Shorter, but very technical, the seventh stage challenged pilots and navigators on Bananal Island, in Tocantins. In Palmas, Saturday is a day to rest and recover strength and equipment to face the second half of the rally.
A Saturday without machines and men in action in the BRB Sertões. As foreseen in the competition's regulations, the day is a day of rest for pilots and navigators, although it is a day of hard work for the mechanics. The largest rally in the world closed, in the capital of Tocantins, its initial half, completing the first of two marathons (timed stages in which only the participants themselves can maintain the vehicles). So far it has been 4,065km of the course, of which 2,358km of timed sections, i.e. the competitors have already completed 56% of the route.
Friday tested cars, motorcycles and UTVs in a region of rare beauty. The largest river island in the world, Bananal Island, between the Araguaia and Javaés rivers, was the stage for a short special (143 kilometers), but very technical and demanding. Narrow and winding roads surrounded by rocks, bushes and trees marked the seventh stage, baptized "Children of this soil". With sceneries that reminded us of the African savannahs.
In the motorcycles, Ricardo Martins (Yamaha WR 450F/IMS Yamaha), champion of 2020, was the fastest for the first time in this edition. A result that confirms his third place overall. Second best of the day, Bissinho Zavatti (Honda CRF 450RX/Honda Racing) consolidated his lead in the accumulated, third on the day was Tulio Malta (Yamaha WR 450F, (2)MT2). One of the highlights in the two-wheelers was the fourth position of Marco Antônio Pereira (KTM 450 EXC/Adventour Brasil), who leads in Self.
Among the UTVs, Rodrigo Luppi and Maykel Justo (Can-Am Maverick/Luppi Racing Team) also won their first stage in the 30-year BRB Sertões BRB, the sixth different winner in seven stages. The experienced duo had already won a Dakar stage earlier this year and now appears fourth in the overall standings, led by Rodrigo Varela and Matheus Mazzei (Can-Am Maverick/Varela Racing).
Lucas Moraes and Kaíque Bentivoglio (Toyota Hilux DKR T1+/MEM) confirmed their dominance in cars by winning for the fifth time. Second on the day, Sylvio de Barros and Rafael Capoani (Toyota Hilux V8 IMA/X Rally) scored their best result this year. In the sum of the stages, Lucas and Kaíque have a 6min10 advantage over Marcos Baumgart and Kleber Cincea (Toyota Hilux V8 IMA/X Rally). Marcelo Gastaldi and Cadu Sachs (Buggy Century CR6/Baja Tek) are third, at 12min03.
Besides the rest, Saturday (3) will also mark the awarding of prizes to the best in the Sertões Sul, composed of the first seven stages. At the same time, the preparation of the pilots and navigators who will join the caravan on Sunday, for the Sertões Norte, which ends in Salinopolis, as well as the complete course.
Lucas Moraes, winner of the Car stage: "It was very different from what we had been doing up to now, no straight lines, very tight, twisty and narrow, but we won this special stage. The goal was to arrive in Jalapão with a good advantage in the overall standings and the car in one piece for the rest, and that's what we did."
Ricardo Martins, winner of the Motorcycle stage: "The stage had a very different type of floor, characteristic of the Bananal Island. Medium-speed stretches and more braked. The special was not easy, it was very demanding. It was great to win the day after the setbacks I had the day before. Now it's time to start a new rally, there is still a lot to happen. And the way of the race should change from now on".
Rodrigo Luppi, winner of the UTV stage : "We had been facing problems since the first day, details, but we managed a clean stage, Maykel (Justo, navigator) was perfect and we got a good rhythm. The special was technical, with no margin for error, we couldn't let the car get away. I'm happy, since we will be the first to start the second marathon, entering the Jalapão".
--- Automatic translation from the original Portuguese (Brazilian)version
Source: Rali dos Sertões BRB
Stage 7 – Filhos deste solo – 2/9 – Friday
São Félix do Araguaia (MT) – Palmas (TO)
1) #323 Lucas Moraes/Kaíque Bentivoglio, Toyota Hilux Overdrive T1+, (1)T1F, 1h38min21
2) #303 Sylvio de Barros/Rafael Capoani, Toyota Hilux IMA V8, (2)T1F, 1h41min01
3) #305 Marcelo Gastaldi/Cadu Sachs, Buggy Century CR6, (1)T1F, 1h41min07
4)#304 Marcos Baumgart/Kleber Cincea, Toyota Hilux IMA V8, (3)T1F, 1h41min16
5) #350 Julio Capua/Bina Cavassin, Toyota Hilux Overdrive T1+, (4)T1F, 1h42min45
MOTOS
1) #04 Ricardo Martins, Yamaha WR 450F, (1)MT1, 1h44min40
2) #06, Bissinho Zavatti, Honda CRF 450RX, (1)MT2, 1h46min39
3) #05 Tulio Malta, Yamaha WR 450F, (2)MT2, 1h46min52
4) #14 Marco Antônio Pereira, KTM EXC 450, (1)MT3, 1h47min52
5) #19 Gabriel Soares, Honda CRF 450RX, (2)MT2, 1h48min12
UTV
1) #227 Rodrigo Luppi/Maykel Justo, Can-Am Maverick, (1)UT1, 1h42min51
2) #203 Cristiano Batista/Robledo Nicoletti, Can-Am Maverick, (1)UOP, 1h44min05
3) #202 Deni Nascimento/Gunnar Dums, Can-Am Maverick, (2)UT1, 1h44min50
4) #220 André Hort/Idali Bosse, Can-Am Maverick, (3)UT1, 1h46min07
5) #216 Rodrigo Varela/Matheus Mazzei, Can-Am Maverick, (4)UT1, 1h46min27
Classificação geral
CARROS
1) #323 Lucas Moraes/Kaíque Bentivoglio, Toyota Hilux Overdrive T1+, (1)T1F, 24h56min41
2) #304 Marcos Baumgart/Kleber Cincea, Toyota Hilux IMA V8, (3)T1F, a 6min10
3) #305 Marcelo Gastaldi/Cadu Sachs, Buggy Century CR6, (2)T1F, a 12min03
4) #350 Julio Capua/Bina Cavassin, Toyota Hilux Overdrive T1+, (4)T1F, a 1h05min51
5) #314 Mauro Guedes/Filipe Palmeiro, Ford Ranger V8 T1, (1)T1B, a 2h07min16
MOTOS
1) #06 Bissinho Zavatti, Honda CRF 450RX, (1)MT2, 27h12min42
2) #21 Martin Duplessis (ARG), Honda CRF 450RX, (1)MT1, a 23min24
3) #04 Ricardo Martins, Yamaha WR 450F, (2)MT1, a 30min34
4) #02 Jean Azevedo, Honda CRF 450RX, (3)MT1, a 38min22
5) #19 Gabriel Soares, Honda CRF 450RX, (2)MT2, a 57min48
UTV
1) #216 Rodrigo Varela/Matheus Mazzei, Can-Am Maverick, (1)UT1, 27h50min50
2) #203 Cristiano Batista/Robledo Nicoletti, Can-Am Maverick, (1)UOP, a 6min40
3) #301 Deninho Casarini/Ivo Mayer, Can-Am Maverick, (2)UT1, a 9min48
4) #227 Rodrigo Luppi/Maykel Justo, Can-Am Maverick, (3)UT1, a 18min13
5) #205 Fábio Pirondi/Marcelo Ritter, Can-Am Maverick, (1)UT2, a 21min50
