Enjoy coverage from the 2022 Sonora Rally from our friends at WestX1000.

Begin Press Release: 

Hitting the Apex

Small Dunes Make for Big Adventures at SS3 

Today was the longest stage of the race. With an exhaustive route transitioning into a big stretch of pavement all the way to El Golfo de Santa Clara. Luckily, this is where the loop will take place, giving teams and staff a tiny bit of relief from the constant traversing from bivouac to bivouac. But SS3 of the Sonora Rally, presented by Method Race Wheels, wasn’t over yet. And for a few unlucky participants, this was the most punishing special of them all. You could see the ridgeline of sand in the distance. Like a herd of camels walking in a procession across the horizon. Venturing closer, it only became more ominous. Like watching your executioner sharpening the axe as you walk to the gallows. Or knowing your oppressor and still handing yourself over on a platter. There are some who are at peace and prepared, others who are petrified and praying, and those who don’t know what they’re getting into altogether. The first day of dunes, albeit small and relatively short in km’s, was the boss battle of this level in the game, and if you wanted to move onto the next phase, you’d have to pass this test, however brutal.

The pied Piper of Sonora, Skyler Howes #1 continues at the head of the lineup with an extremely clean and consistent domination of the race so far. But who would be surprised? You don’t become a Husqvarna Factory rider without craving these sorts of challenges – his attitude and demeanor always positive, if not radiant, when reviewing the details of the ride. This is his favorite rally raid after all… But it’s Howes’ outlook on the sandy two track, narrow cacti lined passageways, blind crests and the waves of untouched khaki granules he has the pleasure of sailing. He’s enthusiastic because he knows this place, but most of all, he knows what he’s capable of, which is why he leads the pack, somewhat unwittingly, through parts of the course offering trickier notes to follow in the roadbook. An efficient strategy for less confident navigators that can have costly consequences in the choppy, inconsistent, super soft dunes. Where Skyler draws a path in the sand is hardly the line most should be taking, they do, because admittedly, it’s much easier to risk encountering a tougher hurdle and keep your head up than constantly pick new paths and turning your attention from the journey to the rally tower (while keeping the throttle open) trying to determine your next move.

Properly dubbed the Pied Piper of Sonora, Howes is at the head of the group, unconsciously guiding a convoy into the special to meet their fate. Whisps of dust flew into the air and floated down more gently behind them until there was enough of a gap between bikes to let it settle. Riders like Kevin DeJongh #21, Brendan Crow #35, Matt Sutherland #2 and Jordan Huibregtse #18 all know their own limits and general mastery of the motorbike. Whatever path they choose doesn’t matter because they too see the various textures of terrain as enjoyable, if not attainable, making the roadbook the real “boss” to contend with. Resulting in a street brawl for the podium, even when it seems sure at this point that the factory is going to win it. Trailing behind Skyler by 32 minutes, the formidable DeJongh is holding onto the Overall second step with a Kung-Fu grip, still dancing around Second and Third in the stage standings with Sutherland in Third (1st in the Malle Moto class), Huibregtse in Fourth (2nd in Malle) and Brendan Crow rounding out the Top Five positions in the General Classification. The latter of them nursing an old, exacerbated injury keeping him out of contention for the day. Back in the bivy, Crow iced his shoulder with a package of bacon under a palapa in hopes that the next day he’ll be able to race at possibly 80%.

“Stage Three of the Sonora Rally was another fun one. In fact, it feels like the stages are getting better and better, more and more fun. Today, we were in more twisty tracks through the cactus, more sand and a little bit more difficult navigation. After about kilometer 70, things became a bit more technical, which was nice. It made the brain think a little bit more. Overall, a super fun stage. Had to do a couple of circles out there as well, because I didn’t get my notes totally correct. But otherwise, a good stage, and made it through clean once again. Happy about that and looking forward to getting into more sand and dunes tomorrow.” – Skyler Howes #1, Husqvarna Factory Racing

As expected, there was a small pause between the front and the middle, and a bigger one at the back. But once the gates were opened, the vehicles flowed up-course steadily, if not a bit gingerly outside of the faster gang. And who can blame them? The dunes are already intimidating but considering in its sharp, choppy shape, it can become a Goliath task, drawing out every ounce it energy by the end. Making all other obstacles that much harder to surmount. One such rider had already been dealt a losing hand the prior stage. But Sebastian “Stan” Olarte #28 persevered past a (machine) impalement which led him to push his bike to the finish of SS2. Today, although he seemed strong and ready for new challenges, Olarte kicked off the big sand section with a substantial off-bike moment from – just as several had – miscalculating the abruptness of a berm. Trapped under his EXC for a moment before assistance could jog over. But he nonetheless carried on with his unbreakable spirit. Only until a new section of course made for a tad precarious to navigate.

After blowing past a gate, Olarte flipped around to find the path and make up lost time. But today was, again, quite hot. The loose earth behind him had kicked up a significant cloud, and he hadn’t realized he was being tailed. And poor Sara Price #51, was blind in his dust and couldn’t see him coming. Price, with her Navigator Sean Berriman, were horrified at the impact of their Polaris RZR with Olarte and his KTM. Terrified of what they might see, a man or a body, the pair exited the side-by-side to try and offer help. And what a relief when he stood up and quickly communicated his condition so as not to worry the Factory pros. Ultimately, Stan sustained a broken finger, but no other bodily harm. His moto, however, was severed in two and the RZR sustained damage to the cooling system. It’s these moments we truly remember that to race takes risks. And while it’s not often that a price is paid for the privilege of seeking glory, when it does occur, everyone – not just those involved – find, instead, new perspective. And hopefully, a greater appreciation for life and love.

“Today was…really wild, to say the least. We ended up having a head-on with a bike, which is super unfortunate. That’s one of the scariest things that’s ever happened to me racing. I’ve always dreaded that possibly happening, and it did today. I’m just so grateful that [Olarte] is okay, and it wasn’t worse than I had originally expected. Because it was…wild. To be honest, I’m just pumped he walked away from it. We stayed with him until he was preparing to leave. Then he hopped in the truck, and we helped with his bike and continued on. Actually, from him hitting us so hard, the car ended up taking pretty good damage to our cooling system. So we ended up overheated, the rest of the time, until we reached a spot where we could change the front radiator out, and we could continue on from there. But that definitely took a lot of time, but we made it happen ” – Sara Price #51, Polaris Factory RZR

Price and Berriman managed to bring their car to a meeting point where their team could work on the radiator. It was a quick enough fix, but nothing could make up for their time lost during the incident. Their goal now was just to reach the ASS. And they did, dropping down from the primary spot to Third in class and Second overall – making way for the Sonoran natives, Daniel Gonzalez and Jorge Hernandez in SSV #55 to take the reins. But, hey, maybe the torch would have been passed anyhow. Gonzalez and Hernandez have been very consistent in this competition, and they had a pretty solid effort in the special, finding their way through various slippery circumstances with confidence. Pilots Brock Harper and Steve Geist #52 also managed the trials respectably, but coming all the way from Pennsylvania, the two had almost zero experience in sand. So, that accomplishment was formidable already, if not a bit slower. It probably doesn’t help much for them to be switching off driving responsibilities midway through the course, but it does touch at the heart of the Sonora Rally. An intimate space built for grassroots teams to truly experience a rally raid firsthand at this level of international design. The people are the core of this event, and folks like Harper and Geist are not only the reason the Sonora Rally became what it is, but why it’ll continue its astronomical trajectory for years to come. And landing up in the rankings is just the cherry on top. Due to Price’s mishap, #55 sits at the top step, while #52 can enjoy a Second-Place finish in the stage. With quite a head start, though, #51 still maintains Second in the general classification.

“It was a great day. Had no mechanicals, no scary accidents, but definitely challenging navigation in a couple of spots. But we feel really good about it. Looking forward to the (bigger) dunes tomorrow.” – Steve Geist #52, Privateer in UTVs

Sounds in the dunes play tricks on you. The echo bouncing off the peaks and swirling around the valleys, throwing noises every which way. One bike becomes two. Engine breaking over the next mound becomes a ten-minute wait for its arrival. You hear them coming for miles but never know where from or how long it might take them to appear. It’s like Mother Nature’s fun house, constructed for max discombobulation and mayhem. A challenge in and of itself, these mountains of sand and stone and brush are for music lovers who appreciate a gas-powered symphony. But these tunes only confuse the matter more. Never knowing how close your rivals are or if they’re about to flank you from both sides. Take these sensory experiences and add hidden traps in the sand – soft and welcoming and sneaky. They caught the unsuspecting wheel more often than not today, not causing as much a danger than a nuisance. So if the tires are turning too slow, the ground will grab hold, sink the nose and twist a rider to their side. Once is doable. Twice is a pain. More than three times makes for an arduous day. And with such a large showing in the Malle Moto category, this only adds salt to the wound.

The apex has been hit, and racers are starting to exit the curve. Cornering at the 2022 Sonora Rally has already been fast, fluid and just the right kind of dangerous. And at the pace it’s been going, the road will flatten out soon enough. With only two days left in the competition, teams will need to firm up their strategies to ensure their stars will shine on the podium on Saturday. Several categories will crown a king, but at the finish line, those who made it, will leave feeling like royalty.

Stay tuned to the 2022 Sonora Rally presented by Method Race Wheels all week long, from October 17th – 22nd, to watch all the excitement south of the border. To learn more, visit: https://sonorarally.com/ Or, follow the fun on Instagram @sonorarally & @aventura.eventos.

KEY NOTES

Ø Caborca to El Golfo; Liaison > 184 km & Special > 274 km

Ø The Loop stage, this route has dialed back the kilometers from what the event offered yesterday. A much more modest 183 kilometers – L1 15 – SS 153 – L2 15.

Ø What we know as El Golfo de Santa Clara has been an established pueblito since at least 1698 when “Father Kino” first came to visit. It’s evolved over the years, but the economy has always been driven by the port. Positioned at the uppermost point of the Sea of Cortez on the Sonora side, trade has dominated the town as a gateway to what is now Arizona to all the municipalities lining the sea. As a town, El Golfo came to fruition, officially, in the 1930s as various species of fishing were offered in the area. Overfishing became an issue over time but hasn’t stopped this from being the industry of choice.

Ø Like they say about motorcycling, it’s not if, it’s when. But what they leave out is how bad. Anyone who knows rally raid, understands that to achieve great feats we must take great risks. And at times, albeit very rare at an intimate event like the Sonora Rally, a more concerning incident will occur. Today was that rare occasion for Polaris Factory Pro Sara Price with Sean Berriman and privateer Diespro rider, Stan Olarte. After overcoming a demanding second stage, Olarte had been moving at a respectable pace past the first set of dunes, with Price eating his dust, little did he know. However, unaware of her presence, he had made a navigation error and moved to turn around – also blind in his own cloud – and to everyone’s terror, they faced each other head on. Luckily, Price had already backed down her pace significantly due to the lack of clear visuals, and Olarte had not been given enough time to pick up speed, so the incident, however serious, did not end paying the ultimate price. In fact, despite severe damage to his motorcycle and manageable issues with the RZR’s radiator, all involved were left virtually unharmed – Olarte only enduring a broken finger and shattered heart as he will no longer continue competing at his first rally raid. So, we hope this only gives him time to recover and come back in April to give it another college try.

QUOTES:

Anthony Bonello #36, REV’IT!: “There was a little bit of tricky nav. I kind of went cross-country, and it was either going to cost me big time or I was going to resolve it. And I did. Maybe it helped me, but we’ll see. But missed a couple of berms, a few bushes, probably a little worse for wear but avoided the cactus and stayed upright. It was fun, super fun. I saw a couple of people on the track, but most of the day, I was just by myself and riding my own flow, keeping a rhythm and trying to be smart. My goal, for sure, is to finish and stay upright and get back to my family safe and sound. And have an awesome time and learn! I’ve never done a rally, never raced a motorcycle before; I’ve ridden for a long time but never raced. For sure I’m competitive, so I didn’t want to get too excited and overdo it. So far so good. Really, really looking forward to the dunes. Hoping we can maybe do something there, but we’ll see.”

Brett Fox #34, REV’IT!: “It was hard. All three stages have been rough, but they’ve become progressively harder and harder. Today was a lot of sand and the big bike just…it doesn’t move well in tight technical sand area. So I definitely went down a few times. Had a good crash where I caught on the berm and mentally I told myself ok, eject. So, I kind of stepped up off the bike and went flying over the front end. I cleared the rally tower, picked up my plastic bits and kept on going. But it was a good day. A lot of fun and a good precursor for what tomorrow’s going to bring. Tomorrow it’s going to be hard, it’s going to hot, a lot of sand.”

Patrick Reyes Morrison, #7, Privateer in Motos: “Unfortunately, the rally gremlins found to me today. Started out great through fast roads and fast sand washes. David Pearson caught up to me at the highway, but I managed to pass him at the dune section – which was awesome – and managed to arrive at the first refueling in front of him. There, I realized the motor was sounding weird, as if the crank rod bearing was making noise, but the bike was still running well. At the second refueling (km 173), I saw my team and they checked the bike as we knew for sure there way a problem. David passed me shortly thereafter. I tried to continue nursing the bike, but it continued to become noisier, then stared to misfire. I had managed to catch up with David where he was a bit lost and continued onward until I reached the highway. Thanks to my Spot Tracker, my crew managed to follow me and intercepted me at the highway where we decided to put the bike up on the trailer due to the fact that I would not have managed to finish the day, possibly busting up my bike even more. I didn’t want to end up breaking down in the desert. We shall now try to repair it and continue tomorrow.”

Ace Nilson #5, Privateer in Motos: “Today was a legit rally day! With a 280km special and 180km liaison to end the day, the only thing missing was a 200km liaison at the start to make this a true Dakar stage… I felt really good to at the beginning of the stage, and less than a few km from the start, I came across a downed rider. A quick physical and neuro check, and I was underway again. The bike worked really well, and I was able to fight through the dust to make some moves today without taking too many risks,, keeping in mind my ultimate goal of finishing Dakar in less than 80 days! I’ve been selling shirts to help offset the many costs to even reach the bivouac in Saudi Arabia. But it’s helping me keep focused and move forward. Looking forward to the bigger dunes tomorrow… I feel prepared and couldn’t have done it without a lot of help from High Desert Adventures, Bullet Proof Diesel, Freedom Rally Racing, Gray Area KTM, Seat Concepts, Rekluse Motorsports, GoldenTyre West, MotoMinded, ICO – TowerOne, KLIM, O’Neal USA, EVS Sports”

Patrick De Chastonay #27, Privateer in Motos: “I had a really good stage. At the very beginning, I tried to reset my odometer and accidentally skipped the first Waypoint, which was a bummer. That was before I even left the starting line. And earlier on in the stage, I went a little off-track off the side of the trail and caught a big bundle of barbed wire which was sucked into the rear wheel. And I had to lay the bike over and pull that out. That took me about a minute or two at least, and then, Matthew managed to pass me later on. I had caught up to him, and then he [had a pretty hard off-bike], so I stopped for a second.”

Daniel Gonzalez, #55 Privateer in UTVs: “Well, it was really exciting. Apparently, we’re First for the UTV class, so we’re excited about that. Trying to turn up the laps between us and Sara Price. Something went wrong with her. The track was very sandy, and there were a lot of hidden dangers which were not in the notes. But I know it was due to rain in the last week. But it was tough because these were obstacles which the organization just couldn’t know about. So we had to deal with that on the fly. Besides that, it was fun. That last part, 150 kilometers of highway, is a little bit tiring. But we’re having a lot of fun.”

TOP FIVE STAGE RESULTS

MOTO PRO

1. #1 Skyler Howes (USA), Husqvarna Factory Racing – 3:33:23

2. #21 Kevin DeJongh (USA), Privateer – 3:46:59

3. #14 Jordan Reed (CAN), Privateer – 4:14:11

4. #5 Ace Nilson (USA), Privateer – 4:18:31

5. #6 Nathan Rafferty (USA), Freedom Rally Racing – 4:22:04

MALLE MOTO

1. #2 Matt Sutherland (AUS), Privateer – 3:57:59

2. #18 Jordan Huibregtse (USA), Privateer – 4:12:07

3. #8 Kyle McCoy (USA), American Rally Originals – 4:21:37

4. #3 David Pearson (USA), American Rally Originals – 4:28:06

5. #12 Matthew Glade (CAN), Privateer – 4:44:12

MOTO ENDURO

1. #36 Anthony Bonello (CAN), REV’IT! – 4:38:09

2. #11 John Henson (USA), Privateer – 4:43:45

3. #5 Morrison Hart (USA), American Rally Originals – 4:51:42

4. #27 Patrick De Chastonay (USA), Privateer – 4:53:54

5. #25 Willem Avenant (ZAF), Freedom Rally Racing – 4:54:08

UTV MODIFIED

1. #55 Daniel Gonzalez (MEX) and Jorge Hernandez (MEX), Privateer – 4:24:40

2. #52 Brock Harper (USA) and Steve Geist (USA), Privateer – 5:03:22

3. #51 Sara Price (USA) and Sean Berriman (USA), Polaris Factory RZR – 6:00:00

CARS NAT4

1. #54 Larry Trim (USA) and John Koeth (USA),Privateer – 36:00:00

TOP FIVE GENERAL STANDINGS

MOTORCYCLE

1. #1 Skyler Howes (USA), Husqvarna Factory Racing – 9:03:01

2. #21 Kevin DeJongh (USA), Privateer – 9:35:59

3. #2 Matt Sutherland (AUS), Privateer – 10:10:14

4. #18 Jordan Huibregtse (USA), Privateer – 10:17:47

5. #35 Brendan Crow (USA), Privateer – 10:19:38

UTV

1. #55 Daniel Gonzalez (MEX) and Jorge Hernandez (MEX), Privateer – 11:52:58

2. #51 Sara Price (USA) and Sean Berriman (USA), Polaris Factory RZR – 12:11:51

3. #52 Brock Harper (USA) and Steve Geist (USA), Privateer – 13:20:39

CARS NAT4

1. #54 Larry Trim (USA) and John Koeth (USA),Privateer – 44:21:00

ROAD TO DAKAR

1. #2 Matt Sutherland (AUS), Privateer

2. #35 Brendan Crow (USA), Privateer

3. #3 David Pearson (USA), American Rally Originals

4. #5 Ace Nilson (USA), Privateer

5. #13 Matthew Ransom (USA), Freedom Rally Racing

DISQUALIFICATIONS

MOTORCYCLE

1. #37 David E. Bihn (USA), Privateer, SS2 DNS

2. #29 Etienne Gelinas (CAN), Privateer, SS3 DNS

3. #28 Sebastian Olarte (COL), Diespro, SS3 DNF

CARS NAT4

1. #53 Luis Perocarpi (USA) and Clayton Williams (USA), Privateer, SS2 DNS

The post 2022 Sonora Rally: Special Stage 3 appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.

Enjoy coverage from the 2022 Sonora Rally from our friends at WestX1000.

Begin Press Release: 

On Empty Streets

SS2 Takes Racers to the Middle of Nowhere, Fast

Today was about nothing. The sort of nothing that, from far enough away, looks like a Bob Ross painting of the desert – picturesque, serene, even a little happy. Everything seeming barren and stiff from a distance, surreal from an impersonal vantage point. Beautiful, but empty. Too perfect to be reality. But upon approaching this ostensive depiction of the outdoors, it begins to surround you. The cheetah-spotted mountain ranges from over the horizon are actually saguaro forests plastered across giant mounds of loose quartzite and sand. The flawless shapes you once saw become crooked and oblong up-close, delightfully bizarre and dynamic and anything but lifeless. Vultures perch in alarming numbers watching as you pass (should something happen to you, of course). Miniature reptiles of varying sizes scamper into nearby bushes and the occasional bunny makes an appearance before it too finds cover from the steely eyes of a predator. Come close enough and the desert lights up, it consumes you as it becomes alive. Yet, Sonora’s biosphere is still somehow quiet. No artificial sounds could be heard for miles in some places, so it made the familiar buzz of small displacement combustion engines only that more distinct against the breeze. A nothingness which to its visitors was really something.

”Stage Two of the Sonora Rally was one of my favorites to race because towards the first part of the special, we get into this big cactus and flowing two-track that takes us to the edge of the water. It was a lot of fun to ride through there and the scenery was really beautiful. One of my favorite stages so far. After the refueling, it opened up fast. The navigation wasn’t so difficult today. A couple of tricky notes, but otherwise pretty smooth sailing…It was fun to ride, and we’re excited for the next day!” – Skyler Howes #1, Husqvarna Factory Racing

Stages like this are why people love the Sonora Rally. And rally raid in general. Roadbooks which take people deep into the remotest parts of the planet to uncover virgin territory (at least to many), learn the history of a region, its culture, if any, and engage with the locals. Even the sensory experience can be visceral. The taste of wind and dirt coat your mouth when you pick up speed. Even interesting smells find their way past the helmet, like the scent of asparagus drifting over the tracks from the nearby fields, picked twice a day because their thrive in this environment. Racers could glimpse the Sea of Cortez just over the horizon, although the water was never too close. And being no cooler than yesterday, you could really feel warmth from the sun’s touch – comfortable for only a moment before it became overbearing. Competitors already struggled with multiple elements on-course, and again, also needed to manage their internal temperature. Many jumping on the opportunity to drink a little extra water in the shade before carrying on. While others, like our top contenders, sailed through this fast course with a vengeance.

Few of the pilots are moving slowly enough to look around or fast enough to take a break. Most are buried in road books when they aren’t caught in their tunnel, the line of sight focused solely on the next move. In Modified UTVs, Polaris Factory RZR’s Sara Price, with copilot Sean Berriman, #51 had plenty of time to soak up the scene, if they wanted. Not suffering any mishaps or penalties, there was nothing obstructing their path to victory (for the second time). Sonoran natives Daniel Gonzalez and navigator Jorge Hernandez #55 ran their own race, landing in Second Place today with a 33-minute gap behind the leaders. While there weren’t too many hiccups on-piste, the team did spend some time on minor repairs in their hotel parking lot after their return from the special. All the while, Americans Brock Harper (USA) and Steve Geist #52 have made a steady go of things, which in the end, kept them at the third in the standings. Amongst the other four-wheeled vessels, privateers Luis Perocarpi and partner Clayton Williams #53 endured issues with their Isuzu in the previous round which ultimately ended their efforts. They collected a DNF while opponents Larry Trim and John Koeth #54 made good time in their Jeep Speed Grand Cherokee. You couldn’t say the cars are moving slowly, but the tight passageways and rocky roads didn’t let them stay on the gas.

“The stage today went really well. It was a very fast track, which allowed us to run a really fast pace. Congrats to Sara [Price], again, for winning Stage Two. It’s been great. I’ve been here as a volunteer, helping our Erin and Darren with Sonora rally, but now as a participant for the race, it changes a whole lot of things. Now I see everything that’s been done, and come through, until now with the Sonora Rally; now that it’s going to be part of the World Rally Championship, that means a lot because I’ve been with them since the beginning. I’m really happy for them, and I intend to continue participating in the event – whether it’s to race or as a volunteer – to keep this going.” – Daniel Gonzalez, #55 Privateer

While surely the cars in the Modified and Adventure categories ate up the loose terrain, but the many miles of slippery, soft beach wash were a cruel punishment for some of the riders. Even when those nutty masochists love the pain… Yugi Jasti #26 ventured all the way from South Africa to take on the Sonora Rally after only a year of true off-road experience. But, as he says, “if I’m ever going to race Dakar, I just have to go for it.” A sentiment which seems common in this year’s pack. Plenty of rookies are challenging the Mexican state of Sonora this year, several of them hopefuls to win the Road to Dakar, granting free entry for this January’s edition. Pro class athlete Brendan Crow #35 is currently first in line and finished Second in the Special. However, Malle Moto’s winner today, Matt Sutherland #2, isn’t going to let him have it without a fight. But they it’s the quiet ones you have to watch out for. And while David Pearson #3, isn’t shouting his successes, the American Rally Original is a smart, consistent rider who – by the law of rally raid – is just as likely to take this victory as anyone. If nothing else, we’re sure he’ll be glad to nab a podium step in his category.

On the other side of the spectrum, guys like Kevin DeJongh #21 live in the edge of traction. Eating up the arroyos for breakfast. A Baja 1000 veteran – and occasional teammate of Howes – DeJongh felt at home during the second special. This carried on until ASS (the finish of the timed sector), putting him in the third seat today, maintaining Second overall. Howes was also at home over the multifaceted topography between Bahia Kino and Caborca. Most people find intimidating at best and terrifying at worst. Cruising over wide grated roads, soaring across demanding sandy washes and atop rocky outcroppings which he climbs like a Billy goat. Which is why he is victorious for another stage. And, yes, he has a twenty-minute advantage, but this is rally. Anything can happen. And because in a roadbook race, the land, your pace, even your willpower doesn’t replace solid navigation. Diespro rider, Columbian-America Sebastian Olarte #28, felt that pain, and perhaps Murphy’s Law, firsthand:

“It was quite a journey. At the beginning of the stage, a pine post 4-to-5-inch diameter went through the bike, dented the header, broke my radiator and perforated the gas tank. I rode for about 40 miles until I hit the road with that stick hanging on my bike – not being able to turn to the right. On the road I took it out, fixed the radiator and tank with fiberglass and J-B weld, which took me over an hour. I was going without the water in the radiator and cooling, and without the clutch and power to the wheels for 80-to-90 miles. Right at the end, it was tough; I was tired. I broke my RallyComp as well. And two hundred meters before the finish it died completely. I pushed it to the ASS, and then Brett [Fox #34] helped and towed me at the liaison.”

It can’t be said enough, this is rally. If it can happen, it will. And so teams, racers and staff must always be prepared for anything. Trying not to be too enchanted by ethereal allure. As competitors sliced through the narrow passages hidden under a canopy of desert flora, passages which eventually opened up to dry valleys, ledges and the occasional sandbox, knowing that with every type of earth on-course comes some new obstacle. A test of mind, body and machine, indifferent to your dreams and willing to remove you from the equation if you don’t add up. When the stakes are high and money, goals and glory are on the line… When the nothing of Sonora makes you go to battle for something that you love. When the rigors of rally occasionally beckon pilots to use velocity over finesse, it’s best to open up the throttle, step on the gas and take opportunity when it presents itself. Because much like Stage Two, the race and life, when it’s over, there’s no going back.

Stay tuned to the 2022 Sonora Rally presented by Method Race Wheels all week long, from October 17^th – 22^nd, to watch all the excitement south of the border. To learn more, visit: https://sonorarally.com/ Or, follow the fun on Instagram @sonorarally & @aventura.eventos.

KEY NOTES

Ø Bahia Kino to Caborca; Liaison > 42 km & Special > 235 km

Ø Special Stage Three (SS3) takes  458 kilometers – L1 14 – SS 274 – L2 180 – in a completely different environment. It’s the first set of dunes, and the center of a true Dakar-style event. Although these aren’t yet the mammoth mountains of sand we’ll see further north in the Desierto del Altar, the region near El Gulfo is sure to add new dimension to the challenges, wonderous sights to take in and fresh perspectives  This bivouac will be a two-night stay as it hosts a loop for SS4.

Ø Four years in the making, the Sonora Rally, presented by Method Race Wheels, has officially been added to the World Rally Championship calendar. The announcement was made on social media today but will be presented with a thoughtful explanation of the significance and how changes will affect all involved – which organizers see as positive for everyone. Much needs to be done to prepare for the road ahead, but as it’s always been grateful to have, the administers looks to the support and love from the racers, volunteers, staff and media to ensure the event doesn’t lose its essence or core values.

Ø Talk about Caborca

Ø Brendan Crow #35 is another “rookie” who finished Second so far, only 10 minutes after Howes today. He’s raced National Hare and Hounds in California for a long time, as well as gran-prix, motocross and everything he can do with a bike. When he’s raced MX he doesn’t push his body or bike very hard, so he enjoys that “nav” factor allows him to be smarter in a competition, rather than racing as fast as possible. He’s also done only a handful of multi-day events, although the longest ever was only three days, so this is his longest race to date. But sitting on the Third step in the general classification and leading the Road to Dakar challenge, Crow has set a promising trajectory for himself.

QUOTES:

Darren Skilton, Sonora Rally Race Director: “It’s been my dream, ever since I started racing, to bring the World Rally Championship, or a Dakar-Style event, to North America. It’s something I’ve been discussing with David Castera for four years now, and I’ve pushed to make it happen. I want to stress to the racers, the volunteers and everyone who’s helped us along this journey that despite the big changes ahead of us, there’s still going to be a place for you. You’re the heart of this event. This is a big year for North America, a big year for the World Championship. The reason we created the Sonora Rally was to give people a low-stress environment to learn about what a real roadbook rally is like. And we want those people, who are the spirit of this rally, to be part of this future.

Part of the discussions have been about that, which the governing organizations are one hundred percent behind that. Yes, it’s going to be a transition. Yes, it’s going to another event; the officials will be coming over from Europe, but at its core, this rally will still exist for the North American and European communities. I don’t know who is familiar with David, but he’s the reason there are rallies in Morocco, Andalusia… I think we have a good recipe. We have a lot of work to do. But if everything goes well, we’ll be welcoming a lot of new people to Sonora. And this is a big thing for North America, so I want to thank the racers, the support and the volunteers.” 

Brendan Crow, #35, Privateer in Motos: “I have won the KTM Adventure Challenge 2019, which was going to offer me the opportunity to ride a 790 at the Merzouga Rally in 2020. But COVID ended up cancelling everything. But I’ve wanted to do a rally since then. I was training on roadbooks at home, and I attended the Sonora School back in 2020. But this is the first event I’ve raced. The first day, I started 29^th and had a lot of people to pass and tracks to follow. Today was a bit more difficult. We followed the road for a while, but it was too fast – a bit dangerous. I’m interested to see how it goes tomorrow, especially when we hit the dunes, officially, on the last two days.”

Sara Price #51, Polaris Factory RZR: “Today was a fast, solid stage! Such beautiful sights along the beach and through some of the washes. We had a flawless day!”

Jordan Reed #14, Freedom Rally Racing: “This is my first rally. Probably the fourth set of [road]books. We’re not doing bad, just trying to keep up speed. Made a big mistake this morning which probably cost me about 15 minutes. I became a bit lost. So, I just kept holding it south because I did not want to look at my ODO [odometer] or my speedometer at 140kph. And so we had to hold it wide open to catch back up to Willem. And Willem and I damn near were within seconds of each other for over a three-our race, which was pretty cool. But sometime while I was behind him, I had seen his dust in the wash and tried to pin it. That’s when I felt something hit my ass. Apparently my seat had come off! Either way looking forward to tomorrow. Hopefully, making less mistakes.”

TOP FIVE STAGE RESULTS

MOTO PRO

1. #1 Skyler Howes (USA), Husqvarna Factory Racing – 2:34:27
2. #35 Brendan Crow (USA), Privateer – 2:44:41
3. #21 Kevin DeJongh (USA), Privateer – 2:45:54
4. #7 Patrick Reyes Morrison (MEX), Diespro – 3:05:32
5. #13 Matthew Ransom (USA), Freedom Rally Racing – 3:20:45

MALLE MOTO

1. #2 Matt Sutherland (AUS), Privateer – 2:54:29
2. #18 Jordan Huibregtse (USA), Privateer – 2:58:28
3. #3 David Pearson (USA), American Rally Originals – 3:08:33
4. #8 Kyle McCoy (USA), American Rally Originals – 3:16:49
5. #12 Matthew Glade (CAN), Privateer – 3:51:28

MOTO ENDURO

1. #36 Anthony Bonello (CAN), REV’IT! – 3:18:00
2. #27 Patrick De Chastonay (USA), Privateer – 3:21:36
3. #17 Clayton Zimmerman (USA), Freedom Rally Racing – 3:23:42
4. #25 Willem Avenant (ZAF), Freedom Rally Racing – 3:32:14
5. #5 Morrison Hart (USA), American Rally Originals – 3:49:27

UTV MODIFIED

1. #51 Sara Price (USA) and Sean Berriman (USA), Polaris Factory RZR – 3:05:30
2. #55 Daniel Gonzalez (MEX) and Jorge Hernandez (MEX), Privateer – 3:38:42
3. #52 Brock Harper (USA) and Steve Geist (USA), Privateer – 3:42:59

CARS NAT4

1. #54 Larry Trim (USA) and John Koeth (USA),Privateer – 4:09:20
2. #53 Luis Perocarpi (USA) and Clayton Williams (USA), Privateer – DNF

TOP FIVE GENERAL STANDINGS

MOTORCYCLE

1. #1 Skyler Howes (USA), Husqvarna Factory Racing – 5:29:38
2. #21 Kevin DeJongh (USA), Privateer – 5:49:00
3. #35 Brendan Crow (USA), Privateer – 5:50:47
4. #18 Jordan Huibregtse (USA), Privateer – 6:05:40
5. #2 Matt Sutherland (AUS), Privateer – 6:12:15

UTV

1. #51 Sara Price (USA) and Sean Berriman (USA), Polaris Factory RZR – 3:44:21
2. #55 Daniel Gonzalez (MEX) and Jorge Hernandez (MEX), Privateer – 3:49:36
3. #52 Brock Harper (USA) and Steve Geist (USA), Privateer – 4:34:18

CARS NAT4

1. #54 Larry Trim (USA) and John Koeth (USA),Privateer – 8:21:00

ROAD TO DAKAR

1. #35 Brendan Crow (USA), Privateer
2. #2 Matt Sutherland (AUS), Privateer
3. #3 David Pearson (USA), American Rally Originals
4. #7 Patrick Reyes Morrison (MEX), Diespro
5. #13 Matthew Ransom (USA), Freedom Rally Racing

DISQUALIFICATIONS

MOTORCYCLE

1. #37 David E. Bihn (USA), Privateer, SS2

CARS NAT4

#53 Luis Perocarpi (USA) and Clayton Williams (USA), Privateer, SS2

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