Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2012, Final Stage
Friday, 06 April 2012 13:22 | 
| 
|
Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain storms the podium
Joan Barreda and Paulo Goncalves landed a double podium finish at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the opening round of the FIM Cross Country Rally World Championship. After five days of racing through the Arab Emirate and suffering from very hot conditions, the factory-supported squad of team principal Wolfgang Fischer stood two-three on the podium, as Barreda and Goncalves received the well-earned reward of their hard work and the perfect job done by the team.
Thursday´s finish had already suggested that both riders were in an excellent position to bring their top ranking back to the Abu Dhabi capital. The final 300 kilometres saw Barreda attack race leader Marc Coma. The change of high speed sections and dunes made for an interesting finale, in which the young Spaniard gained time on Coma in the beginning. Both eventually crossed the finish line together, after Coma went to the front later in the stage and took Friday´s win 2:59 minutes ahead of Barreda. Meanwhile Paulo Goncalves controlled his fellow countryman Ruben Faria and rode to fourth place on the day.
Wolfgang Fischer was excited over his riders performance: "This is amazing. It´s the first overall top finish since we started the rally project. We began just over a year ago and our current setup is only a few months old. But the new Husqvarna TE 449 RR by Speedbrain showed its worth already at the Dakar, signalling our direction. Today´s success is the logical result of our hard work in this competitive sport. I´d like to thank the whole team and especially our partners Husqvarna and the BMW Group. They seek long-term success as much as we do. A big thanks also goes to Monster Energy and their support right from the start as well as to our technical partners.
"There´s not much time to rest now. We want to keep the momentum going and pick up where we left today. The next world championship round in Qatar kicks off on 17 April. But for tonight it´s party time."
Final standings - Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2012
1. Marc Coma (SPA) KTM 20:33:35 hrs
2. Joan Barreda (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain 9:33 behind
3. Paulo Goncalves (POR) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain 20:24
4. Ruben Faria (POR) KTM 23:03
5. Jordi Viladoms (SPA) KTM 27:25
Joan Barreda and Paulo Goncalves landed a double podium finish at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the opening round of the FIM Cross Country Rally World Championship. After five days of racing through the Arab Emirate and suffering from very hot conditions, the factory-supported squad of team principal Wolfgang Fischer stood two-three on the podium, as Barreda and Goncalves received the well-earned reward of their hard work and the perfect job done by the team.
Thursday´s finish had already suggested that both riders were in an excellent position to bring their top ranking back to the Abu Dhabi capital. The final 300 kilometres saw Barreda attack race leader Marc Coma. The change of high speed sections and dunes made for an interesting finale, in which the young Spaniard gained time on Coma in the beginning. Both eventually crossed the finish line together, after Coma went to the front later in the stage and took Friday´s win 2:59 minutes ahead of Barreda. Meanwhile Paulo Goncalves controlled his fellow countryman Ruben Faria and rode to fourth place on the day.
Wolfgang Fischer was excited over his riders performance: "This is amazing. It´s the first overall top finish since we started the rally project. We began just over a year ago and our current setup is only a few months old. But the new Husqvarna TE 449 RR by Speedbrain showed its worth already at the Dakar, signalling our direction. Today´s success is the logical result of our hard work in this competitive sport. I´d like to thank the whole team and especially our partners Husqvarna and the BMW Group. They seek long-term success as much as we do. A big thanks also goes to Monster Energy and their support right from the start as well as to our technical partners.
"There´s not much time to rest now. We want to keep the momentum going and pick up where we left today. The next world championship round in Qatar kicks off on 17 April. But for tonight it´s party time."
Final standings - Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2012
1. Marc Coma (SPA) KTM 20:33:35 hrs
2. Joan Barreda (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain 9:33 behind
3. Paulo Goncalves (POR) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain 20:24
4. Ruben Faria (POR) KTM 23:03
5. Jordi Viladoms (SPA) KTM 27:25
Latest Pics
Dakarwear
Press Login
Press Menu
Attention
This image media download is a service for international media operated by motorsport communication network and provided by speedbrain free of charge when mentioning the photographer. If no photographer name is available please mention 'speedbrain'. All images published on this website are for editoral use only. For marketing and advertising use please contact speedbrain. For highres download please login.
