Goncalves and Rodrigues will represent Team HRC at Rally dos Sertões; Barreda to skip the event.
Reigning FIM Cross Country Rallies World Champion Paulo Goncalves and the HRC factory rally team are headed to Brazil for an event that was crucial in the 2013 World Championship: the Rally dos Sertões.
Last year, the Rally “dos Sertões” (rally of the inland regions) turned out to be one of the most decisive in the 2013 championship. Goncalves maintained his cool under pressure and scored a crucial victory to close the gap on overall leader Marc Coma. That paved the way for Goncalves to clinch the championship at the Morocco Rally. In 2014, Goncalves finds himself in a similar position, trailing Coma and also HRC teammate Joan Barreda, with the top three all within seven points.
However, Goncalves has a real opportunity in Brazil, as Barreda, per a prearranged team strategy, is scheduled to miss the Rally dos Sertões; he is already making preparations for the 2015 Dakar Rally. Goncalves and Hélder Rodrigues will represent Team HRC in Brazil. Rodrigues is currently fifth in the FIM Cross Country Rallies series points standings.
“The Rally dos Sertoes was, for the team and I, a decisive race in last year’s world championship, and I hope we can get another positive result and fulfill our aims once again this year,” Goncalves said. “I will be looking to cut down the gap in the World Championship. It’s a race that I’m really attracted to, as it is a beautiful course; although it’s a shorter one this time around, so we’ll have to really work at it. The team is doing a fine job and the bike is super-competitive, so we’ve just got to get out there and fight for the victory.”
The Rally dos Sertões gets underway this Saturday August 23, with a 10-kilometer prologue in the Goiania Autodrome Ayrton Senna. The first of seven stages begins Sunday and ends Belo Horizonte Saturday August 30, after a route of approximately 2600 kilometers, of which 1545 will be part of the timed stages.
FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship Series Points Standings
1. Marc Coma-KTM/51
2. Joan Barreda-Hon/45
3. Paulo Goncalves-Hon/44
4. Jordi Viladoms-KTM/26
5. Helder Rodrigues-Hon/24
6. Juan Carlos Salvatierra-Spe/21
7. Alessandro Botturi –Spe/20
8. Mohammed Albalooshi-KTM/20
9. Nicolás Cardona-Yam/17
10. Jakub Piatek –Yam/17
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