Abu Dhabi Desert Problem 2023
Stage 4
A thick blanket of fog descended upon the penultimate stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Problem on Thursday morning, delaying the beginning by two hours, however that didn’t cease Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna Manufacturing facility Racing) grabbing his second stage win after dominating the particular from go to whoa.
Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Power Honda), who seized the general lead two days in the past, completed second on the day at 3′22″ forward of Ross Department (Hero MotoSports) who got here in third at 4′06″.
Pablo Quintanilla began the stage in second place total however is now out of competition after his Honda gave up the ghost 250 km into the particular. His team-mate Adrien Van Beveren nonetheless tops the chief board.
Ruben Faria – Monster Power Honda Basic Supervisor
“Right now our workforce was lowered to 3 riders as a result of Pablo’s abandonment. The competitors may be very shut for the highest standings with little or no variations between all eight riders within the entrance, so now now we have to maintain our focus to satisfy our targets. Adrien Van Beveren is main the race, Nacho can also be in a podium place and Ricky is just not far behind. The race is just not over till the end line. I do know will probably be an intense battle till the tip.”
Toby Worth (Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing facility Racing) completed seventh at 9′01″ after opening the best way on Thursday morning. With the sand damp because of the morning’s fog, Toby’s rivals behind had clear tracks to observe – an enormous benefit for the chasing pack.
Finishing the stage with out incident, Worth accrued near six-minutes in bonus time, which helped him to seventh-place outcome for the stage. Now mendacity in sixth total, the Australian will make the very best use of his later begin place for tomorrow’s fifth and ultimate stage as he goals to achieve the utmost period of time on these forward.
On the again of the Thursday victory Luciano Benavides surged up the general standings, the place he’s now the Van Beveren’s closest pursuer at 2′58″.
Chilean Nacho Cornejo has lastly positioned his Honda on the provisional podium, 6′14″ behind his team-mate. Ross Department (Hero MotoSports) is fourth at 6′38″. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna Manufacturing facility Racing) sits in fifth place at 7′16″.
Toby Worth slipped all the way down to sixth at 8′35″. Ricky Brabec (Monster Power Honda) is seventh at 8′52″. Lower than 9 minutes separate the highest 7.
Benavides will probably be beginning Friday’s stage proper earlier than the general chief —an unenviable place for the Argentinian to search out himself in.
The race remains to be broad open among the many high 7, who will settle their variations in a finale stretching for greater than 200 kilometres.
Within the Rally2 class, Paolo Lucci, the hegemon of the race since day one, conceded buckets of time following a crash with 20 kilometres to go. The BAS World KTM Racing rider surrendered the result in Jean-Loup Lepan (Duust Numerous Racing) and is now virtually 11 minutes down.
Adrien Van Beveren – P1 total
“I knew right now was the day to push, so I did it from the start. I used to be in a position to attain Nacho at round kilometre 100 after which rode with him – it was nice to have him by my aspect as a result of while you experience alone it’s tougher to maintain a excessive rhythm. We did a great job collectively and I’m blissful about my day. The aim was to do a great time and that’s what we achieved.”
Luciano Benavides – P2 total
“It was a very good day within the desert for me. After the delay this morning, I used to be actually motivated to push as arduous as I may proper from the beginning and attempt to make up as a lot time as I may to the fellows in entrance. This stage on final 12 months’s race was the primary stage I had ever gained, so it was good to high the timesheets once more this 12 months. The bike is working rather well, and I’m actually pleased with the job the workforce are doing right here. There’s someday left, and I will probably be opening the stage. My aim is to take the win, it gained’t be straightforward, however I’ll definitely do my finest.”
José Ignacio Cornejo – P3 total
“I completed stage 4 in sixth place and didn’t really feel so good as within the earlier days. But it surely was nonetheless a great stage, I rode as quick as I may however couldn’t keep away from dropping a while. Now I’m on the rostrum. I’ll do all I can to maintain this place tomorrow, the day is not going to be so lengthy so now we have to provide it our all and hold the consistency till the tip.”
Skyler Howes – P5 total
“Right now began out fairly attention-grabbing – we had fog initially of the stage and because it was blowing within the course of the particular, it took a very very long time to clear. It was getting hotter because it bought later too. It was an extended stage and with the fog making the sand damp, for these of us opening we have been leaving the proper tracks for everybody behind to observe. They may even see the place we have been on the gasoline or braking arduous. The dunes have been actually technical, however with the solar quite a bit greater it was tough to see correctly and browse the terrain. Positively not the day to be opening and we misplaced fairly a little bit of time, however I believe we did a great job from the entrance. That’s racing, so we’ll regroup now and push arduous as soon as once more tomorrow on the ultimate stage.”
Toby Worth – P6 total
“Not the very best day for me right now, sadly. We had a delay initially of round two hours whereas we waited for the fog to elevate, then once we lastly bought going, the solar was quite a bit greater within the sky, making it actually tough to see whereas opening the stage. I did my finest and didn’t make any massive errors anyplace, however with situations like that, on the longest stage of the race, it was powerful to steer out. Pablo (Quintanilla) caught me round 80 kilometres in and took the lead for some time and it was a lot simpler to observe another person’s tracks. I introduced it dwelling safely, which is the primary factor, and now there’s the fifth and ultimate stage left to go, the place I’ll give my all as ordinary.”
Abu Dhabi Desert Problem 2023
Stage 4 Outcomes
- Luciano Benavides (ARG), Husqvarna, 3:47:08
- Adrien Van Beveren (FRA), Honda, 3:50:30 +3:22
- Ross Department (BWA), Hero, 3:51:14 +4:06
- Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 3:51:25 +4:17
- Skyler Howes (USA), Husqvarna, 3:52:41 5:33
- Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 3:53:44
- Toby Worth (AUS), KTM, 3:56:09 +9:01
- Mason Klein (USA), KTM, 3:57:00 9:52
Abu Dhabi Desert Problem 2023
Provisional General after Stage 4
- Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) 14:45:32
- Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 14:48:30
- Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 14:51:46
- Ross Department (Hero) 14:52:10
- Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 14:52:48
- Toby Worth (KTM) 14:54:07
