Team HRC's Barreda Holds 2nd-Place in Dakar Rally after Stage 6 4th-Place Finish Heading into Break

Dakar 2014

Stage 6

10/01/2014

TEAM HRC makes it to the break with Joan Barreda in second place.

It was a fourth place finish for Joan Barreda, and sixth for Hélder Rodrigues in this, the sixth stage of the Dakar 2014, which finished today in the city of Salta, Argentina. Both riders will be poised to attack from good positions when the the second part of the rally recommences.

It will be a well-deserved day of rest for the riders at the camp in Salta after six days of some of the most gruelling Dakar to date. It was, once again, a mountain stage full of hard ground, rocks, a lot of dust, some fesh-fesh and a fair share of animals.

Joan Barreda finished in fourth place in the transition stage of today, taking no chances in the limited visibility and clouds of dust produced by the competitors up ahead. In doing so, the Spanish rider consolidates his position, and will be looking to push hard when the second week of the Rally Dakar gets underway.

Helder too, stated how difficult it had been to gain any precious seconds on his rivals. It had been a blessing to the other riders to have started out in front. Rodrigues finished in sixth and moves up into eighth overall position. Argentino Javier Pizzolito crossed the line in 29th place.

It was a pass with honours for the riders from Honda Argentina Rally Team, Laia Sanz and ‘Cacha’ Rodríguez who continue in the race. Laia Sanz, who picked up a one-hour penalty for missing a waypoint, today made up for the places dropped in the overall standings and is now back in 20th place. Pablo Rodríguez, not wanting to take any chances after a fall yesterday, took it calmly and finished in 43rd.

TEAM HRC would like to make a special mention for Belgian rider Eric Palante, who passed away during the course of the fifth stage. Palante, a veteran and great aficionado of the Cross-Country Rallies was taking part in this his 11th Dakar on a Honda. Our most sincere condolences go out to family and friends. May he rest in peace.


Video Stage 5, click here

Vídeo Stage 4, click here

Vídeo Behind of the Scene 5

Vídeo Behind of the Scene 4 

Joan Barreda       4th       +2'22       TEAM HRC
We made it to the half-way point at the rally here in Salta. We are happy, but it certainly hasn’t been an easy week, with a few problems, particularly yesterday. Today was a day for catching the group ahead. It was really difficult to overtake with the fesh-fesh, but it worked out and we will be setting off with the leading group on Sunday’s Salta – Bolivia stage. We’ll be giving it our best.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Helder Rodrigues       6th       +4'21       TEAM HRC
Another day at the Dakar. The first part has finished. Today was a very technical day with a lot of dust and loads of dangerous curves. It was a very different special. They have been very quick and very dusty. The second special was really fast... and not so fast. Where you don’t really gain anything, but you can lose everything. Sixth in today’s standings isn’t bad. We shall fight on.

Classification Stage 6

1	Alain Duclos	04:21'34	FRA	SHERCO	Sherco Rally Factory
2	Marc Coma	+01'15	ESP	KTM	KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
3	Mickael Metge	+01'49	FRA	YAMAHA	Yamaha Racing
4	Joan Barreda	+02'22	ESP	HONDA	TEAM HRC
5	Cyril Despres	+02'55	FRA	YAMAHA	Yamaha Racing
6	Helder Rodrigues	+04'21	PRT	HONDA	TEAM HRC
7	Stefan Svitko	+07'46	SLO	KTM	Oraving Slovnaft Team
8	Kuba Przygonski	+08'12	POL	KTM	KTM Rally Factory
9	Jordi Viladoms	+10'26	ESP	GAS GAS	Gas Gas JVO Team
10	Jeremias Israel	+11'13	CHL	SPEEDBRAIN	Team Speedbrain

General standings after Stage 6

1	Marc Coma	23:08'00	ESP	KTM	KTM Red Bull Rally Factory
2	Joan Barreda	+42'17	ESP	HONDA	TEAM HRC
3	Alain Duclos	+01:00'58	FRA	SHERCO	Sherco Rally Factory
4	Jordi Viladoms	+01:08'09	ESP	GAS GAS	Gas Gas JVO Team
5	Jeremias Israel	+01:33'28	CHL	SPEEDBRAIN	Team Speedbrain
6	Olivier Pain	+01:43'08	FRA	YAMAHA	Yamaha Racing
7	Kuba Przygonski	+01:49'59	POL	KTM	KTM Rally Factory
8	Helder Rodrigues	+02'01'24	PRT	HONDA	TEAM HRC
9	David Casteu	+02:12'05	FRA	KTM	Team Casteu
10	Daniel Gouet	+02:17'26	CHI	HONDA	Tamarugal Honda Racing XC Rally Team

TOMORROW'S STAGE

 

REST DAY
Salta

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Reaching the rest day represents a major intermediary goal on the Dakar. Some of the rally’s newcomers, who are conscious of how tough the challenge is, may even regard this as a tiny victory. So the riders and teams will be welcomed with the honours of a halfway podium at the bivouac in Salta, where a first celebration has been organised for them. Thousands of spectators are expected to come and discover the Dakar Village, as they did in Tucuman last year, where they will have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of the rally, take advantage of the great variety of entertainment and activities on offer and meet the race’s key figures. It will also allow the competitors to boost their motivation levels and recharge their batteries.