Complicated SS2 navigation on Morocco Rally for Monster Energy Honda Team
| American Ricky Brabec was the best of the Monster Energy Honda Team in the second stage of the Morocco Rally and lies third in the overall race standings. Paulo Gonçalves, sixth on the day, holds fourth spot in the general rankings with Cornejo also among the top ten.
After a short 36-kilometre liaison section which took the competitors to the start of the timed section, riders were faced with a long 281-kilometre special over rock-filled fast track and dry river beds, as well as a fair dosage of small dunes. Ricky Brabec started the day very strongly, displaying a ferocious pace in a type of terrain that he clearly feels at home with. Monster Energy Honda Team’s American rider led practically the entire day until he reached a control point which proved difficult to locate and validate. Likewise, team-mate Paulo Gonçalves, who rode behind Brabec throughout the stage found the same difficulty. While Brabec posted fourth, his Portuguese comrade finished the day in sixth position. José Ignacio Cornejo, perhaps less comfortable on rocky terrain, rode prudently to finish twelfth after struggling to find one of the final waypoints of the stage. Tomorrow, Sunday, sees the third stage, the first part of the marathon stage, with a total of 275 kilometres, ending in the middle of the desert. The competitors will spend the night there without contact with the team and, as a consequence, without being able to receive outside mechanical assistance. |
Paulo Goncalves 4STAGE: 6th OVERALL: 4th
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Ricky Brabec 11STAGE: 4th OVERALL: 3rd
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