Honda's Joan Barreda Grabs Early Dakar Rally Lead

Honda’s Joan Barreda Grabs Early Dakar Rally Lead

The Spanish Honda factory rider sets the pace for the prestigious Dakar Rally; Monday’s Stage 2 will feature the first sand dune section of the grueling event. Honda hasn’t won the prestigious Dakar Rally in 25 years, but the factory team got off to a spectacular start in a bid to end that drought at […]

January 5, 2014January 13, 2014 Scott Rousseau

The Spanish Honda factory rider sets the pace for the prestigious Dakar Rally; Monday’s Stage 2 will feature the first sand dune section of the grueling event.

Spanish Honda factory rider Joan Barreda took the early lead among the 175 motorcycle competitors in the 2014 Dakar Rally with a win in Stage 1 in Argentina on Sunday. PHOTO COURTESY OF HONDA RACING EUROPE.

Honda hasn’t won the prestigious Dakar Rally in 25 years, but the factory team got off to a spectacular start in a bid to end that drought at the 2014 Dakar Rally on Saturday, as Joan Barreda carded the fastest special test time in the 175-rider motorcycle field to win Stage 1 in Argentina on Saturday.

The 629-kilometer opening stage, which featured a 180-kilometer special test, required that the motorcycles get off to a 4 a.m. start to negotiate the 405-kilometer transfer route that took them toward the city of Rosario for the start of the special test, with the day finishing up in San Luis. Barreda, known affectionately as “Bang Bang” got off to a bang when he clocked the fastest special test time of the day, completing the stage in 2 hours, 25 minutes and 31 seconds. He was followed by two former Dakar Rally Champions, including fellow Spaniard and KTM rider Marc Coma, who carded a time of 2:26:08, just 37 seconds behind Barreda. Defending Dakar Rally Champion Cyril Despres of France brought his new Yamaha factory ride home third with a time of 2:27:11.

KTM's Marc Coma finished second today in Stage 1, putting himself in a good position in the early going. Coma missed last year's rally due to injury. PHOTO COURTESY OF RED BULL MEDIA HOUSE. — KTM’s Marc Coma finished second today in Stage 1, putting himself in a good position in the early going. Coma missed last year’s rally due to injury. PHOTO COURTESY OF RED BULL MEDIA HOUSE.

“It’s been a great day,” Barreda said. “I’m really pleased for the first win with Honda, especially for the team that has worked so hard the whole year to produce this new bike. I’m really happy to have begun the Dakar like this. Today was a tough one. Few kilometers, but with a very difficult track full of rocks and very slippery. I managed to get off really well in the second part, keep up a good pace and get a result in the end.”

Stage 2 from San Luis to San Rafel will feature a 365-kilometer transfer section along with a 359-kilometer special test that is said to be the fastest in the 2014 Dakar Rally. The riders riders will spend time in a 60-mile section of the grey sand dunes of Nihuil, where experience is expected to play a huge part in the outcome.

Defending Dakar motorcycle champion Cyril Despres finished third in Stage 1 today aboard his factory Yamaha ride. PHOTO COURTESY OF YAMAHA RACING.

Dakar Rally
Stage 1
Rosario-San Luis, Argentina
Results: January 5, 2014
1. Joan Barreda-Hon/02:25:31
2. Marc Coma-KTM/+00:00:37
3. Cyril Despres-Yam/+00:01:40
4. Alain Duclos-She/+00:01:56
5. Paulo Goncalves-Honda/+00:02:25

Dakar Rally Standings (After Stage 1 of 13)
1. Joan Barreda-Hon/02:25:31
2. Marc Coma-KTM/+00:00:37
3. Cyril Despres-Yam/+00:01:40
4. Alain Duclos-She/+00:01:56
5. Paulo Goncalves-Honda/+00:02:25

Honda’s Joan Barreda Grabs Early Dakar Rally Lead

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