Benavides Wins Andalucia Rally
M
onster Energy Honda
Team claimed victory in the
Andalucia Rally in Spain at the
hands of Argentinean rider Kevin
Benavides.
The final stage of the Andalu-
cia Rally kept up the same level
of intrigue and combativeness
that the race had maintained
throughout the week, particularly
on Saturday's 130-mile stage,
where Benavides took the final
finish-line and the overall victory
in the race. Benavides, who held
the field in check in the final
stage, conceding just 2:48 to
the day's winner Daniel Sand-
ers, confirmed his position at the
head of the competition lead-
erboard. The Monster Energy
Honda Team rider ended the
race with the nearest overall rider
almost eight minutes behind.
Yamalube Yamaha's Adrien
Van Beveren finished out the
rally second overall, followed
by Sherco's Lorenzo Santolino,
Red Bull KTM's Toby Price and
Honda's Joan Barreda.
American Ricky Brabec was
10th in final stage and finished
14th overall.
"We finished the rally. I'm
really excited to finish the rally
without hitting the ground, first
off," Brabec said. "Second, I'm
happy to board the plane without
an injury and get back home and
train in the desert. I'm looking
forward to that. We had fun out
here at the Andalucia Rally, but
the style of riding just wasn't my
cup of tea. The roads were fun.
Well, I'm not sure if they were
fun to race, but they were fun to
ride." CN
IN
THE
WIND
P64
Honda's Kevin
Benavides (pictured)
won the Andalucia
Rally by nearly eight
minutes over Adrien
Van Beveren.
PHOTO: HONDA HRC
