PressClub Global · Article.
Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain - Rallye Dakar - Stage 7
Sat Jan 07 21:50:59 CET 2012 Press Release
The Bavarian-Italian Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain is lying solidly at the halfway point of the Dakar 2012. Paulo Goncalves recorded another podium finish ahead of tomorrow´s rest day. The Portuguese used today´s stage seven to improve to fourth in the standings.
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Martino Bianchi
BMW Group
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Author.
Martino Bianchi
BMW Group
Dakar 2012, Stage 7
Copiapo - Copiapo
573 km in total, 419
km special test
Good results at the halfway point
The Bavarian-Italian Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain is
lying solidly at the halfway point of the Dakar 2012. Paulo Goncalves
recorded another podium finish ahead of tomorrow´s rest day. The
Portuguese used today´s stage seven to improve to fourth in the standings.
Goncalves was happy to finish the day in third. He had a decent
outing and didn´t make any mistakes. At one point during the
loop from Copiapo to Copiapo he was even leading. The route was hard
and fast, then came different sections which required good navigation
and a change of rhythm. Goncalves didn´t attack towards the end
to save his machine. "I want to thank my team now that
we´re at the halfway mark," he said. "They do a great
job and all is running smoothly and always well prepared".
Goncalves plans to go for the top three in the second week of the
rally. He´s only sitting six minutes behind fellow countryman
Helder Rodrigues.
Joan Barreda opened the day in third. He tried to close in on
defending champ Marc Coma, but that didn´t work out. Barreda
rode all day on his own, collected a lot of valuable experience, but
he made a navigation error also. That costed him ten minutes.
Nevertheless he was going strong and proved again to have podium speed.
Zé Hélio didn´t have the very best ride. The
Brazilian had to deal with dust in the beginning and crashed once. He
also had to repair a damaged front wheel. Jose Manuel Pellicer enjoyed
a better day. The Spaniard arrived back at Copiapo in 21st place.
Team principal Wolfgang Fischer conducts a positive first week:
"Basically we´re satisfied with the achievement so far.
It´s not nice having lost Ike Klaumann from the race early.
Everyone over here wishes him a fast and speedy recovery. Also
it´s a little sad that Joan Barreda dropped back on two
occassions, he has the speed to be a front-runner for sure.
"We´re having no technical problems whatsoever and
our bike is totally competitive. A big thanks goes to all team members
for their endless hours and for the excellent team spirit. The first
week has been hard, harder than expected. We did a good job, many of
our competitors already had to quit."
1. Marc Coma (SPA) KTM, 3:51:35 hrs
2. Cyril Despres (FRA)
KTM, 2:03 min behind
3. Paulo Goncalves (POR) Husqvarna Rallye
Team by Speedbrain, 2:49
4. Helder Rodrigues (POR) Yamaha, 3:46
13. Joan Barreda (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain,
13:45
21. Jose Manuel Pellicer (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by
Speedbrain, 27:40
42. Zé Hélio (BRA) Husqvarna
Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 56:36
Overall standings
1. Despres, 18:12:38 hrs
2. Coma, 7:48 min behind
3.
Helder Rodrigues (POR) Yamaha, 49:39
4. Paulo Goncalves (POR)
Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 55:33
19. Zé
Hélio (BRA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 2:38:50
29. Joan Barreda (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain,
3:25:08
30. Jose Manuel Pellicer (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by
Speedbrain, 03:26:33
more information: http://racing.speedbrain.de