The sixth stage of the Silkway Rally 2019 proved to be a special one for Hero MotoSports Team Rally, as the Team achieved its first ever stage victory in the FIM World Championship. Team Rider Oriol Mena claimed the win and consequently reached the second position in the overall rankings.
Hero MotoSports Team has continued its impressive this season and is looking at yet another notable finish, close on the heels of its podium finish at the Merzouga Rally.
The sixth Stage of the Silkway Rally threw everything at the riders during the stage – from rain, thunderstorm, lightening to searing heat. Oriol, however, successfully tackled the weather gods on a superfast stage on wide steppe roads. This was the last run for the riders in the Mongolian terrains before moving to China.
For the second Team rider, Paulo Goncalves, it was not the day he wanted, as he had to forfeit the stage due to a technical snag in the motorcycle.
Overall, a day of mixed fortunes for the Team, as it needs to work towards getting Paulo back into the race in the last three stages in China.
Oriol Mena (Comp No: 25): “I am super happy to win the first-ever stage the Team. Now I am in the second position in the overall rankings, which is amazing. I am keeping my fingers crossed and my focus on maintaining the same performance for the last three stages as well.”
Paulo Goncalves (Comp No: 4): “Not a good end to my Mongolian leg as I could not finish today’s stage due to a mechanical issue with my bike. But these kinds of things happen in rally so it’s ok and I am looking ahead now to the three days of racing in China. I will try to make the best of the remaining stages and achieve a good finish for the team.”
Provisional Rankings of the Stage 6
- Oriol Mena Hero MotoSports 04h 28m 32s
- Adam Tomiczek Orlen Racing +16s
- Joan Barreda Monster Energy Honda +03m 03s
- Sam Sunderland RedBull KTM +04m 52s
- Laia Sanz RedBull KTM +05m 09s
DNF Paulo Goncalves Hero MotoSports – –
Overall Rankings at the end of the Stage 6
- Sam Sunderland RedBull KTM 15h 02m 50s
- Oriol Mena Hero MotoSports +21m 10s
- Luciano Benavides RedBull KTM +23m 17s
- Andrew Short Rockstar Energy Husqvarna +26m 59s
- Franco Caimi Yamaha Rally Team +30m 19s
Paulo Goncalves Hero MotoSports Information awaited