 
Rally Qatar 2017
2017 Cross-Country Rallies Round FIM-2 , 1
Monster Energy Honda Team get the Qatar Rally underway
A curtain-raising Super Special at the Losail Circuit got the second round
of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship off and running. Monster
Energy Honda Team participate with Paulo Gonçalves and Kevin Benavides.
A short, but nonetheless spectacular special stage of just less than five
kilometres in the area surrounding the Losail circuit got the Qatar Rally
underway today. A very compact and rocky track required a mix of aggression and
prudence in equal measures as competitors battled to stay on their bikes.
Argentinean rider Kevin Benavides, still fighting to overcome a right wrist
injury was one of the first to tackle the unknown track and rode a swift race
to score one of the day’s better times on the Honda CRF450 RALLY. The rider
who hails from Salta, Argentina posted fifth fastest on the day. Monster Energy
Honda Team co-rider Paulo Gonçalves finished behind Kevin, who came home two
seconds ahead of the Portuguese rider.
 Tomorrow, the first full stage attend. Riders can look forward to a long
second special stage with 334 km against the clock. Expect heavy navigation on
a rocky ride through the desert, which will include a final section of dunes in
the south eastern area of the Qatar peninsula.
Paulo
Goncalves STAGE: 6th +0'16.20 OVERALL: 6th +0'16.20
I have finished the Qatar prologue and I made a few mistakes on the way. We
have keep on going as the race is likely to get quite difficult with some very
tricky navigation. We will have to be very cautious out there on the track. In
this race it will be really important to have a good stage each day to be able
to get a good final result.
 Kevin
Benavides STAGE: 5th +0'14.70 OVERALL: 5th +0'14.70
It was a good special – quite relaxed but good to gain a bit of
confidence. The real race begins tomorrow and we can expect a tough one for the
navigation. We will have to be very careful to make sure that we have a good
stage tomorrow.
Super Special Stage Results
1 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team 4'31.90
2 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team +0'06.90
3 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team +0'08.30
4 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +0'10.90
5 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team +0'14.70
6 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team +0'16.20
7 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +0'28.10
8 Tomiczek Adam POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +0'39.90
9 Giemza Maciej POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +0'44.20
10 Albalooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team +0'56.50
Rally Qatar 2017
2017 Cross-Country Rallies Round FIM-2 , Stage 2
Gonçalves and Benavides on the podium in the second stage
Paulo Gonçalves and Kevin Benavides both posted podium finishes at the end
of a lengthy special stage on day two of the Sealine Qatar as the first
differences in the field begin to emerge.
It was a tough day out for the Monster Energy Honda Team riders who had to
face a long, gruelling slog through the Qatari desert. With more than 330
kilometres of complicated special stage to face, it turned out to be a day for
the more proficient navigators of the field. Paulo Gonçalves and Kevin
Benavides set off this morning amid the first half of the starting order, which
had been decided in yesterday’s Super Special stage. The duo managed to keep
a strong pace over the entire course of the day.
Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves had a trouble-free stage aboard the Honda
CRF450 RALLY on a day that left very little margin for error. Paulo posted the
day’s second best time and now lies in second place in the general standings
too.
Monster Energy Honda Team companion, Argentinean Kevin Benavides, maintained
a similar rhythm to his Portuguese team-mate to finish the special a minute and
a half behind.
Tomorrow, Thursday, sees the longest day of the competition. The odometer
will be signalling 503 kilometres by the close of the day, which will include
some 353 km against the clock.
Paulo
Goncalves STAGE: 2nd +9'25 OVERALL: 2nd +9'32.90
The first full stage of the Qatar Rally had a first part with a lot of stony
track and a final part with 40 kilometres of dunes. I think that I did quite
well as the navigation was really difficult and as a consequence I decided to
take things a bit easier in order to not make any mistakes. It went well and
later I was able to pick the speed up a bit. I’m very happy and now let’s
start the preparations for the stage tomorrow.
Kevin
Benavides STAGE: 3rd +10'48 OVERALL: 3rd +10'54
I’m happy. I started out well with some great sensations in my hand. At
kilometre 50 I stopped to sort out some minor issue, but was able to continue
and push hard right up until the end. The stage was really tough for the
navigation, with rocky track and some dunes in the final section. I enjoyed it
a lot and finished in third place overall. Tomorrow I will have to push hard.
Stage 2 results
1 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team 3:43'21
2 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team +9'25
3 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team +10'48
4 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +12'34
5 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +13'12
6 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team +16'07
7 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team +36'37
8 Giemza Maciej POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +52'38
9 Albalooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team +55'13
10 Tomiczek Adam POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +1:23'13
Rider Standings
1 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team 3:48'01.20
2 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team +9'32.90
3 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team +10'54.40
4 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +12'53.80
5 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +13'14.60
6 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team +16'05.60
7 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team +36'28.70
8 Giemza Maciej POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +53'13.90
9 Albalooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team +56'01.30
10 Tomiczek Adam POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +1:23'44.60
Rally Qatar 2017
2017 Cross-Country Rallies Round FIM-2 , Stage 3
Paulo Gonçalves consolidates second position in Qatar
Portuguese Monster Energy Honda Team rider Paulo Gonçalves performed well
in the third stage of the Qatar Rally with second position on the day to remain
in second place in the overall standings.
On Qatar Rally’s longest day, with a total trajectory of over 500
kilometres, Monster Energy Honda Team come away with notable results,
particularly for Paulo Gonçalves who posted the second fastest time and
remains in contention for the overall prize.
The special stage of 353 kms took place over the same course as yesterday’s
stage, this time, however, in the opposite direction. Once again navigation was
a key issue at play for large sections of the route.
Gonçalves worked hard to keep out of the reach of the pursuing riders. In
spite of conceding some time in the earlier parts of the stage, he was able to
recuperate after the refuelling, even managing to overtake the sole rider who
had started out ahead. Paulo wrapped up the day crossing the line in first
place.
Monster Energy Honda Team’s second rider in Qatar, Argentine Kevin
Benavides, who set out this morning from third place, finished further back
after being unable to locate a waypoint. Benavides came home with the sixth
fastest time of the day some nine minutes off the special stage winner Matthias
Walkner.
The
penultimate stage of the Qatar Rally will take place tomorrow in the northern
part of the peninsula of the country with a total of 461.46 km, 337.76 of which
will be against the clock.
Paulo Goncalves STAGE: 2nd +3'14 OVERALL: 2nd +6'28
We finished the second day with a lot of pace. Today I set out second and the
tracks weren’t very visible, meaning that the navigation was essential. I had
to work hard. I lost a little bit of time to Sam but I made it with an
advantage to the refuelling. After I kept up a good pace and I got up close and
managed to pass Sunderland and opened the track for 40 km. I’m fairly happy
with the day’s performance. There are two days still to go and we have to
keep pushing.
Kevin
Benavides STAGE: 6th +9'05 OVERALL: 5th +13'01
I was going quite well until refuelling. In the final section at about
kilometre 100, I made a mistake with the waypoint which I couldn’t find and I
had to look for it and lost a bit of time. Some of the other riders caught me
up and we finished the stage together. Today the hand was playing up a bit
after such a long stage, but I will keep battling on and getting more mileage
under my belt.
Stage 3 results
1 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team 4:01'25
2 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team +3'14
3 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +6'06
4 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team +6'18
5 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +8'04
6 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team +9'05
7 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team +31'25
8 Albalooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team +50'31
9 Giemza Maciej POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +1:13'56
10 Tomiczek Adam POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +1:23'37
Provisional Standings after Stage3
1 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team 7:55'44.20
2 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team +6'28.90
3 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team +9'47.60
4 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +12'41.80
5 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team +13'01.40
6 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +15'00.60
7 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team +1:01'35.70
8 Albalooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team +1:40'14.30
9 Giemza Maciej POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +2:00'51.90
10 Tomiczek Adam POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +2:41'03.60
Rally Qatar 2017
2017 Cross-Country Rallies Round FIM-2 , Stage 4
Second place for Kevin Benavides in the penultimate stage
The Qatar Rally produced its toughest day so far with extremely demanding
navigation. Kevin Benavides finished second on the day, while Paulo Gonçalves
still has options open in the upper-part of the overall table.
A change of scenery at the Qatar Rally brought with it a complicated stage
with constant changes of route. Competitors had to be particularly careful with
the roadbook to avoid missing any waypoints. The tough 337 kilometres against
the clock, however, failed to produce any changes on the overall leader board.
Kevin Benavides nevertheless moved up one position.
The Monster Energy Honda Team rider from Argentina rode a fine stage. After
getting off to a swift start, the young rider started to post better times from
CP1 onwards. After refuelling a minor error in the final section was enough to
undo some of the good work done earlier, which should have merited a better
prize.
Paulo Gonçalves, meanwhile, was also getting a taste of just how tough the
navigating was. A slight misinterpretation of an unclear point meant the
Portuguese rider conceded some time to adversaries. Paulo scored the day’s
fourth fastest time and clawed back some of the lost time. With just one stage
left, the Portuguese rider still holds strong in second overall position.
Tomorrow,
Saturday sees the final date of the Qatar Rally at the Losail Circuit after 532
km of competition featuring 343 km against the clock to decide the new winner
of this, the second round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship.
Paulo Goncalves STAGE: 4th +6'05 OVERALL: 2nd +12'34
This fourth stage in Qatar has been the most difficult one so far to navigate.
Before refuelling I got confused over one of the indications and I had to
rectify it, losing time in the process. I was able to push harder in the final
part and I managed to make up some of the lost time. I’m second overall and
tomorrow will be a very important day. I will try and pull something good out
of the bag to hold the position. There are still 350 km left to go, so I will
have to be as focused as possible.
Kevin
Benavides STAGE: 2nd +3'58 OVERALL: 4th +16'59
Today was a good stage that was very tricky for the navigation: the
roadbook was difficult and some of the signals were a bit confusing. I think
that I had a good stage although I lost some time towards the end. I arrived
well and I’m happy with the bike and the way that the team is working
together. We have to keep on battling.
Stage 4 results
1 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team 4:02'39
2 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team +3'58
3 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team +5'32
4 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team +6'05
5 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +7'00
6 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +7'20
7 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team +39'14
8 Albalooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team +1:05'21
9 Tomiczek Adam POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +1:06'15
10 Giemza Maciej POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +1:33'25
Provisional Standings after Stage 4
1 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team 11'58.23
2 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team +12'34
3 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team +15'19
4 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team +16'59
5 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +20'02
6 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +22'00
7 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team +1:40'49
8 Albalooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team +2:45'35
9 TomiczekAdam POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +3:47'18
10 Giemza Maciej POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +4:14'17
Rally Qatar 2017
2017 Cross-Country Rallies Round FIM-2 , Stage 5
Monster Energy Honda Team finishes second in the Qatar
Rally
The fifth and final day of the Qatar Rally – the second round of the FIM
Cross-Country Rallies World Championship – has concluded with Paulo
Gonçalves in runner-up position. Kevin Benavides likewise placed among rally’s
elite with a fifth overall position.
Monster Energy Honda Team close one of the toughest dates in the FIM
Cross-Country Rallies calendar after a noteworthy performance. The overall
victory might have evaded the team, but a high-level, hitch-free display and
reliable bike performance mean the squad comes home with a more than positive
scorecard.
The fourth special disputed on the final fifth stage today linked the
north-eastern and south-eastern areas of the Qatari peninsula with a total of
343 kilometres against the clock. The day got off to a start over rocky terrain
before finishing in the dunes of the Sealine seafront area.
Argentinean Kevin Benavides started the proceedings in second position on
the Honda CRF450 RALLY, determined to thwart the attack of the pursuing pack.
The group, with the advantage of being able to follow his tracks and make up
time, were however, unable to catch him. Kevin conceded less than six minutes
to the stage winner Pablo Quintanilla.
For Paulo Gonçalves, Monster Energy Honda Team’s Portuguese rider, the
day was all about consolidating his second overall position. Paulo got off to a
brisk start and held a swift pace throughout, eating five minutes into the time
of the race’s eventual overall winner Sam Sunderland. The runner-up spot in
Qatar has elevated Gonçalves up to third place in the championship standings,
while Benavides leaps from fifteenth to ninth.
Next date for the Monster Energy Honda Team in the world championship will
be the Atacama Rally, the third event, in Chile, from 12th to 18th August.
Paulo Goncalves STAGE: 2nd +0'08 OVERALL: 2nd +7.42
We have finished the second race of the world championship and it is always
positive to finish a race on the podium. It was an interesting race on all
levels: it was competitive, physical and required a lot of navigation. It was
hard in all of these respects. I’m happy because I kept a high level
throughout the rally. I finished second and I’m very happy with the bike, the
team and all the work we have done too. We have good sensations to keep on
working with and we will be all fired up for the next rally.
Kevin Benavides STAGE: 6th +5'49 FINAL: 5th +17'48
I’m very happy to have finished the race in fifth overall position. Today I
started out ahead and it was very difficult to make a difference strategically,
as there was so much navigation to be done. I’m pleased because I gave it
100% even through I’m not physically at full fitness. It was a lot of hours
on the bike on other types of terrain with a lot of navigation to find a good
pace. Now it’s time to go back home and do a deep analysis of the whole week
and continue working towards the next race.
Results Stage 5
1 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team 3:46'55
2 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team +0'08
3 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team +2'52
4 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +3'01
5 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team +5'00
6 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team +5'49
7 Giemza Maciej POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +42'11
8 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team +42'36
9 Tomiczek Adam POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +51'07
10 Albalooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team +54'01
Final Standings Qatar Rally 2017
1 Sunderland Sam GBR KTM Factory Racing Team 15:50'18
2 Goncalves Paulo POR Monster Energy Honda Team +7'42
3 Walkner Matthias AUT KTM Factory Racing Team +13'11
4 Quintanilla Pablo CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +15'02
5 Benavides Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team +17'48
6 Renet Pierre-Alexandre FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +20'01
7 Meo Antoine FRA KTM Factory Racing Team +2:18'25
8 Albalooshi Mohammed UAE Ride to Abu Dhabi Team +3:34'36
9 Tomiczek Adam POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +4:33'25
10 Giemza Maciej POL KTM Orlen Rally Team +5:31'28
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