Argentine’s Kevin Benavides and Team HRC win the Merzouga Rally.
After winning the two previous stages, HRC’s Kevin Benavides came home second in the final stage of the 2016 Afriquia Merzouga Rally in Morocco today, but that was good enough to clinch the overall victory.
Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team’s Adrien Van Beveren won today’s stage, which featured a motocross-style start and led the riders through the Moroccan dunes one last time. Van Beveren’s fast time of 1 hour, 21 minutes and 31 seconds to secure third place overall, just behind Slovakia KTM’s Stefan Svitko, who finished behind Benavides in Stage 5 and thus failed in his bid to retake the rally lead after losing it in Stage 4.
Benavides only needed to ride a safe pace to maintain his 3+-minute lead, and he was rewarded with the first major rally win of his career and his first since joining the official factory Honda team after enjoying success in the 2016 Dakar Rally with Honda South America. It was also Team HRC’s second Afriquia Merzouga Rally win, the first coming with Sam Sunderland in 2013.
“I’m really super-happy about my first race for Team HRC and to win has been something fantastic,” Benavides said. “I think that I had a great rally in spite of having a minor problem with the roadbook on the first day and the five-minute penalty that I picked up on the second. But the third day was a spectacular one, and yesterday was the decisive stage. I was happy because I opened up a gap which allowed me to set off today in a more conservative way, with a good pace, but without going mad. I’m really pleased to have brought the team victory. I’m very happy to have started with a win and for the great teamwork with Ricky [Brabec]. Also, it’s great to give Roberto Boasso his first win, because we both began with Team HRC at the same time. I shouldn’t forget about my mechanic Germán Olivares either, who looked after the bike or Martino Bianchi and Mariano Casaroli from Honda Argentina.”
Team HRC’s American star, Ricky Brabec, wound up sixth overall while using the rally to hone his navigation skills in preparation for larger rallies yet to come his new career. He certainly took his lumps in this one, struggling with the reading of his roadbook on some days, but he gained experience and made important strides in Morocco.
“Today was the last day with a motocross or grand prix-style start,” Brabec said. “I rode well today; I got passed in the end by two people, but I think the race was over for me yesterday as I was so far back in time. So, today was just to get through to the finish and get another rally finished. This is my fourth rally finish, and I’m healthy. I’m excited as this is my second time with Honda when they have won. Winning is always great, and it is good for Honda. I think that we have a strong team for Dakar, so we’ll keep attacking for the whole year and be back for the Dakar 2017 and on the podium.”
2016 Afriquia Merzouga Rally
Morocco
Results: May 27, 2016 (Stage 5 of 5)
Stage 5
1. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA)-Yam/1 hour, 21 minutes, 31 seconds
2. Kevin Benavides (ARG)-Hon/+00:01:39
3. Stefan Svitko (SLO)-KTM/+00:02:06
4. Gonçalo Reis (POR)-KTM/+00:02:42
5. Helder Rodrigues (POR)-Yam/+00:02:43
6. Ricky Brabec (USA)-Hon/+00:02:46
7. Joaquim Rodrigues (POR)-Her+00:05:26
8. Gerard Farres (SPA)-KTM/+00:05:27
9. José Cornejo (CHI)-KTM/+00:05:28
10. Pedro Oliveria (POR)-Yam/+00:05:31
2015 Afriquia Merzouga Rally Final Overall Results (after 5 of 5 stages)
1. Kevin Benavides (ARG)-Hon/15 hours, 2 minutes, 40 seconds
2. Stefan Svitko (ARG)-Hon/+00:03:32
3. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA)-Hon/+00:09:57
4. Gerard Farres (SPA)-KTM/+00:15:57
5. Helder Rodrigues (POR)-Yam/+00:16:40
6. Ricky Brabec (USA)-Hon/+00:52:03
7. José Cornejo (CHI)-KTM/+01:19:35
8. Daniel Nosiglia (BOL)-Hus/+02:14:34
9. Joaquim Rodrigues (POR)-Her/+02:46:28
10. Gonçalo Reis (POR)-KTM/+03:02:59
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