Despite opening the track on the day, the Dakar winner, Ricky Brabecremains at the tip of the ‘Route 40 Challenge’ -fourth date of FIM Rally Raid World Championship-, after giving up only 7 seconds in the Stage 4 San Juan-La Rioja (679 kms.) with his teammate Honda Rally TeamTosha Schareina, who won the day’s split.
With good weather (22°C), 59 motorcycles and quads started near ‘La Difunta Correa’, in Vallecito, to cross the dunes of the place and then head north towards the Province of La Rioja. Where they will cross Zolca and the surroundings of the Anzulón Reservoir, to finish near Olpas, closing a 370 km special. travel.
With Brabec opening the track, the duel of the official CRF450 Rally was exposed from the beginning, because Schareina and Adrien Van Beveren attacked the American from the start. The Frenchman took the lead briefly at the beginning, but Brabec took it back around KM100 and held it until the refueling of KM174.
But in the 200 kms. finals, it was Schareina who pushed and took the lead, although only for a handful of seconds, because the overall leader defended himself in a big way, knowing that – very possibly – today’s result will decide the entire race.
The stage was with Brabec ahead of Schareina +7s, Van Beveren +57, Branch +3.05 and Howes +3.40.
Jeremías Pascual from Cordoba, with Husquarna, was 14th on the day, with a small fall that caused some breaks in his bike and then controlling the pace.
In the general classification, with the final stage remaining, Brabec leads Schareina +1.27s, Van Beveren +4.28, Howes +9.01, Branch +12.26, Quintanilla +20.05 and Bühler +20.50, Sanders, Dumontier and Cox complete the group of top ten.
Among the Argentines, J. Pascual continues 13°, another from Cordoba, Leonardo Cola -Yamaha- 22° and Pablo Curletto -KTM- 28°, among them, Santiago Rostán from Neuquén 23° and Eduardo Alan -Beta- 37°.
In the quadricycles, the Dakar winner, Manuel Andújar continues to make a difference and leads the general standings over F. Viel +40.41, Juan Carlos Carignani +1.35.55, K. Wisniewski, Giuliano Giordana, C. Van Vliet, S. Martínez, M Bennazar, A. Fantoni and Cerón Ochoa, were placed next.
Tomorrow, Stage 5 La Rioja/Córdoba -218 kms. of special and 301 kms. link-. To the south of Tuclame, the machines will start towards Tosno, Ciénaga del Coro and, after crossing Route 38, they will go up to Estancia La Candelaria, and then go down towards the end in Molinari. At the 15th hour, in the Chateau Park, the final press conference – open to the public – and the coronation of those arriving on the Final Ramp will take place. A nice ‘show’ for all Cordoba fans.
Cadena 3 Motor, from the La Rioja Superdome, Campamento DR40, with photographs of DR40.
