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Stage report

Dakar 2017, Stage 11: Goncalves fastest, Sunderland closes on win

Paulo Goncalves took his first stage win of the 2017 Dakar Rally on the event's penultimate test, as Sam Sunderland maintained his advantage at the head of the standings.

#17 Monster Energy Honda Team: Paulo Goncalves

#17 Monster Energy Honda Team: Paulo Goncalves

Honda Racing

#17 Monster Energy Honda Team: Paulo Goncalves
Paulo Goncalves, Honda Team
#17 Monster Energy Honda Team: Paulo Goncalves
#17 Monster Energy Honda Team: Paulo Goncalves
Sam Sunderland, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
#14 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: Sam Sunderland
#14 Red Bull KTM Factory Team: Sam Sunderland
#16 Red Bull KTM Factory Racing: Matthias Walkner

The second-to-last stage of the event, running from San Juan to Rio Cuarto, featured a 288km timed section split by a lengthy neutralised zone.

Honda rider Paulo Goncalves held a 30-second advantage over Yamaha's Adrian van Beveren at the end of the first timed section, and the Portuguese rider stretched his advantage in the latter half of the stage.

He was able to stave off a late challenge from teammate Joan Barreda to clinch his first stage win of the rally - and the third of his Dakar career - by a margin of 1m09s.

Overall leader Sunderland had a late scare when he stopped for several minutes, but the works KTM rider still managed to finish within 7m25s of Goncalves.

With nearest rival Matthias Walkner (KTM) also losing time, Sunderland will begin Saturday's final stage of the rally with an advantage of 33m09s over the Austrian as he seeks to clinch his first Dakar title.

Third on the stage, van Beveren overhauled KTM privateer Gerard Farres for the same position overall, 37 minutes adrift of Sunderland, while Barreda remains fifth, 47 minutes off the lead.

Goncalves has also moved up to sixth at the expense of Pela Renet (Husqvarna), and lies 52 minutes away from the top spot.

UPDATE: Barreda was later handed back three minutes by the stewards after spectators not respecting the spectator zones meant he got lost.

It means he wins the stage instead of teammate Goncalves, making it the Spaniard's fourth win of the rally and the 18th of his Dakar career.

Bikes standings after Stage 11:

Pos.RiderBikeTime/Gap
1  Sam Sunderland KTM 31h34m11s
2  Matthias Walkner KTM +33m09s
3

 Adrian van Beveren

Yamaha +37m10s 
4  Gerard Farres KTM +37m22s
5  Joan Barreda  Honda +44m32s
6  Paulo Goncalves Honda +52m46s
7  Pela Renet Husqvarna +56m01s
8  Franco Caimi Honda +1h40m53s 
9  Helder Rodrigues Yamaha +2h00m46s 
10  Joaquim Rodrigues Hero +2h20m53s

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