 Atacama
Rally 2018
2018 Cross-Country Rallies Round FIM-3 , Stage 5
Final victory for Kevin Benavides in the Atacama Rally
The Atacama Rally, on Chilean soil, turned out to be hugely successful for
Monster Energy Honda Team’s Argentinean rider Kevin Benavides, who clinched
overall victory and the leadership of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World
Championship.
The final day, on a 155-kilometre looping route, starting and finishing in
Copiapó, was battled out over the same course that had been used in Stage
One. Competitors had to have their wits about them and were faced with some
challenging navigation in the dunes as well as some off-piste and dry river
beds.
Kevin Benavides rounded off the Atacama Rally as he had started; proving to
be the sharpest rider in the race, claiming the final stage and the overall
rally victory after an intense final day. The Argentine dominated, stamping
his mark of authority throughout the stage and leaving adversaries unable to
keep his trail. Moreover, the victory takes Benavides and the Honda CRF450
RALLY to the head of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship leader
board, where he now shares the same points as the incumbent world champion.
Benavides’ team-mates in the Monster Energy Honda Team, Paulo Gonçalves,
José Ignacio Cornejo and Ricky Brabec all continued to improve day by day,
today occupying fifth, sixth and seventh positions respectively in this final
stage and sixth, seventh and ninth in the final rankings.
The next appointment for the Monster Energy Honda Team will be at the
Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina to be held at the end of next week. The race
will take place from 25th to 31st August getting underway in San Miguel de
Tucumán and concluding in San Juan.
Kevin Benavides 2 FINAL OVERALL: 1st
I'm very happy; it has been an amazing Atacama Rally for me. I won three
stages and I felt very comfortable on the bike, which has worked perfectly
throughout the even. The team has worked very well and this has given me the
tools needed for the victory. I was able to stay very focused and was
confident in myself. Winning here is not easy - Quintanilla is very strong.
I've been looking forward to this victory for a long time and I’m really
savouring it!
Paulo Goncalves 4 FINAL OVERALL: 6th
We finished a very competitive race. After four months without racing, it was
hard for me to keep the pace, but I went from less to more. I got up to full
pace over the final days. The bike performed perfectly and the team worked
hard and well and I want to congratulate the winner of the race, our team-mate
Kevin Benavides, who has done a great job. I hope to start the next race with
the pace that I finished this one.
Ricky Brabec 15 FINAL OVERALL: 8th
I'm happy to have finished the race in one piece and am already looking
forward to the next one already. It has a great all-round team effort and
everyone continues to improve as we work towards our final goal – the Dakar.
Everyone has worked really hard and the bike has really been the star. Big
congratulations to our team-mate Benavides who rode really well throughout the
whole rally. Well done and see you all next time.
José Ignacio Cornejo 10 FINAL OVERALL: 7th
I have finished the Atacama with a sixth place in the final stage and a
seventh in the general standings. I'm happy because I've been improving the
speed; every time I'm closer to the leading riders, but in the end I’m not
completely satisfied as I wanted to finish a few places higher. The first day
I fell and the second day and that impeded my pace on the second day and
affected the final result. We keep learning but remain highly motivated for
what is coming.
José Ignacio Cornejo
Raul Castells Monster Energy Honda Team Manager
We are very happy about Kevin’s victory, who had a great race overall
winning three stages. The team has worked very well. We have won for the first
time here at the Atacama Rally; a race that we knew was very difficult to win
and therefore we are very happy. Last year we were close to doing it but this
year we have finally achieved it. The organization of the team has been
positive and we are going to take it step by step. Now it's time for Ruta 40,
we're off to prepare for it and we are confident that we can perform well
there too. At the same time, Joan Barreda got injured and we hope that the
recovery goes well and hope he is back on top form as soon as possible. At
last but not least, I want to thank Honda Chile for their support in our Team,
it has been very helpful.
Final Standings Atacama Rally 2018
1 Benavides Kevin 2 ARG Monster Energy Honda Team 14:19'39
2 Price Toby 11 AUS Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team +4'25
3 Quintanilla Pablo 1 CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +6'27
4 Walkner Matthias 3 AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team +10'21
5 Caimi Franco 8 ARG Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team +22'47
6 Goncalves Paulo 4 POR Monster Energy Honda Team +23'32
7 Cornejo José Ignacio 10 CHI Monster Energy Honda Team +39'07
8 Van Beveren Adrien 6 FRA Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team +41'39
9 Brabec Ricky 15 USA Monster Energy Honda Team +1:01'32
10 Short Andrew 12 USA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +1:03'49
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