Following Stage 1’s waterlogged conditions, Stage 2 of Rally-Raid Portugal took the riders across the border into Spain. With more than 500 km on the route chart, riders were hoping for drier weather as they left the very wet Grândola bivouac at 5 a.m. The day began with a 121 km liaison before the timed 377 km special started from Salvaterra de Magos… However dryer didn’t necessarily mean easier! Top American Ricky Brabec went down again — he said yesterday he hates dropping the bike — but he bounced back from yesterday’s two-minute penalty, staying close to the leaders in the early sections. A minor off in the slippery conditions slowed him down, and he finished sixth, 3’51” back. Brabec now sits 4th overall and fellow American Skyler Howes is holding down 8th.
“We started out at 5am, with rain pouring down during the liaison. The first half of the special it was raining on and off so it was another wet one,” said a soaked Brabec in the bivouac. “Overall, it was good, although I lost the front end, slid out with the bike… I just picked it back up and kept going. The second part of the special was here in Spain and it was dry as there hasn’t been any rain here, so that was something different for a change! Tomorrow we have a loop around Badajoz and it’s showing rain, so let’s gear up for more rain and let’s keep trying to make it to the finish line.”
“We got every single type of terrain and weather thrown at us today, full downpour, wet dirt, mud holes, water and then we made our way into Spain onto some slippery, hard pack dusty roads and then the sun came out and it warmed up,” added HRC wingman Skyler Howes. “It was a big change of pace today. To be totally honest, I rode really cautiously on the mountain roads, I had one issue where I slid off and I just didn’t want to do that again so I toned it back. But otherwise, other than that one issue I feel like I rode really good today, but really cautiously. So happy to make it to Spain and we’ve got another day here tomorrow.”
With more rain expected, the Rally remains in Spain tomorrow. A 297 km loop from Badajoz promises more high-stakes action, with both Brabec and Howes aiming to stay within striking distance of overall leader Daniel Sanders before the Rally returns to Portugal the following day.
