Team HRC Honda’s Paulo Goncalves keeps the pressure on Marc Coma with a win in Stage 4
Team HRC’s Paulo Goncalves pulled back time on overall leader Marc Coma with a strong performance in which Goncalves won the longest special stage of the 2014 Rally dos Sertões in Brazil, today.
The long run came during Stage 4, in which the rally also eclipsed its halfway point. The stage included a diverse mix of challenges, with a total distance of 363.85 kilometers between the start in Paracatu and the finish in Sao Francisco. After a 125-kiloeter liaison section, the riders hammered down to compete in the timed stage on a narrow, hard and torturous section of the course that had been pounded by rain and elements. The route also included sand, as well as water crossings of varying depth.
Goncalves was clearly focused on victory, and despite a slight error that cost him some time, he was able to reel-in 1 minute and 15 seconds on Coma, who finished second in the stage. Goncalves now trails Coma by 2 minutes and 4 second with three stages remaining.
“I had a great day today,” Goncalves said. “I started from third place, and I started to really push. Towards the middle of the stage I made a slight mistake, I momentarily lost concentration and lost a bit of time. I really forced it on the last part and made up time and won the stage. I’m really pleased for me, for the CRF450 RALLY and for all the rest of the HRC Team, which is doing a great job. We will continue to work hard over the next few days, as we are now at the half-way point.”
Team HRC Honda’s Helder Rodrigues also enjoyed a good day in the long stage, taking third place for the day and edging closer to overall third-place man Jean Azevedo of the Honda Mobil Rally team. Azevedo is staying consistent, however; he was fourth on the day.
Tomorrow’s Stage 5 is a marathon stage, the rules of which forbid any outside mechanical assistance at the end of the day. The bikes will be closed off in the parc fermé after the finish. Preparation and a motorcycle-preserving riding technique will be crucial.
FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, Round 5
Rally dos Sertões
Brazil
Results: August 27, 2014 (Stage 4 of 7)
Stage 4
1. Paulo Goncalves-Hon/04:24:02
2. Marc Coma-KTM/+00:01:15
3. Helder Rodrigues-Hon/+00:06:49
4. Jean Azevedo-Hon/+00:07:18
5. Jordi Viladoms-KTM/+00:07:32
6. Sam Sunderland-KTM/+00:07:56
7. Ruben Faria-KTM/+00:08:18
8. David Casteu-KTM/+00:12:07
9. Ike Klaumann-Hon/+00:14:13
10. Guilherme Gaspar Cascaes-Yam/+00:17:09
Rally dos Sertões Provisional Standings (After 4 of 7 Stages)
1. Marc Coma-KTM/09:43:55
2. Paulo Goncalves-Hon/+00:02:04
3. Jean Azevedo -Hon/+00:09:13
4. Helder Rodrigues-Hon/+00:11:33
5. Jordi Viladoms-KTM/+00:14:20
6. Ruben Faria-KTM/+00:16:22
7. Sam Sunderland-KTM/+00:19:32
8. David Casteu-KTM/+00:24:59
9. Ike Klaumann -Hon/+00:25:33
10. Ramon Oliveira Sacilotti-Kaw/+00:34:32
Tomorrow’s Stage (Marathon Stage)
Sao Francisco-Diamantina
Liaison-223.57 km
Special Stage-335.98 km
Liaison-85.89 km
Totatl Distance-645.44 km
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