Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1494211
WIND IN THE P48 Van Beveren Best In Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge T he Abu Dhabi Desert Chal- lenge served as round two of the FIM World Rally-Raid Cham- pionship, and after more than 1100 miles, Honda HRC's Adrien Van Beveren claimed the overall victory, February 25-March 3. Van Beveren played the consistent game for the entire rally. He started second after the prologue and never won a single stage. The Honda rider strung together several second-place finishes as well as a couple of fifths to maintain the overall lead through to the finish line. In the end, Van Beveren put over four minutes between him and the second-place finisher. He's now second in the World Rally-Raid Championship. "It feels really good to win," Van Beveren said. "For me as a rider and also for the team that invested in me. It was a bit frus - trating not to be in the podium in the last Dakar, being so close. Now coming here and winning the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge just some weeks after the Dakar is a great feeling." Husqvarna's Luciano Bena - vides took second overall after winning two individual stages. The yo-yo effect of winning and starting first hindered him in the overall results. While Benavides would win a stage and lead the following day, Van Beveren was able to follow the pre-cut tracks after finishing inside the top five. "There was quite a lot of pressure this morning to do the stage at full gas," Benavides said after the final stage. "It was the only choice I had. But I think I did a good job and I'm happy with the result. To come away from the race with a podium and two stage wins is amazing. Of course, I want to win, but I think this is the best way to keep building race by race and the win will definitely come." The closest battle of the rally was for the final spot on the po - dium. Ignacio "Nacho" Cornejo held third overall until the final day when a charging Toby Price came away with the stage win. Cornejo finished second on the stage, but Price managed to put two minutes between himself and the Honda HRC rider. With this gap, Price edged Cornejo by merely two seconds in the overall rankings. Price is also credited with a win on stage three as he takes control of the World Rally-Raid Championship points lead. "Opening on the long day four really knocked me back in the overall," Price said. "To only just make the podium by two seconds is crazy. It shows the level of the riders at the moment in rally, with the results often coming down to seconds and not minutes – I think that's really good for the championship." CN Overall 1. Adrien Van Beveren (Hon) 17:13:39 2. Luciano Benavides (Hus) +4:18 3. Toby Price (KTM) +5:13 4. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Hon) +5:15 5. Ross Branch (Her) +6:17 Honda's Adrien Van Beveren (center) topped the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, with Husqvarna's Luciano Benavides (left) taking second and KTM's Toby Price third.