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The date of the Desafio Ruta 40 changed this year, the Argentinian cross country rally switching from June to the end of August with a prologue and five stages from the 26nd to the 31st. Not content with clinching a splendid one-two, Monster Energy Honda Team has picked up hope again of adding to its list of wins and to that of its technical partner Motul, with a world cup in just over a month.
The event pays tribute to national road 40 crossing Argentina from the Bolivian boarder in the north to the southernmost tip of Patagonia. The race route covers 2,333 km in the provinces of the north-east of the country from San Juan to Tucuman.
From the second to the fourth stage, Kevin Benavides on home turf, and his Portuguese team-mate Paulo Gonçalves, were constantly switching place in the lead of the rally! But on the last day, the Argentinian kept the advantage. Kevin thus repeated his 2016 success when the Desafio Ruta did not yet count for the World Championship. So it is therefore also his first win at this level. 'Stage 1 was particularly difficult. I injured my hand before getting hit in the nose by my bike in the dunes,' commented the winner as if to confirm that winning is never easy...
Paulo Gonçalves experienced trouble in the fourth stage, including a fall. 2nd at the arrival, he is back in the race for the title. Michael Metge won the last stage and the adventure finished with 5th place for Ricky Brabec.
FIM Cross-country rally World Championship standings
01 Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna), 87 pts
02 Paulo Gonçalves (Honda), 82 pts
03 Sam Sunderland (KTM), 81 pts
04 Kevin Benavides (Honda), 74 pts
