Atacama Rally: Monster Energy Honda Team eyes triumphant week

Michelle Liew

September 2, 2019

Monster Energy Honda Team is all set for the Atacama Rally!

The third round of the FIM World Cross-Country Rally Championship will be taking place in Chile’s Atacama Desert from Monday through Saturday. Monster Energy Honda Team is all set and ready to grace the dry sandy tracks to secure stellar results. Rider Kevin Benavides is eyeing to defend his Atacama Rally champion title. Teammates Ricky Brabec, Joan Barreda and José Ignacio Cornejo, on the other hand, will be aiming to claim good positions throughout the five rally stages.

Kevin Benavides (Monster Energy Honda Team)- What to Expect?

Photo credits: HRC

“I am happy with the tests we have done. We have made some modification in the cycle part and now I feel very good. We are already prepared for the race. The Atacama desert is very demanding and the race will be tough. I hope to make a smart race and know when to attack to defend last year’s victory,” says Benavides as quoted from Honda Racing Corporation.

Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda Team)- What to Expect?

Photo credits: HRC

“We are in Chile, the first rally for me with the entire team and I feel really good: we have worked in some training sessions and I am happy to return with the team. The rally starts tomorrow with the prologue and the motorcycle and the team has worked well in the tests yesterday. Let’s see what happens this week, because I wish to finish the rally well, with good results, good navigation. First, we seek to end the rally, and, if it is possible, to win.”

Joan Barreda (Monster Energy Honda Team)- What to Expect?

Photo credits: HRC

“We are happy to be here in the Atacama, I arrive well and eagerly. I am very excited to be at the start and we will go every day to see how we will be. We are going to try to make a race with a good rhythm, but taking into account that it is a dangerous race, which will have to be stored in your pocket.”

José Ignacio Cornejo (Monster Energy Honda Team)- What to Expect?

Photo credits: HRC

“We did the shakedown and the bike is ready. We also pass the checks without any setback, so we are ready for tomorrow’s prologue, which will be very important for the rest of the race. So, we will have to push hard from the beginning. I want to make a good race and be ahead of the general. Let’s see how this Atacama 2019 takes place.”