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Baja Aragón 2016

2016 season Stage 2

Victory for Barreda in the Baja Aragón 2016

Joan Barreda has taken top honours in the Baja Aragón 2016. The Spaniard from Team HRC ruled the roost from start to finish throughout the entire rally. This is his third overall triumph in the event. Teammate Michael Metge, from France, likewise rode a storming final race to land a podium spot.

In spite of starting the day with almost a seven-minute surplus over second place Joan Pedrero, today Barreda was not resting on his laurels. Setting an imposing pace over the 184 kilometre stage against the clock, the rider scorched to victory adding a further minute to his overall advantage. The Baja Aragón is one of the flagship races of the discipline in which points count towards the FIM Bajas World Cup. Barreda took a full house of victories in the special stages of 2016 – the 33rd edition of the event. The final tally sees the Team HRC star accumulate an 8’17” difference over runner-up Gerard Farrés to make it a hat-trick of Baja Aragón victories.

Team HRC brother-in-arms, Frenchman Michael Metge, took everyone by surprise to produce the third fastest time in the final special stage. Metge, on the Honda CRF450 RALLY, showed that, although not being armed with the most appropriate bike for this kind of Baja terrain, he was still able to blaze a trail around the sinuous, dusty tracks around Teruel. Metge moves up a place on the overall leader board to grab a podium place alongside Barreda as third place finisher of this Baja Aragón 2016.

Two other Honda riders – Oriol Mena and David Adrià – rounded out the top spots to finish an excellent weekend for the marque. The two, who are supported by Honda España on behalf of Impala and RedMoto, took fourth and fifth final positions respectively.

Joan Barreda - STAGE: 1st FINAL: 1st
I’m really happy, particularly because we were able to race without making any mistakes, which was our original aim. We set out looking for a very fast pace. There were some stretches where we were really able to push hard. I had to really get to grips with the smaller, more aggressive bike, which will be good for us when we move back to the bigger bike. Congratulations to Metge for the great results, he surprised me with his speed. These are very positive results for the team that will give us valuable information.

Michael Metge - STAGE: 3rd FINAL: 3rd
I was very competitive from the first moment and I wasn’t far off the others. I speeded things up a bit and today I saw that I could do it really well. A podium finish is a great result for me and also for the team. We will be very competitive in the Dakar, that I’m sure of.

Roberto Boasso - Team Manager
I’m very happy. Joan has controlled the race today the way that we had planned. I would like to thank him and congratulate him on the win. Also, I wish to thank the team for the great way that they have worked here over the last few days here. Michael Metge also surprised me getting a great result with the rally bike which will be really good for us for the Dakar. I also wish to thank all those who have continued to believe in us: the fans, Honda and HRC in Japan who have given us the bikes for this race. I don’t want to say goodbye without dedicating this race to Martino Bianchi, who was unable to make it out here as he was in hospital for a knee operation. Many thanks to all of you.

Baja Aragón 2016

2016 season Stage 1

Joan Barreda and Honda dominate the Baja Aragón

Joan Barreda made short work of two complicated stages against the clock and opens up a considerable advantage over the rest of the field with one day to run. Michael Metge moves up a position in the overall standings after posting second fastest time in the second special.

Two timed stages over some 170 kilometres put the Team HRC riders through their paces on a high-speed dust and rock-filled track near Teruel. It was Joan Barreda who stood out on the day, finishing both specials with the quickest time of the day. The Spaniard clocked up a commanding four minute advantage in the first section and then stretched his advantage by another three minutes in the second special. The rider on the Honda CRF450 Enduro thus sports a total lead of 6’50” over second place Gerard Farrés in the overall standings. Tomorrow there will be only one lap for the last stage of the Baja Aragon.

Frenchman Michael Metge astride the Honda CRF450 RALLY was also flying today. His second place finish in the second special was enough for him to climb the general rankings.

Honda come away more than content, dominating the whole event with four out of the top five machines belonging to the marque. The third and fifth positions were for Oriol Mena and David Adrià supported by Honda Spain.

Joan Barreda STAGE: 1st / 1st OVERALL: 1st
Obviously, I’m very happy. In the first part I went out looking for pace with some good feelings. After, I attacked and I finished well. The second special was more complicated and dangerous. I had a few problems with Stella, the new navigational system; it’s positive but it has to be developed a bit more. The aim of tomorrow is to not make any mistakes in a really gruelling special. It will be dangerous, but if I can find a good rhythm it will be a good race. If not, we will just have to try and stay in control of the race.

Michael Metge STAGE: 4th / 2nd OVERALL: 4th
I thought things would be much worse riding the rally bike on the curves that were very rutted, with fesh-fesh, from all the cars and trucks that had passed. It’s my first Baja and I like these great tracks very much. Tomorrow I will try and enjoy myself but it’s not going to be easy. We will do everything that we can.

Roberto Boasso - Team Manager
I’m really pleased because we are doing a great job. Barreda and Metge are doing really well. It is a very high speed race and everyone has to keep up the pace, but so far everything is going very smoothly. Joan is managing the race very well and Mika is getting some great results out of the RALLY bike. There are a lot of people and a lot of passion here. Let’s see what happens tomorrow. It will be very important to stay focused and keep up the fast pace. Joan knows this very well and he will try and keep the competitors in check without losing concentration.

Baja Aragón 2016

2016 season 1

Joan Barreda takes command in the Baja Aragón prologue

Team HRC’s Spanish rider Joan Barreda proved to be the quickest today in the Super Special as the Baja Aragón got underway on the outskirts of Teruel.

The rider, aboard the Honda CRF450 E, threw down the gauntlet in the short nine-kilometre special with a two-and-a-half second margin over the runner-up.

Frenchman Michael Metge, competing on the Honda CRF450 RALLY, took fourth place some ten seconds adrift of teammate Barreda.

Tomorrow sees the SS2, which will be divided into two special stages against the clock over some 170 kilometres.

Results
1 Barreda Joan SPA Team HRC 6:00.2
2 Farres Gerard SPA Himoinsa Team +2.6
3 de Soultrait Xavier FRA Yamaha Racing +5.6
4 Metge Michael FRA Team HRC +10.6
5 Solà Marc SPA Pont Grup Yamaha JVO +12.9
6 Adrià David SPA Honda Impala Team +16.8
7 Mena Oriol SPA Honda Impala Team +18.3
8 Pedrero Joan SPA Sherco TVS Rally Factory +20.7
9 Buhler Sebastian GER Pinhelworks Buhler Racing +21.2
10 Metge Adrien FRA Sherco TVS Rally Factory +30.5