2014 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Stage 4 Results
The penultimate stage of the 2014 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – round 1 of the FIM Cross Country Rallies Championship – got underway Wednesday, taking riders 379 miles from Madinat Zayed to Qasr Al Sarab.
And after a motocross-style start (15 bikes at a time), Team HRC Honda’s Joan Barreda took total command. He got ahead of the others aboard his Honda CRF450 Rally, and ran alone up front. He increased his pace even more following his fuel stop.
The Spaniard, who also won Tuesday’s stage 3, took the win by 1:20 minutes ahead of Red Bull KTM’s Marc Coma, the overall leader. Finishing third, 2:29 minutes back, was “Bang Bang” Barreda’s teammate Paulo Goncalves.
Coma has the overall lead, and is 1:31 minutes ahead of Goncalves. Barreda is in third overall, 5:49 minutes back.
Joan Barreda (Team HRC Honda CRF450 Rally) says “Today was a really good day. After the first day without a very good feeling and some problems, suddenly we found a good pace and a good rhythm. The last two or three days we’ve found a really good speed, always pushing. We have another victory. I know that it is not easy to win this rally, but tomorrow we will be giving it our all.”
The final stage of the 2014 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge takes place Thursday, and will take riders 360 kilometers from Qasr Al Sarab to the Yas Marina Circuit.
2014 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Stage 4 Results Results:
1. Joan Barreda 03:37’20 ESP HONDA TEAM HRC
2. Marc Coma +01’20 ESP KTM KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
3. Paulo Goncalves +02’29 PRT HONDA TEAM HRC
4. Jordi Viladoms +03’22 ESP KTM KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
5. Helder Rodrigues +04’31 PRT HONDA TEAM HRC
6. Mohammed Albalooshi +06’12 UAE KTM KTM UAC
7. Miran Stanovnik +09’33 SLO KTM Team Stavnovik
8. Mohammed Abu Issa +21’47 QAT YAMAHA Abu Issa
9. Oliver Lloyd +29’05 GBR SPEEDBRAIN Speedbrain Rally Team
10. Rafal Sonik +29’20 POL HONDA Poland National
2014 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Provisional Standings after Stage 4:
1. Marc Coma 14:12’10 ESP KTM KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
2. Paulo Goncalves +01’31 PRT HONDA TEAM HRC
3. Joan Barreda +05’49 ESP HONDA TEAM HRC
4. Jordi Viladoms +32’51 ESP KTM KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
5. Miran Stanovnik +1:28’24 SLO KTM Team Stavnovik
6. Mohammed Albalooshi +1:31’01 UAE KTM KTM UAC
7. Helder Rodrigues +1:58’43 PRT HONDA TEAM HRC
8. Oliver Lloyd +2:38’17 GBR SPEEDBRAIN Speedbrain Rally Team
9. Santosh CS +02:45’37 IND KTM Team CS
10. Jakub Piatek +2:46’38 POL KTM Team Hanesco
