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2,000 kilometres of preparation

Motul
14 September

Team HRC moved its logistics and its Honda CRF450 Rallys to the United Arab Emirates to take part, from 1 to 6 April, in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge with Motul's technical support. This first round of the FIM Cross Country Rally World Championship saw Kevin Benavides make his big come-back after his right hand fracture deprived him of the Dakar in January. His team-mate, Paulo Gonçalves, fought for the podium until the 2073rd kilometre to come 4th. The Argentinian like the Portuguese man each won one leg out of the five scheduled.

 

 

Paulo Gonçalves wasn't too disappointed over losing the win by a few minutes in the last leg. 'I'm satisfied with this result and with scoring points in the championship after a few route incidents as in leg two. I had just crossed 70 kilometres when I felt bogged down in a dune. I had to stop to get my breath back before continuing. I had some chance of clinching that leg but knew that this type of event, entirely composed of dunes, could reserve such a scenario.' Benavides could have finished higher than 16th place had it not been for a technical glitch on day three.

 

 

Of interest, the day after the arrival of the rally in Yas Marina, two other riders of Team HRC, Joan Barreda and Michael Metge, were present in Barcelona for a presentation evening of the 40th staging of the Dakar in 2018, for which we know Motul will be major partner!

 

Sourse:
http://www.fim-live.com


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