Abu Dhabi 2022 Rally Result

Sunderland extends his lead (63 points) over Quintanilla in the overall W2RC standings (46 points). Matthias Walkner (35 points) is the fifth-place finisher. The incumbent World Champion is barely ahead of Ricky Brabec on the W2RC preliminary podium (34 points). The American made the best move of the second round, moving from eighth to just outside the podium.

The Monster Energy Honda team retains its lead in the Manufacturers’ World Championship standings courtesy of a one-two finish on the podium. Honda now has 83 points, compared to 63 for GasGas. KTM is in second place with 60 points, owing to Price and Walkner’s fourth and fifth places on the ADDC.

Hero Motosports overtook Sherco for the fourth position because of Rodrigues and Caimi’s strong efforts.

After over 17 hours of racing, Sunderland won the overall race by over three minutes, clocking in 34 seconds quicker than anybody else at the completion of stage five. With three rounds remaining to compete, his advantage at the top of the FIM Rally-Raid World Championship standings has grown to 17 points.

With a distance of little over 200 kilometres, the rally’s last stage was a sprint finish, with all of the leading riders trying to improve their places. In the end, Sam Sunderland won, Ricky Brabec finished second, and Pablo Quintanilla finished third overall. The Monster Energy Honda Team maintains and extends their championship lead.

Kevin Benavides of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing was leading the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Rally after two stages and three to go. Husqvarna rider Michael Docherty, the race leader after stage one, took a heavy fall and was transported to the hospital by helicopter.

Benavides came first at Docherty’s collision site and waited with the wounded rider until further help arrived. Benavides, the 2021 Dakar Champion, completed the stage, trying hard to make up time.

When Benavides arrived at the finish line, he was given back the time he had lost due to the collision, putting him in the third position for the stage and putting the KTM 450 Rally rider in the temporary rally lead.

American In stage two, Ricky Brabec finished fourth, four minutes and 23 seconds behind leader Kevin Benavides. Sam Sunderland of GasGas was 40 seconds down in fourth, while Honda’s third rider Pablo Quintanilla was another minute and a half behind. Toby Price, Luciano Benavides, Stefano Caimi, Joaquim Rodrigues, and Matthias Walkner round out the top ten overall. Toby Price had navigational trouble early on and an accident during stage two.

The Andalucia Rally, planned for June 6, is the next FIM Rally-Raid World Championship event.