Tough day for Team HRC in Abu Dhabi
By TMX Archives on 1st Apr 15
The penultimate day of racing at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge failed to produce the kind of results that Team HRC had been hoping for.
Team HRC, who had tried to keep all options of a final win open in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, rested their hopes on Paulo Goncalves, but it wasn't to be.
The Portuguese rider's podium bid has thwarted by an electrical hitch that saw him unable to complete the timed special. Some 43 km into the 258 km race, Paulo was forced to retire due to an electrical problem which he was unable to sort out.
The Portuguese rider will be disappointed to not defend his previous Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2014 title.
With the navigation in the dunes, the strategies and some of the most extreme weather encountered, this is one of the rally raid calendar's most taxing events with riders having to endure temperatures of up to 50 degrees.
Joan Barreda got the show underway, leading the charge, which meant having to navigate his way ahead of the ensuing pack which he led for a greater part of the 258.1 kilometre special.
With the pursuers hot on his heels, the Spaniard was finally forced to concede in spite of having upped the pace considerably over the final stretches. Barreda settled for sixth place as the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2015 heads into the final stage.
Tucked in behind Barreda was a very consistent Ricky Brabec with a seventh place finish who leapfrogs two places on the overall leaderboard. The plucky debutante now lies in fifth in the general standings in addition to leading the Rally Juniors.
