Joan Barreda wins the second stage of the
Dakar
The Dakar got well and truly underway today
with Team Husqvarna by
Speedbrain in the thick of the action. Joan Barreda, the Spanish rider won the
Pisco – Pisco second stage, commanding the 242 km (151 miles) of special test.
The stage proved to be really tough, with plenty of opportunities for errors and
loss of time. Barreda on his Husqvarna TE449RR set an imposing pace from the
start of the special test, coming in more than three minutes ahead of the
nearest rival. ‘Gregarious’ Matt Fish put in a fine performance too, managing to
finish among the leaders in third place.
Conversely,
Goncalves and Botturi lost a lot of time in seach of the correct route some 100
km into the race, as did Viladoms who was the fastest of the three once back on
the right track.
Now Barreda is leading the provisional overall
standings with 5’36” on Ruben Faria. Tomorrow sees the third stage at Pisco
Nazca, a 343 km run (214 miles) of which 243 km is special test.
Joan
Barreda: “A really tough stage, but I’m really pleased with the
way I raced. By the time we were 100 km into the race, I was in command and I
set my own pace to the finish line. I wanted to get away fast and that’s what I
did. The bike is perfect and the team are doing a great job.”
Matt
Fish: ”There was such a lot of dust and navigation but I’m
happy with the result. I’m under orders from the team, and it’s important to be
a help to my team-mates. I’m really glad to have got my first podium place in a
stage of the Dakar. ”
Paulo
Goncalves: “A really tricky stage. So many of us got lost and
it was impossible to make up the time. The way point wasn’t easy to find. Then
the dust from the group was too heavy to really force things, so I tried to hold
back a bit.
Alessandro
Botturi : “I was alongside Paulo the whole way and we
had a lot of trouble finding the correct route. We really lost too much time.
Tomorrow I’ll be starting from behind but I’ll try and make up some time.
”
Jordi
Viladoms: “I got caught up in the group that got lost, but
after I really pushed the group and lost less time. I’m pretty pleased with my
eighth place in the stage.”
Results
of the second stage: 1.
Barreda (Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain), 2. Pedrero (KTM) 3’16”, 3.Fish (Husqvarna Rallye team by Speedbrain)
5’53”, 4.Faria (KTM) 6’26”, 5.Caselli (KTM) 7’10”……8. Viladoms
(Husqvarna) 8’15”, 22.Goncalves (Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) 16’20”,
30 Botturi (Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain) 18’52”
Overall
results after the second stage:
1.Barreda (Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain), 2. Faria (KTM) 5’36”, 3.Pedrero (KTM)
6’36”, 4.Casteau (Yamaha) 6’58”, 5.Depres (KTM) 8’50”, 6. Fish (Husqvarna Rallye team by Speedbrain)
9’18”…9 Viladoms (Husqvarna) 9’35”…22.Goncalves (Husqvarna Rallye Team by
Speebrain) 16’….27. Botturi (Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain)
18’52”.
