Rui Gonçalves has always been a rider who performs with consistent results. Since he burst into the top ten of the FIM World Motocross Championships in 2005 the ICE1 Racing rider has only finished outside the end of season top ten in 2010 when he finished in 11th place. Currently ranked seventh in the FIM World MX1 Championship points everything is looking like the Portuguese rider might just make that top ten again in 2013 and once again it’s been consistency that has seen him get there.
As for World Championship glory a quick look at his career results shows an all time best finish of second in 2009 when he battled Marvin Musquin for the World MX2 Championship, only losing out at the end of season final round. It was of course the season the Frenchman Musquin moved from Honda to KTM mid-season, joining Gonçalves in the Red Bull KTM Factory team and putting added pressure on Gonçalves.
The best results for Gonçalves in the MX1 class to date are in 2011 when he rode for the Honda World Motocross team, finishing in 6th place. What makes the career results of Gonçalves special is he has often suffered injury at some point throughout the season, yet he still fought on for the maximum amount of points possible.
“I do my best to get as many points as possible,” Gonçalves said once. “It is important even when you are not riding at your best that you never give up and continue to race for the best place on the track. I am proud that I never give up, even when carrying injuries.”
Since that 10th place in 2005 Gonçalves has gone 7th, 11th, 5th, 2nd, 11th, 6th and 10th in 2012. Not too many riders can boast such consistency, and that is no doubt the reason Gonçalves has ridden for Factory KTM and Factory Honda teams.
Gonçalves will head to Agueda, Portugal, this coming weekend for his home Grand Prix, and it’s a place he has enjoyed success, including winning the FIM World MX2 Championship round there in 2009. He also finished a strong fourth place in the MX1 class in 2011 and seventh in 2012.
“Racing at home is always one of the best parts of the season. I really enjoy the circuit and I have had good results there, but I have also struggled there with bad luck. I am going there this year with high hopes of being able to run with the top guys and that is pretty much how I always go to my home Grand Prix.”