Coma still top

SEALINE CROSS COUNTRY RALLY 2015
Wednesday 22 April 2015
Third leg: Sealine - Sealine

Link section: 3.58 km – Special: 392.52 km – Link section: 1.21 km – Total: 397.31km

Twenty-two motorcycles and the four quads were at the start this morning, just 4 km from the Sealine bivouac.  Yesterday, Nelson Sanabria was counted as a DNF on account of a broken engine on his quad, but in fact the problem was just electrical and could be repaired in time for him to take part in this third leg. 

The day began with some 35 km of dunes to get the riders into their rhythm. They then hugged the end of the inland sea before returning through 20 km of low dunes to cross the finish line not far from the bivouac.  

Paulo Goncalves (Honda) had played it tactically the day before, slowing down the pace to finish 8th so he could start behind Marc Coma, who picked the 6th spot.  This strategy paid off and the Portuguese rider won the Special with a lead of 2'04 over Chile’s Pablo Quintanilla (KTM) and 3'59 over Marc Coma. “You have to try to use all the subtleties of the new regulations”, explained the rider from Portugal. “With my result yesterday, I knew I had a small advantage. It worked, and for tomorrow I’m the one who’ll be able to choose my place”.

The rider best placed to do well today was Joan Barreda (Honda), with a 1'17 lead over Coma at the CP3 at km 288.6, but he got lost between CP3 and CP4, finishing in 7th position and losing any chance of winning the rally. “I was out in front throughout the Special and kept attacking hard”, said Barreda. “It wasn’t easy and I made a navigation error”.

Austria’s Matthias Walkner (KTM) finished n 4th position followed by Jordi Viladoms (KTM) and Sam Sunderland (KTM).

Marc Coma is still top of the leader board with a 10'12 lead over his team mate Jordi Viladoms, himself just a second or so ahead of Pablo Quintanilla. 

In quad, Abu Issa led the field throughout most of the Special but a navigation error cost him dearly and Rafal Sonik won the day.