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Husqvarna’s Alessandro Botturi claimed victory in the 2014 Sardegna Rally. The Italian rider bested KTM rider and 2014 Dakar Rally champion, Marc Coma, by a margin of 7:44 for the rally win. Gerard Farres rounded out the overall Sardegna podium, with the Spanish rider competing aboard a Gas Gas entry.
Botturi, who competes in the Italian rally championship, proved the most consistent rider of the five-day event – which incorporated five stages and nine specials. Riding a Husqvarna FE450, Botturi finished second during the opening two days, behind Coma on Day 1 and HRC Honda rider Paulo Goncalves on Day 2. The third day of competition saw Botturi take control, with a stage win and vaulting into the overall lead. Botturi maintained the overall lead from then on, despite finishing second to another HRC rider, Joan Barreda, on Day 4.
“I think the secret to success is to maintain a very high level of concentration and to do this you have to forget about high speed and focus on the pace. The rhythm is the secret,” said Botturi in a Husqvarna press release. “My best day was day four where I managed to gain some time. The opponents were very strong but they were also a bit unlucky. Marc (Coma) for example had some problems with his navigation device, and here in Sardinia you cannot give this advantage to your opponents.”
Marc Coma finished runner-up to Alessandro Botturi in the Sardegna Rally, but the 2014 Dakar Rally winner holds the championship lead in the FIM Rally series.
As mentioned by Botturi, Coma ran into some navigation problems during the Sardegna event. However, the KTM rider moved ahead of his countryman and Honda rival, Barreda, in the Cross-Country Rally championship.
“It was not a perfect rally,” admits Coma in KTM press. “But we are concentrating on the World Championship title and I am happy to now be in the points lead before going to the next round in Brazil at the end of August. I had a good feeling this week and the bike was fantastic.”
Two round remain in the FIM rally series, with the August 21-30 Rally Dos Sertoes in Brazil followed by the October 3-9 OiLibya Rally in Morocco.
2014 Sardegna Rally Final Results:
1. Alessandro Botturi (Husqvarna)
2. Marc Coma (KTM) +7:44
3. Gerrard Farres (Gas-Gas) +12:21
4. Paolo Goncalves (Honda) +22.50
5. Andrea Mancini (Beta) +25.54
6. Olivier Pain (Yamaha) +27:49
7. Joan Barreda (Honda) +35:11
8. Ruben Faria (KTM) +35.35
9. Monleon Hernandez Armand (KTM) +40:05
10. Joan Pedrero (Sherco) +41:15
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