow’s final stage.
Benavides effectively saw his chances for the win go out the window when he smacked a rock and went over the handlebars before being struck by his own motorcycle. He was able to remount and finish fifth in the stage, behind Red Bull KTM’s Sam Sunderland. Benavides is now fourth overall, 8 minutes and 34 seconds out of the lead.
“Today has been a very difficult stage,” Benavides said. “Around kilometer 60, I fell in an area of fesh-fesh. I hit a hidden rock and went flying. The bike spun around a couple of times over me and then hit me. I was lying there in pain for a while, then I got myself back on the bike and got through to the end of the stage. Being able to start from further back tomorrow probably means that I will be able to make up some lost time.”
American Ricky Brabec had another solid day aboard his Team HRC Honda CRF450 Rally machine. Brabec finished seventh, behind Sunderland, Benavides and Red Bull KTM’s Matthias Walkner. Brabec now holds seventh place overall, an even 40 minutes out of the lead.
“For the fourth stage here at Atacama it was really fast, and that meant that it was very hard to make up any ground on the riders in front or pull back any time,” Brabec said. “It was full gas for practically the whole day, and a fair bit of difficult navigation in there, too. But we have made it here safe and sound and are all ready to go for the last stage tomorrow where there will be a lot of dunes.”
Red Bull KTM’s Laia Sanz enjoyed her best finish of the 2016 Atacama Rally during Stage 4, ducking just inside the top 10 with time of 2 hours 47 minutes and 7.5 seconds.
The Atacama Rally finishes tomorrow in Copiapó, with Price and Quintanilla expected to let it all hang out in search of the overall win.
2016 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship
Round 4: Atacama Rally
Bahia Inglesa-Vallenar-Bahia Inglesa, Chile
Results: August 26, 2016
Stage 4
1. Paulo Goncalves (POR)-Hon/2 hours, 29 minutes, 33.5 seconds
2. Toby Price (AUS)-KTM/+00:00:20
3. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI)-Hus/+00:00:25
4. Sam Sunderland (GBR)-KTM/+00:03:33
5. Kevin Benavides (ARG)-Hon/+00:04:46
6. Matthias Walkner (AUT)-Hon/+00:07:10
7. Ricky Brabec (USA)-Hon/+00:08:40
8. Franco Cami (ARG)-Hon/+00:10:42
9. Pela Renet (FRA)-Hus/+00:12:24
10. Laia Sanz (SPA)-KTM/+00:17:34
2016 Atacama Rally Overall Standings (after 4 of 5 stages)
1. Toby Price (AUS)-KTM/10 hours, 49 minutes, 21 seconds
2. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI)-Hus/+00:00:26
3. Paulo Goncalves (POR)-Hon/+00:06:24
4. Kevin Benavides (ARG)-Hon/+00:08:34
5. Matthias Walkner (AUT)-Hon/+00:33:01
6. Sam Sunderland (GBR)-KTM/+00:35:15
7. Ricky Brabec (USA)-Hon/+00:40:00
8. Franco Cami (ARG)-Hon/+00:59:27
9. José Cornejo (CHI)-KTM/+01:07:54
10. Felipe Prohens (CHI)-KTM/+01:26:21
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