Sam Sunderland wins opening stage of 2019 Rally du Maroc

The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team have enjoyed a strong stage one of the 2019 Rally du Maroc with Sam Sunderland taking the win and all four riders finishing within the top seven. KTM Factory Racing’s Laia Sanz and Mario Patrao successfully completed the challenging opening day in 19th and 27th places respectively.

Marking the fourth and final round of the 2019 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, the Rally du Maroc got underway on Friday with a short 7.3-kilometre Prologue to decide the start order for Saturday’s day one. Totalling 494 kilometres, the opening stage led competitors from the city of Fes south to the bivouac located near the small oasis town of Erfoud. The stage presented participants with fast, rocky tracks and tricky to navigate riverbeds that proved a huge test for both riders and their machines.

Stage two of the 2019 Rally du Maroc – the first half of the event’s marathon stage – heads east from the bivouac near Erfoud and covers a distance of 435 kilometres. The timed special totals a demanding 386 kilometres.

Provisional Results – Stage 1 Rally du Maroc 2019

1. Sam Sunderland (GBR), KTM, 3:16:41
2. Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 3:17:33 +52 seconds
3. Matthias Walkner (AUT), KTM, 3:18:49 +2:08
4. Toby Price (AUS), KTM, 3:18:52 +2:11
5. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI), Husqvarna, 3:16:16 +3:41
   Other KTM
6. Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 3:20:30 +3:49
7. Laia Sanz (ESP), KTM, 3:30:00 +13:19
8. Mario Patrao (POR), KTM, 3:40:29 +23:48

Provisional Standings – Rally du Maroc 2019 after 1 of 5 stages

1. Sam Sunderland (GBR), KTM, 3:42:45
2. Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 3:43:53 +1:08
3. Matthias Walkner (AUT), KTM, 3:44:37 +1:52
4. Toby Price (AUS), KTM, 3:45:00 +2:15
5. Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 3:46:38 +3:53
   Other KTM
6. Laia Sanz (ESP), KTM, 3:57:32 +14:47
7. Mario Patrao (POR), KTM, 4:12:37 +29:52