OiLibya Rally Morocco 2017
2017 Cross-Country Rallies Round FIM-5
Monster Energy Honda Team line up Gonçalves, Benavides, Brabec and Metge to tackle the forthcoming OiLibya Morocco, the fifth and final round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship scheduled for 4th-10th October. The event will be the final rehearsal ahead of the 2018 Dakar Rally.
Monster Energy Honda Team have barely paused for breath since re-starting racing activities in June. After successful campaigns in the Baja Aragón, the Atacama Rally, the Vegas to Reno, the Desafío Ruta 40 and the Baja Inka 1000, the month of October brings a new challenge with the tough Morocco Rally.
Paulo Gonçalves, Kevin Benavides, Ricky Brabec and Michael Metge make up the squad who will defend the Monster Energy Honda Team colours over the six days of racing in North Africa. The event also marks the final round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship calendar which will be held between Fez and Erfoud.
Date |
Stage |
Liaison1 |
Special |
Liaison 2 |
Thursday 5 October |
Super Special |
23.14km |
12.16km |
19.04km |
Friday 6 October |
Fes-Erfoud |
340.08km |
272.8km |
242.25km |
Saturday 7 October |
Erfoud-Erfoud |
14.18km |
364.5km |
10.26km |
Sunday 8 October |
Erfoud-Erg Lihoudi |
17.8km |
254.75km |
180.36km |
Monday 9 October |
Erg Lihoudi-Erfoud |
– |
170.88km |
20.7km |
Tuesday 10 October |
Erfoud-Erfoud |
43.91km |
163.03km |
16.47km |
Monster Energy Honda Team’s Paulo Gonçalves currently lies in second overall position in the world championship and is in good standing to repeat the result of 2013 when he rode to victory in the rally and clinched the world championship title. Five points separate the Portuguese rider from the current leader.
Team-mate Kevin Benavides presently holds fourth position and will go in pursuit of both an improved result as well as the kind of experience that only an event as gruelling as the OiLibya Morocco Rally can provide. Ricky Brabec and Michael Metge, likewise, arrive at the rally looking to gain experience while supporting the other two riders who have continually been in the running for the championship. |