Joan Barreda wins Baja Aragon

Speedbrain Honda rider Joan Barreda defends his title at the Baja Aragon with a brilliant ride, presenting Honda its first victory at the traditional offroad event since 16 years.

The final race day saw the field take the same route as on Saturday. Another 500 kilometres had to be covered altogether, with an identical length of the two special stages (200 and 160 km). The participants were challenged by the same characteristics as before, varying between technically demanding and high-speed sections.

Joan opened the day following his previous stage win. The Spaniard aboard his Honda CRF450R immediately put the hammer down, followed by fellow countryman Jordi Viladoms riding a Gas Gas. Both struggled after just 30 minutes of race time at a very deep river crossing. The passage was way deeper than 24 hours before because of all the cars and trucks that had taken the line since then. Barreda and Viladoms literally drowned their bikes and lost 15 minutes afterwards to get going again.

Joan was able to make up most of the lost ground by the end of the special stage, though. The Speedbrain ace was only four minutes back before the second and ultimately decisive test got underway. The 29-year-old then showed he is clearly the fastest in the field by distancing his opponents. He increased his lead from five minutes at the halfway mark to almost ten minutes in the end. Another Spaniard, Marc Guasch, placed second overall.

Joan Barreda: "The Baja Aragon is short but very intense and you have to master all the challenges that make rally racing what it is. I had to drain my bike in record time after the river crossing and immediately got on the gas again. I was feeling superbly and enjoying my riding, especially when I realised I was not only gaining time back. Actually I was opening a considerable gap. So I am happy to bounce back from the injury and to present our partner Honda with a win. That is perfect. Thanks to Speedbrain, Honda and certainly Monster Energy as well as thanks to my friends and family who were here to support me and who all made this success possible."

Speedbrain Team principal Wolfgang Fischer: "It´s great we´re able to celebrate the first win already that shortly after starting our cooperation with Honda. Our plan with the Speedbrain Honda concept bike for Baja races has worked very well. Joan absolutely made an impression upon his comeback after being injured. We are looking forward to the first official rally outing with HRC at the Pharaons Rally in Egypt."

The Speedbrain team is not catching a break anyway. Next stop is the Sertoes Rally in Brasil. Paulo Goncalves is competing in this round of the FIM Cross Country Rally World Championship aboard his Speedbrain 450 Rally from 25 July to 4 August.
  
Final Standings Baja Aragon Spain 2013:
1. Joan Barreda (ESP, Speedbrain Honda) 09:18:26 hrs
2. Guasch (ESP, Gas Gas) +00:09:51
3. Viladoms (ESP, Gas Gas) +00:14:13
4. Bernadaus (ESP, KTM) +00:30:46
5. Escale (ESP, Husqvarna) +00:46:37