Branch misses out on Andalucia Rally title

Kabelo Boranabi | Sunday October 23, 2022 17:08

The biker was in Seville, Spain competing in the rally that finished today. There was a change of schedule for what was to be a four-day race. Competitors were forced to take a day off on Friday as the stage two of the rally was cancelled due to unfavorable weather conditions in Seville.

Branch had started the race on a good note; he finished eighth in the prologue stage. In stage one held on Thursday, he lost a bit of time after the fueling point. This cost Branch to lose touch with the leading pack but he recovered well to once again secure an eighth place finish on the day. On the rescheduled stage two held on Saturday, Branch showed a ‘die-hard’ attitude after falling from the motorcycle. He was subject to his own heartbreak when he crashed 100 metres before the finish point and Andalucia Rally stage win.

This allowed Argentine, Kevin Benavides to take the leg victory as Branch still salvaged a runner-up finish. Adrien van Beveren was third to maintain his overall lead. Ricky Brabec’s dark horse shot at the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship title still has some life as he finished fourth to Sam Sunderland‘s eleventh, though Sunderland remains ahead in the overall by 13 minutes. Branch, following the stage three misdeed, elevated to the provisional fifth spot in overall standings. “I really enjoyed the stage today. It was super fast and fun to ride. I was leading for most of the stage but I had a small crash before the finish and that cost me the stage win. But excited and looking forward to the final stage,” Branch said on Saturday after the stage win.

The biker’s shot at the rally win was dimmed after the crash on stage three. Had he bagged a stage win on the day, he could have moved in to the top three standings. At press time the biker was on the saddle racing in the final 439km of the rally.