Team HRC Honda’s Paulo Goncalves takes advantage of a break to take over the Sardinia Rally lead.
Defending FIM World Cross-Country Rallies Champion Paulo Goncalves of Portugal had an excellent second day at the Sardinia Rally of the coast of Italy, winning stage two and moving into the overall event lead.
Goncalves started the stage in third place, the benefactor of a time adjustment to the fifth-fastest time that he posted in Stage 1 because he had been forced to stop and open a gate in order to stay on the prescribed route. The defending World Champion took full advantage of his improved starting position to run a good pace and complete the stage in 3 hours, 22 minutes and 28 seconds.
“Today I did a really good stage,” Goncalves said. “I started from third place, and I have won. I am very happy about the result both for the HRC Team and me. The bike worked perfectly. We have three more days of racing ahead of us, and I am leading the overall standing. We have to focus on the main goal because it’s easy to make mistakes. We have to keep our concentration in order to achieve a good result at the end of the rally.”
Team Husqvarna Italia’s Alessandro Botturi finished second, 1 minute and 27 seconds behind Goncalves and 48 seconds up on Goncalves’ HRC Honda teammate, Joan Barreda, who had a harrowing stage. Barreda was posting the fastest time of the stage before making a navigation error after the refueling point, and he nearly collided with another rider on the course. Barreda recovered to finish third in the stage.
Red Bull KTM’s Marc Coma had a consistent stage today, finishing fourth and dropping back to third overall, 2 minutes and 45 seconds out of the lead. Team Yamaha’s Olivier Pain was fifth today, and he is seventh overall in the Sardinia Rally standings.
FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship
Sardinia Rally
Arbatax-Arbatax
Results: June 9, 2014 (Stage 2 of 5)
Stage 2
1. Paulo Goncalves-Hon/3:22’28
2. Alessandro Botturi-Hus/+00:01:27
3. Joan Barreda-Hon/+00:02:15
4. Marc Coma-KTM/+00:03:11
5. Olivier Pain-Yam/00:04:15
6. Armand Monleón-KTM/+00:05:10
7. Mario Patrao-Suz/+00:06:31
8. Gerard Farrés-GG/+00:06:59
9. Helder Rodrigues-Hon/+00:08:02
10. Andrea Mancini-Bet/+00:11:08
Sardinia Rally Overall Standings (After 2 of 5 stages)
1. Paulo Goncalves-Hon/05:49:33
2. Alessandro Botturi-Hus/+00:01:25
3. Marc Coma-KTM/+00:02:45
4. Joan Barreda-Hon/+00/04:52
5. Armand Monleón-KTM/+00:05:54
6. Gerard Farrés-GG/+00:07:55
7. Olivier Pain-Yam/+00:09:03
8. Helder Rodrigues-Hon/+00:11:21
9. Andrea Mancini-Bet/+00:13:15
10. Mario Patrao-Suz/+00:19:01
Tomorrow’s Stage
Arbatax-San Leonardo
Special Stage 4-85 km
Special Stage 5-125 km
Total Distance (including transfers)-210 km
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