Honda rider Joan Barreda wins Andalucia Rally; Quintanilla finishes third

Villamartin:Monster Energy Honda Team managed to place both riders onto the final Andalucia Rally podium as Joan Barreda claimed the overall win in the second edition of the race, while Pablo Quintanilla, on his team debut, took 3rd overall, triumphing in the rally's final special.

The second edition of the Andalucía Rally is over, with Honda Team maintaining their hegemony.

Joan Barreda won the overall race on Sunday, inheriting the title that the squad had previously clinched in the first edition in Villamartín last year.

The riders tackled a tough first special over winding, slippery sections, and later, some very rutted ground that had been churned up by the previous days' racing. Quintanilla turned out to be the winner of the total 185km special.

The new Monster Energy Honda Team signing couldn't have got his maiden rally off to a better start.

Furthermore, the Chilean rider was able to consolidate a brilliant third and final position, more than satisfactory after his first kilometres astride the Honda CRF450 Rally.

Joan Barreda opened the track with breakneck pace, keeping his main rivals firmly in check throughout the race. It was certainly no easy stroll for Honda Team's Spanish rider, who was forced to stay focused at all times, especially in the sections where the route re-covered the terrain which had been broken up by the previous days of racing.

Barreda, who was only outpaced by team-mate Quintanilla on the day, eventually went on to claim the title of overall Andalucía Rally winner.

'It was a difficult final stage, opening the track from the beginning. It has not been easy at all: we went over the same stretches of very broken tracks that we had already been over in the last few days,' said Joan Barreda.

'I had to keep calm and hold a fast pace because I knew they were chasing me down, pushing hard behind me. In the end, I felt pretty good and I was able to keep up the pace through to the final finish-line. Having such a very good stage has allowed me to win the rally,' he added.(UNI)