Morocco Rally Stage 1: Barreda off to Winning Start

Back in the saddle after healing from an injury, “Bang Bang” Barreda starts with a bang in Morocco.

Team HRC’s Joan Barreda got off to a flying start at the OiLibya Morocco Rally, the final round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, in Zagoara, Morocco, today.

Tremendous downpours caused river water levels along the Stage 1 route to rise prior to the stage, forcing race organizers to shorten the previously planned route. As a result, the route which was scheduled to include a 330-kilometer special stage, was cut to just 370 kilometers in total length.

“Bang Bang” Barreda set a fast pace in the stage, which was still hazardous despite being shortened. Dust, intead of mud, reduced visibility to near zero. Barreda completed the stage with a time of 3 hours, 35 minutes and 46 seconds, 1 minute and 41 seconds ahead of Red Bull KTM’s Toby Price. Former Team HRC rider and new Factory Yamaha Yamalube rider Helder Rodrigues finished third today, and he is 2 minutes and 51 seconds out of the lead.

Barreda’s win was proof that he is fully healed after having to sit out 3 months due to an injury.

“For me it was a good day,” Barreda said. “I started out from behind, but I had to be really careful with all the dust generated up ahead. I went very slowly in some of the early parts of the special. The positive thing is that I kept calm as there were areas where I could have attacked. In the end, in spite of losing a bit of time trying to get past other riders, we were able to get a good result. A great start to the rally.”

Tomorrow’s stage, called the Loop of the Draa, will feature a 224-kilometer special stage with 141 kilometers of liaison, most all of it in the dunes, although the early part of the stage route includes tracks across a long valley. Navigation will be a priority of the special, as the dunes pop up before Checkpoint 2.

2015 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship
2015 OiLibya Morocco Rally
Morocco
Results: October 5, 2015 (Round 6 of 6)
Stage 1 of 5

1. Joan Barreda (SPA)-Hon/3 hours, 36 minutes and 45 seconds
2. Toby Price (AUS)-KTM/+00:01:41
3. Helder Rodrigues (POR)-Yam/+00:02:51
4. Antoine Meo (FRA)-KTM/+00:04:39
5. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI)/+00:05:40
6. Paulo Goncalves (POR)-Hon/+00:06:03
7. Sam Sunderland (GBR)-KTM/+00:06:26
8. Mathias Walkner (AUT)-KTM/+00:06:43
9. Jordi Viladoms (SPA)-KTM/+00:09:54
10. Olivier Pain (FRA)-Nom/+00:13:19