Sam Sunderland continues the Honda CRF450 RALLY success story, this time with a victory in the Merzouga Rally while his TEAM HRC team-mate HÌ©lder Rodrigues finished second.
It was a spectacular start to the two African rallies with the new Honda CRF450 RALLY taking two consecutive victories, having won nine of the twelve stages disputed.
Although it was just a week ago that Paulo Gon̤alves won the Morocco Rally and the World Championship, it was the turn today of young British rider Sam Sunderland in the Merzouga Rally. This, of course, was the final test before TEAM HRC heads out to Argentina to confront its next challenge with the Honda CRF450 RALLY, the famous Dakar Rally.
The final stage couldn‰Ûªt have been more spectacular as the participants headed out in line from Erfoud and rode just a 72 kilometre route through the Erg Rissani and Erg Chebbi dunes, where the race came to its close.
First across the line was Sunderland, who picked up his second stage win, as well as becoming the overall race winner, after holding onto the lead from the third stage.
"It‰Ûªs perfect," Sunderland enthused. "Just before the Dakar. It‰Ûªs nice for confidence. The week went really well, the bike was flawless, the team did really well. Everybody was working together for the same thing and in the end we won.
"We came first and second. I‰Ûªm really happy as it‰Ûªs been a long time since I raced. To finish like this is the best it can be, just before the Dakar.
"I‰Ûªve a lot of confidence now. We‰Ûªve just got to keep working. It has proved that I‰Ûªm moving in the right direction. The last two races we‰Ûªve come away with victory, it‰Ûªs really important for the team spirit. I‰Ûªm really happy to be winning," he added.
