Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah powers through the desert on day one of the Sealine Cross-Country Rally yesterday.
By Sports Reporter/Sealine
Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah, Spain’s Marc Coma and Qatar’s Mohamed Abu Issa edged into early advantages in their respective car, motorcycle and quad categories after the opening 201.94km selective section of the Sealine Cross-Country Rally between Al-Wabra and Sealine in Qatar yesterday afternoon.
Hot and windy conditions made the going tough for all competitors, but the opening stage of just 201.94km was short by Sealine standards and enabled Coma to charge through from 13th on the road to claim the stage win in the motorcycle category by six seconds on his Red Bull KTM factory bike. Team HRC’s Joan Barreda Bort was second and Dubai-based Briton Sam Sunderland was third.
“Always the first day is tricky and you don’t have the feeling from one year ago,” said Coma. “The desert here is very particular and it is important not to make a mistake. In one part I did make a small error, but everyone makes small mistakes. The first day is important now with these new rules. If the first day goes well, then it sets you up nicely for the next four days. At least we are in a good position.”
Barreda Bort was a determined second. “It’s not easy when you are near the front and you are opening the stage. It was a good job but I made some mistakes in the last kilometres and lose some time.”
Mohamed Abu Issa drew first blood in the battle between four quad riders for Qatar supremacy. The defending Sealine champion and current FIM quad series leader, riding a Honda TRX, gained 59 seconds on Poland’s Rafal Sonik.
“I was happy with that,” said Abu Issa. “I caught them (Sonik) after 10 or 15 kilometres and they stayed with me. Then (Rafal) Sonik made a couple of mistakes. Tomorrow I will start alone and I can, maybe, make a difference. My navigation today was a bit off, but I will try and make a gap tomorrow.”
Al-Attiyah passed three of his Mini teammates to record a comfortable stage win with French navigator Matthieu Baumel in the car category. The Qatari reached the bivouac 3min 39sec in front of Saudi Arabian Overdrive Toyota Hilux driver Yazeed al-Rajhi. Vladimir Vasilyev, the defending FIA World Cup champion, holds third place in his X-raid Mini All4 Racing.
“No problems today, quite happy and not really pushing at all,” insisted al-Attiyah. “The navigation was okay, the car is fine. Let’s see tomorrow.”
Al-Rajhi reached the bivouac with a deflating front right-hand tyre and a minor concern about a loss of power mid-stage, but the Riyadh driver was happy with second position nonetheless. “Not bad second, that’s the clever way to keep the championship going forward. We lose a little power midway. I thought engine and then I thought maybe electrical, but I am happy so far.”
SS1 results
Cars
1. Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah (QAT)/Matthieu Baumel (FRA) Mini All4 Racing 1hr 51min 59sec
2. Yazeed al-Rajhi (SAU)/Timo Gottchalk (DEU) Overdrive Toyota Hilux 1hr 55min 38sec
3. Vladimir Vasilyev (RUS)/Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS) Mini All4 Racing 2hr 00min 08sec
4. Erik van Loon (NED)/Wouter Rosegaar (NED) Mini All4 Racing 2hr 01min 15sec
5. Joan Roma (ESP)/Alex Haro (ESP) Mini All4 Racing 2hr 02min 21sec
6. Reinaldo Varela (BRA)/Gustavo Gugelmin (BRA) Overdrive Toyota Hilux 2hr 06min 49sec
7. Miroslav Zapletal (CZE)/Maciej Marton (POL) H3 Evo 7 2hr 07min 53sec
8. Marek Dabrowski (POL)/Jacek Czachor (POL) Overdrive Toyota Hilux 2hr 08min 56sec
9. Adam Malysz (POL)/Rafal Marton (POL) Mini All4 Racing 2hr 09min 16sec
10. Harry Hunt (GBR)/Andreas Schulz (DEU) Mini All4 Racing 2hr 13min 14sec
Bikes
1. Marc Coma (ESP) KTM 450 Rally Replica 2hr 10min 01sec
2. Joan Barreda Bort (ESP) Honda CRF 450 Rally 2hr 10min 07sec
3. Sam Sunderland (GBR) KTM 450 Rally Replica 2hr 10min 58sec
4. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI) KTM 450 Rally Replica 2hr 12min 06sec
5. Paulo Goncalves (PRT) Honda CRF 450 Rally 2hr 14min 10sec
6. Mohamed al-Balooshi (ARE) KTM 450 Rally Replica 2hr 15min 17sec
7. Jordi Viladoms (ESP) KTM 450 Rally Replica 2hr 18min 09sec
8. Ruben Faria (PRT) KTM 450 Rally 2hr 18min 28sec
9. Matthias Walkner (AUT) KTM 450 Rally Replica 2hr 23min 04sec
10. Jeremias Esquerra (CHI) Honda CRF 450 Rally 2hr 28min 32sec
Quads
11. Mohamed Abu Issa (QAT) Honda TRX 680 2hr 39min 41sec
12. Rafal Sonik (POL) Honda TRX 700 2hr 40min 40sec
14. Nelson Augusto Sanabria (PAR) Yamaha Raptor 700 2hr 43min 12sec
20. Kamil Wisniewski (POL) Yamaha Raptor 3hr 10min 49sec
