Trouble Strikes Goncalves in the Dunes of the Marathon Stage

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Trouble Strikes Goncalves in the Dunes of the Marathon Stage

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Trouble Strikes Goncalves in the Dunes of the Marathon Stage

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January 12, 10th day of the rally was set in the changeful sand dunes, positioned by the organizers to be the stage where anything could happen. Also being the first day of the Marathon stage where support by the team is unavailable, this was a highlight for the 2016 Dakar.

Kevin BenavideszoomKevin Benavides Ricky BrabeczoomRicky Brabec
The sand-dune stage set in Fiambala is one of the most difficult of stages in the South-American Dakar with fine sand and scattering bushes making it hard to choose the best route. Temperatures reaching up to 50℃ is also a challenge for the competitors.

Team HRC Paulo Goncalves started the stage from 2nd place in the over-all standings, aiming to close the 2 minute 5 seconds gap on the leading Price (KTM Factory) and taking back the lead.

Considering the harsh environment and the demanding two days ahead, Goncalves controls his pace for the first day of the Marathon stage, whereas rival KTM rider Price kept a fast pace from the start to widen the gap. Showing different strategies, the second Marathon stage looked as if it was going to be an exciting battle between the race leaders, when it unexpectedly came to a sudden end.

Almost two hours into the stage, approaching Check Point 2, a branch from a bush in the desert spikes the radiator of Goncalves’ CRF450 RALLY, causing serious damage for it to leak. With the lack of cooling at this scorching stage, the engine was soon severely damaged.

Reaching almost dangerous temperatures in this desert stage, the organizers make the decision to call off the race for safety reasons at Check Point 2, directing the competitors to return to the Marathon stage bivouac. Goncalves was towed to the bivouac by his HRC teammates Michael Metge and Paolo Ceci, and will look for a way to continue the challenge in this difficult situation where help from the team is unavailable.

Due to the shortened Special stage, the times to CP2 became today’s final result with Team HRC Ricky Brabec in 5th and Michael Metge, who returned to bivouac late last night having suffered electrical problems, in 17th positions. On the other hand, Honda South America Rally Team rider Kevin Benavides and his CRF450 RALLY had a successful day finishing in 2nd place, while teammate Adrien Metge made it to a respectable 19th. The race continues on the second half of the Marathon stage tomorrow, and beyond, to the goal.

UPDATED: Ricky Brabec finally takes the second best time of the day and Paulo Goncalves was able to end the section and did it in 13th place. Kevin Benavides down to the 10th position. Overall results are also updated with the right times.Overall: Paulo Goncalves in 3rd, Kevin Benavides in 6th, Ricky Brabec in 9th.

Michael MetgezoomMichael Metge Adrien MetgezoomAdrien Metge
Wolfgang Fischer - Team HRC Team Manager :"Today we have experienced one of the most incredibly hard days in the Dakar, maybe the hardest in the history of the Dakar until now, with a situation of extreme temperatures that have affected the normal development of the stage. Paulo, fortunately, continues to be in the race in spite of a serious setback before the refuelling. A log pierced the radiator and the coolant leaked out. With the heat that there was, he arrived extremely overheated at refuelling and wouldn’t have been able to carry on if it hadn’t been for the race authorities’ decision to stop the stage at CP2, which means Paulo keeps his possibilities of continuing open. He was helped by his team-mate Paolo Ceci to make it back to the bivouac and there they will attempt to repair the bike so that he can start tomorrow and continue his adventure in this Dakar. Tomorrow there will be a new starting system although the organization hasn’t yet given us the information about what the order will be, but we believe that there will be various cars out ahead of the bikes. It will be especially tough for those who start out from behind."

Paulo GoncalveszoomPaulo Goncalves


Event information

TOMORROW'S STAGE
2016 January 13. Stage 10: Belén – La Rioja
Special sections: 278km
Total: 561km

The Fiambalá dunes have become one of the decisive stages of the Dakar. This year, they feature at the heart of the most critical rally sequence, when drivers and their vehicles will have to demonstrate their aptitude for extreme endurance. Moreover, the day’s stage presents the longest dune section in the shared history of the Dakar and Fiambalá, off-piste for most of the time. In short, an open door for desert specialists.


Dakar Rally 2016 - Stage 9


Rank

Rider (Team)

1 Toby Price (KTM) 03:26'58
2 Ricky Brabec (Honda) +00:12'29
3 Antoine Meo (KTM) +00:13'24
4 Stefan Svitko (KTM) +00:14'45
5 Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) +00:15'54
6 (KTM) +00:16'38
10 Kevin Benavides (Honda) +00:22'08
13 Paulo Goncalves (Honda) +00:31'56
18 Michael Metge (Honda) +01:05'11
20 Adrien Metge (Honda) +01:10'58
27 Paolo Ceci (Honda) +01:24'49
40 Pedro Bianchi Prata (Honda) +01:57'19
45 Maikel Verkade (Honda) +02:15'51
68 Rob Smits (Honda) +03:16'42
72 Federico Eduardo Cola (Honda) +03:44'06

Dakar Rally 2016 - Overall classification


Rank

Rider (Team)

1 Toby Price (KTM) 30:55'54
2 Stefan Svitko (KTM) 31:24'53
3 Paulo Goncalves (Honda) 31:29'55
4 Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 31:34'35
5 Antoine Meo (KTM) 31:38'02
6 Kevin Benavides (Honda) 31:43'57
9 Ricky Brabec (Honda) 32:00'02
17 Adrien Metge (Honda) 33:29'43
42 Paolo Ceci (Honda) 37:55'29
48 Maikel Verkade (Honda) 38:49'54
53 Rob Smits (Honda) 39:37'50
58 Pedro Bianchi Prata (Honda) 40:10'17
73 Michael Metge (Honda) 44:04'49
94 Federico Eduardo Cola (Honda) 51:18'37
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