After successfully making it through the mandatory verifications, Monster Energy Honda Team this afternoon began the #andaluciarally with a short nine-kilometre Super Special.
Ricky Brabec set off from first place, without references ahead, to tackle the opening kilometres of the #andaluciarally prologue, eventually going on to post eleventh place, just twelve seconds adrift of the day’s fastest time. Very narrow gaps separated the frontrunners with several riders finishing within the same second. #joanbarreda finished just one second behind his American team-mate.
Argentine #kevinbenavides rode at a pace similar to his Monster Energy Honda Team squad-mates and took fourteenth position, one second off Barreda. #joseignaciocornejo conceded some 35 seconds to the leader of the general standings, finishing in 21st position.
Tomorrow, Wednesday, sees the first full stage of the #andaluciarally which will feature a total of 240 kilometres of timed special (two specials made up of 130 and 110 kilometres respectively) and a liaison of about 70 kilometres connecting the start and finish in Villamartín.
Ricky Brabec – SUPER SPECIAL STAGE: 11TH +0’12: “The prologue went well. I started first and after today’s finish, I’ll be starting from eleventh position tomorrow. So, I think that this sets us up quite well for stage one and we are going to see how it pans out after tomorrow.”
José Ignacio Cornejo – SUPER SPECIAL STAGE: 21ST +0’35: “We finished the prologue with a pretty convincing result so now we can start picking up race pace. We are very motivated and looking forward to the long days of navigation at last. We are going to enjoy these next four days.”
Kevin BenavidesSUPER SPECIAL STAGE: 14TH +0’14: “It was a good prologue, I felt good and had some good feelings. I finished in a good position to head out and attack tomorrow in the first stage. We are satisfied and we will try to finish the race every day in the best possible position.”
Joan BarredaSUPER SPECIAL STAGE: 12TH +0’13: “A short but technical prologue. Shortly after the start I hit a branch that made me go off-track and it disorientated me a bit. I dropped a few seconds, but in the end, I finished in a position that I think is good for tomorrow’s stage, if we can make it through the dust. The #rally has only just begun.”
Results Super Special Stage
1 PRICE Toby AUS Red Bull KTM #rally Factory Team 6’29
2 SANDERS Daniel AUS Red Bull KTM #rally Factory Team +0’0
3 EVAN BRANCH Ross BWA Yamalube Yamaha Official #rally Team +0’03
4 WALKNER Matthias AUT Red Bull KTM #rally Factory Team +0’04
5 SHORT Andrew USA Yamalube Yamaha Official #rally Team +0’06
6 BENAVIDES Luciano ARG Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing +0’06
7 MCCANNEY Jamie GBR Yamalube Yamaha Official #rally Team +0’06
8 CAIMI Franco ARG Yamalube Yamaha Official #rally Team +0’09
9 VAN BEVEREN Adrien FRA Yamalube Yamaha Official #rally Team +0’10
10 BUEHLER Sebastian POR Hero Motorsports Team Rally +0’11
11 BRABEC Ricky USA Monster Energy Honda Team +0’12
12 BARREDA Joan SPA Monster Energy Honda Team +0’13
13 SANTOLINO Lorenzo SPA Sherco TVS #rally Factory +0’13
14 BENAVIDES Kevin ARG Monster Energy Honda Team +0’14
15 DE SOULTRAIT Xavier FRA HT Husqvarna #rally Team +0’14
21 CORNEJO José Ignacio CHI Monster Energy Honda Team +0’35
