Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Pablo Quintanilla wins Stage 3 of the Sealine Rally in Qatar, moving back into a joint tie for the lead with Sam Sunderland.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna factory rider Pablo Quintanilla scored a helpful win in Stage 3 of the Sealine Rally to regain the time he lost during yesterday’s Stage 2 and pull back into the overall lead where he is now tied with Red Bull KTM’s Sam Sunderland.
The two men are almost 21 minutes ahead of third-placed Juan Carlos Salvaterria of Bolivia now, as current FIM Cross-Country Rallies points leader and reigning Dakar Rally Champion Toby Price pulled out of the rally today after straining his back. Price came into the day with the overall rally lead. Quintanilla battled with Savalterria early and had to make a wheel change during the arduous, 355-kilometer stage, but he was able to keep a fast pace to finish the day with a winning time of 4 hours, 3 minutes and 10 seconds.
Sunderland had to pass Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Pela Renet before focusing on Quintanilla, and the Brit reached PC1 over a minute faster to move into the stage lead. He maintained that position through PC2 as he and Quintanilla got away from Salvaterria. Quintanilla managed to catch Sunderland before the last PC, with the Chilean taking the lead and holding it through the finish, while Sunderland came in 1 minute and 58 seconds behind him. Then came Salvaterria, followed by factory Yamaha riders Helder Rodrigues of Portugal and Adrien Van Beveren of France in fourth and fifth respectively.
“This turned out to be a difficult day but ended very well,” Quintanilla said. “I damaged my rear wheel at the start of the timed special, and I lost some time because I had to ride calmly to the refueling where I could change it. Then I pushed hard to win the stage. We have two more race days, probably with very difficult navigation and very physical [terrain], and it’s going to be a fight with Sunderland right to the finish.”
Spanish rider Julian Villarrubia crashed shortly after the start of today’s stage, suffering a broken arm and reducing the number of motorcycle competitors still in the rally to 11 (only 15 riders started the rally). Qatar’s Ahmed Fahad Al-Kuwari also fell before the opening passage control and suffered a collar bone injury.
Tomorrow’s 354.75-kilometer special stage starts at Al-Shabana and finishes close to the former bivouac at Sealine. The stage initially heads north towards Al-Jamilaiya, using some of the terrain from the first day, and then cuts back across the heart of Qatar between Dukhan and Doha. The final portion of the route meanders through the dunes on the eastern side of the country to finish close to the former bivouac at Sealine.
2016 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship
Sealine Rally
Qatar
Results: April 20, 2016 (Round 2 of 6)
Stage 3 of 5
1. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI)-Hus/4 hours, 3 minutes, 10 seconds
2. Sam Sunderland (GBR)-KTM/+00:01:58
3. Helder Rodrigues (POR)-Yam/+00:08:18
4. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA)-Yam/+00:12:13
5. Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (CHI)-KTM/+00:14:54
6. Juan Carlos Salvaterria (BOL)-KTM/+00:24:16
7. Pela Renet (FRA)-Hus/+00:33:42
8. Mohammed Al Balooshi (UAE)-KTM/+00:58:26
9. Scott Britnell (AUS)-Hus/+01:07:51
10. Kurt Burroughs (GBR)-KTM/+02:26:14
2016 Sealine Rally Overall Results (after 3 of 5 stages)
1. Sam Sunderland (GBR)-KTM/10 hours, 58 minutes, 38 seconds
1. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI)-Hus/10 hours, 58 minutes, 38 seconds
3. Juan Carlos Salvaterria (BOL)-KTM/+00:20:58
4. Helder Rodrigues (POR)-Yam/+00:23:29
5. Pela Renet (FRA)-Hus/+00:31:40
6. Scott Britnell (AUS)-Hus/+02::20:13
7. Mohammed Al Balooshi (USA)-KTM/+02:46:02
8. Kurt Burroughs (GBR)-KTM/+06:45:31
9. Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (CHI)-KTM/+07:14:56
10. Ahmed Fahad Alkuwari (QAT)-KTM/+09:36:12
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