Team HRC Goes One-Two in Opening Stage of OiLibya Rally of Morocco

Joan Barreda and Paulo Gonçalves get off to a flying start in the Rally of Morocco.

Team HRC set the pace early with a one-two finish in the opening stage of the 2014

, with Joan “Bang Bang” Barreda securing the stage win.

“It went really well,” Barreda said. “I’m pleased with the way that the stage went. We started from behind and there was a lot of tricky navigating to do. Near the end I dropped a couple of minutes due to a slight navigational error, but it didn’t amount to much. Now we will be looking to see how we can improve even more over the next few days, and keep ahead of the rest. The strategy will have a crucial role in the race.”

Reigning FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Champion Paulo Gonçalves finished not far behind Barreda, in the runner-up position, giving Honda the one-two. Of course, Barreda is the overall leader in the rally. The Spanish rider set a fast pace in 276-kilometer special stage, which covered both hard-pack and rocky terrain, and also featured the event’s first sand dune section. Such was the speed over most of the stage that not even a minor route miscalculation in the day kept Barreda from the stage victory.

Gonçalves kept his distance from Red Bull KTM’s Marc Coma who started out behind the Portuguese rider and was never able to catch him. Fourth place went to yet another Team HRC rider, Hélder Rodrigues, who performed well in the special stage. Red Bull KTM’s Ruben Faria was fifth.

FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship
OiLibya Rally of Morocco (Round 6 of 6)
Morocco
Results: October 4, 2014 (Stage 1 of 6)

Stage 1
1. Joan Barreda-Hon/03:04:11
2. Paulo Goncalves-Hon/+00:01:49
3. Marc Coma-KTM/+00:01:51
4. Helder Rodrigues-Hon/+00:03:51
5. Ruben Faria-KTM/+00:04:35
6. Jordi Viladoms-KTM/+00:06:53
7. Chaleco López-KTM/+00:09:47
8. Kuba Przygonski-KTM/+00:14:45
9. Sam Sunderland-KTM /+00:15:16
10. Jeremias Israel-Hon/+00:18:50

OiLibya Rally of Morocco Overall Standings (After 1 of 6 stages)
1. Joan Barreda-Hon/03:04:11
2. Paulo Goncalves-Hon/+00:01:49
3. Marc Coma-KTM/+00:01:51
4. Helder Rodrigues-Hon/+00:03:51
5. Ruben Faria-KTM/+00:04:35
6. Jordi Viladoms-KTM/+00:06:53
7. Chaleco López-KTM/+00:09:47
8. Kuba Przygonski-KTM/+00:14:45
9. Sam Sunderland-KTM /+00:15:16
10. Jeremias Israel-Hon/+00:18:50

Tomorrow’s Stage
Stage 2: Erfoud-Merzane
Liaison: 26 km
Special Stage: 211 km
Liaision: 11 km
Total Distance: 246 km