Paulo Goncalves was showing his great fighting attitude during stage four of the OiLibya Morocco Rally 2013, winning the day in front of his KTM competitor Marc Coma and taking back the overall lead from his teammate Joan Barreda.
The hard, fast and stoney stage over a total distance of 361 km offered a variety of navigational challenges, including a mining area with dozens of tracks to choose the right ones from. Both HRC Honda riders managed the day in a very convincing manner. Joan “Bang Bang” Barreda had the pleasure to open the track starting first, but he lost a bit of time figuring out a few difficult placed waypoints while heading the pack. The Spaniard still passed the finish line as first rider home. “Speedy” Goncalves was pushing hard and could pass Marc Coma on the stoney tracks in the mountains.
Joan Barreda: “I was pushing hard today to keep my overall lead. It was real tricky and I had to take care not making a costful mistake. All in all a very good stage, even if I lost some time riding in front of the pack.”
Paulo Goncalves: “Another great day victory for me and the team – I could not have been asking for more to be in a good position for the final two days, so a very important stage today. The pace in front was incredible, I had a nice fight with Marc, thanks to my friend Joan for his team play. Still two difficult stages to come, we will stay focused and give it all.”
The rally, final round of the FIM Cross Country World Championship, after Thursday´s events in a nutshell: first place overall handed over from Joan Barreda to his teammate Paulo Goncalves. Looking at the four stages, it´s been a clean sweep for HRC Honda and its Speedbrain-managed riders.
Provisional Results Stage 4:
1. Paulo Goncalves (PRT, Honda) 3:01:49 hrs
2. Marc Coma (ESP, KTM) +00:02:26
3. Helder Rodrigues (PRT, Honda) +00:05:56
4. Olivier Pain (FRA, Yamaha) +00:07:39
5. Sam Sunderland (GBR, Honda) +00:07:46
6. Chaleco Lopez (CHL, KTM) +00:09:03
7. Joan Barreda (ESP, Honda) +00:09:37
8. Javier Pizzolito (ARG, Honda) +00:16:14
9. Ben Grabham (AUS, KTM) +00:19:14
10. Kurt Caselli (USA, KTM) +00:19:49
Overall Standings after Stage 4:
1. Paulo Goncalves (PRT, Honda) 11:13:00
2. Joan Barreda (ESP, Honda) +00:02:10
3. Marc Coma (ESP, KTM) +00:02:40
4. Chaleco Lopez (CHL, KTM) +00:12:28
5. Sam Sunderland (GBR, Honda) +00:14:35
6. Javier Pizzolito (ARG, Honda) +00:30:51
7. Olivier Pain (FRA, Yamaha) +00:47:08
8. Ben Grabham (AUS, KTM) +00:49:58
9. Alessandro Botturi (ITA, Speedbrain) +00:50:17
10. Frans Verhoeven (NLD, Yamaha) 01:06:18