While it has been a struggle of masters in the motorcycle category on the tracks today, the car category had its share of twists and surprises. You’d need nerves of steel rally the 240km of stage 2 of the OiLibya Rally of Morocco.
This new stage aptly named from Jbel and Jbel (from mountain to mountain) guaranteed a radical change of scenery. Participants had to tackle technical tracks, very different from the sand dunes of the first stage.
It’s at 7:55 am that the first bike darted onto the track all the way up to the high pass and fort of Zguilma.
The first stage has left its mark in the category BIKE / QUAD: 9 competitors did not take the start of the stage after minor falls or mechanical problems. In the CAR / TRUCK category, three vehicles were non-starters. Among them, the unfortunate biker Franck LIBBRECHT No 350 who won the Enduro Cup in Morocco in 2010 recently transitioned to four wheels,who had to give up the race due to engine failure. His Predator had already misshaped in the Africa Race.
A few of them will be on the starting blocks tomorrow as the rules of the OiLibya Rally of Morocco does allow participants who have not completed a stage to start the next day or day after, without being excluded. The organizer makes it a point of honour that a maximum of competitors cross the finish line of the rally.
BIKES : The masters play cat and Mouse
At this game it’s Paulo GONCALVES, Honda HRC Rally Team, No 2 who prevails today in 2'50'' 22 only 17 seconds ahead of Marc Coma KTM Red Bull Rally Team. Joan BARREDA, started first this morning, opened the track at a steady pace but was caught up by GONCALVES and COMA and finished in 5th place this second special. Sam SUNDERLAND Honda HRC Rally No 6 left in 7th place this morning and finished in third position even if he prefers the sand dunes.
It’s give and take between Honda and KTM alternating their riders in the first eight places. The World Championship Rallies once again played out on the African soil.
Paulo Goncalves, HRC Rally Factory No2 :
"Today was a tricky and difficult stage with a lot of mountains. But I managed to maintain a fast pace and always stay in the right tracks. Finally it turned out a fine today. I am very happy with my HONDA it works really well. But we still have four days of rally to go and we still have many miles to go, Morocco is the toughest rally championship, I will continue to use caution and concentration"
The real Surprise in the motorcycle category comes with Helder Rodriguez, Hrc Rally, No 6. One of the leading figures of the Honda Team suffered a battery problem and had to be towed to the finish line by a TANGO (medical bike). RODRIGUEZ’s penalties in this case will deprive him of the podium, but he will continue to compete and attempt a stage victory. Overall, GONCALVES takes the lead, followed by BARREDA, COMA, LOPEZ, and SUNDERLAND.
In the over 450 cc Salvatierra, No. 72 reinforces his pole position, ending 15th in the scratch and more than one hour ahead of his pursuers Polli, No. 73 and Recchi, No. 74.
Rafal Sonik on YAMAHA 200, already titled world champion, gets his second stage win in the category with : 3'34'22 and realizes the 22nd time overall. It’s a close call as all three leaders of the day: the Frenchman Sébastien Souday, TEAM ALL TRACK, finished second on his Yamaha No206 only 38 seconds behind Rafal. The Qatari Mohammed Abu-Issa HT Honda Rally Raid No. 201 is third, only 42 seconds behind Sebastien, and close behind : Camellia Liparoti is fourth with her Yamaha No 203.
Overall, Sonic remains ahead of Souday and Liparoti.
Enduro Cup: Van Pelt leads the way
Robert Van Pelt-Junior finished the special in 3h27'59 leader of the quads, and in 20th scratch time. Closely followed by Cédric Chalvin just 9 minutes behind and by Eric Schiano, a mere 2 minutes behind.
Philippe Dasse, today conceded 32 minutes to the leader but maintains ihis position as the third overall at the end of the second stage.
Vincent Albira No 270, winner of the OiLybia Rally of Morocco 2012, is on course for a second crown in the quad Enduro Cup. Combining both competitions this year after participating in the BAJA Rally of Morocco and, despite the penalty imposed on the first special (3h), Vincent leads the overall Rankings to date.
Communication NPO - www.npo.fr -