Steady debut for Branch in Spain
Kabelo Boranabi | Friday October 9, 2020 15:01
Monster Energy Yamaha Rally recruited Branch following great exploits in FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship outings with eye-catching performances at the 2019 and 2020 Dakar Rally.
Branch is in the southern coast of Spain for the Andalucia Rally that started on Tuesday and ends tomorrow.
Following the cancellation of numerous World Championship rallies due to the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), Branch had to wait for more than half a year to make his debut with the team, alongside former Dakar Rally winner, Andrew Short.
The Andalucia Rally warms the engines for the 33-year-old who will be back to the Persian Gulf for the 2021 Dakar Rally. He returns to the saddle after a nine-month hiatus. Branch is racing in a just over 900km terrace characterised by hills, rivers and farmlands, and serves as a perfect platform for the initial preparations for next year’s Dakar Rally.
He entered the race at number 17. On the first day, riders competed over 253km, the longest of the four-day event.
The ‘Kalahari Ferrari’ was in his usual best as he finished 13th with a time of 03:32:55, just 11:38 minutes behind lap winner Kevin Benavides of Argentina. Spanish Joan Barreda Bort came second and Lorenzo Santolino completed the podium place finishes.
American Short came in at 16th place while 2019 Dakar Rally winner, Toby Price finished 17th. “Stage one today, I finished 13th, so happy to be racing (and) three days to learn and some fun,” Branch said on his Facebook page on Wednesday.
Yesterday, Branch won stage two of the rally with a time of 02:58:38 in a distance of 243km, making an impressive display from the 13th position.
Benavides and Santolino finished second and third to complete podium places on stage two. The rider sets up exciting stage three today that over 233km today before the last stage on Saturday, which is 178km as edges closer to his first Andalucia Rally win.