Former World Motocross Champion Matthias Walkner picks up his first career FIM Cross-Country Rallies victory on the island of Sardinia.
Red Bull KTM’s Matthias Walkner needed only to maintain the lead he had built prior to the fifth and final stage of the Sardinia Rally off the coast of Italy to bring home his first career FIM Cross-Country World Championship Rallies victory for the Orange Brigade on Thursday. KTM Warsaw Rally’s Armand Monleon was second, followed by Yamaha Factory Racing Yamalube’s Helder Rodrigues.
Walkner of Austria caught a couple breaks along the way that helped his chances, as defending Sardinia Rally Champion Alessandro Botturi was forced to withdraw, reigning World Rally Champion Marc Coma was hampered by a crash and Team HRC’s lone entrant, Paulo Goncalves, turned in mixed performances, although Goncalves came back strong to win the final stage on Thursday. Walkner won the Sardnina Rally with a final time of
The final stage route around San Teodoro had to be shortened after an automobile accident blocked the part of it and affected one of the two special stages Monleon won the penultimate special stage and recovered 2 minutes to bag second behind Gonçalves and second overall.
Walkner, 29, is a former FIM MX3 World Champion who was mentored by KTM legend Heinz Kinigadner, the who won World Motocross titles in 1984 and 1985. Since becoming a rally rider, Walkner won a stage of the 2015 Dakar Rally this past January but ultimately had to withdraw due to illness. No such worries in Sardinia!
2015 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship
Sardinia Rally
Sardinia
Results: June 11, 2015 (Round 4 of 6)
Final Results (After 5 of 5 stages)
1. Matthias Walkner (AUT)-KTM/16 hours, 30 minutes, 26 seconds
2. Armand Monleon (SPA)-KTM/+00:02:33
3. Helder Rodrigues (POR)-Yam/+00:05:05
4. Paulo Goncalves (POR)-Hon/+00:09:10
5. Marc Coma (SPA)-KTM+00:10:25
6. Jacopo Cerutti (ITA)-Hon/+00:14:18
7. Jordi Viladoms (SPA)-KTM/+00:21:29
8. Ruben Faria (POR)-KTM/+00:23:24
9. David Casteu (FRA)-KTM/+00:23:57
10. Luca Vecchi (ITA)-KTM/+00:25:55
11. Mirko Pavan (ITA)-Bet/+00:30:44
12. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA)-Yam/+00:31:44
13. Joan Pedrero (SPA)-She/+00:36:10
14. Rodrig Thain (FRA)-Hus/+00/38:05
15. Maurizio Gerini (ITA)Hon+00:38:06
Your Privacy Choices