Aaron Mare Wins Stage 2 | WRRC Abu Dhabi

In an incredible show of sportsmanship, Monster Energy’s Aaron Mare (Hero Motosports), competing at the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship’s second round event – the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge – pulled his motorcycle over and assisted with an injured racer, fellow South African Michael Docherty (SRG Motorsports), and spent nearly an hour with Docherty – until the medical team arrived via helicopter.

But rather than be tagged with a last place result upon crossing the finish line, FIM rules rewarded Mare for his sportsmanship, and credited back the time he’d spent with the fallen racer. And with that Mare took the Stage 2 win – the first of his career in WRRC racing - along with the overall race lead after a Prologue and two stages.

“We managed to get the stage win. It’s my first, official, overall stage win and I’m super happy about that,” said Mare. “And now we’re in the lead for the overall race. The stage was quite a tough one, especially at the end with the sun and the soft sand and everything. Ross Branch (Monster Energy/Hero Motorsports) did a great job opening and led most of the way today. Looking forward to tomorrow. I get to open the stage and, hopefully, I can ride a little bit with Ross.”

The 29:48 awarded back to Mare gave him a 2:08 margin of victory in Stage 2 over Konrad Dabrowski (Duust Rally), who also stopped to assist Docherty.

For Branch, a rippin’ fast early start of Stage 2 had him ahead of the Docherty incident, and leading the race for much of the stage. But the soon-to-be overall WRRC point leader would wind up just a click off the podium in 4th place on Stage 2, clocking a time of 7:37:19, 45:52 back of Monster Energy/Hero Motosports teammate Mare.

Quotes

Said Branch (on his Stage 2 run): “That was a lot of fun out there today. I had to navigate a lot today. I was in front from the beginning, so it was a good day. So yeah, long day in the dunes and navigation was hard today. But happy with the ride, happy I’m in one piece and looking forward to tomorrow. Thoughts and prayers are with Michael (Docherty, who crashed and injured his leg at the 5 km mark of Stage 2).”

Added Mare: “It was tough, waiting there for the helicopter to arrive (for Docherty). He’s probably one of my best friends. We train and ride together all the time, so it played a little bit on my mind throughout the rest of the stage. I tried to focus on the road book the rest of the stage, get back into a good rhythm, not make any mistakes. I did a pretty good stage and I was happy with how the day went, looking forward to tomorrow.”

Notes:

• The next three nights of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will see the teams move from Al Dhannah to Mezaira’a. New terrain to many of the racers, especially in the motorcycle division, as the last time the ADDC raced around the Liwa City oasis was 2002.
• With Mare stopped to aid a fallen racer, SRG Motorsports’ Michael Docherty, Branch was unaware of the crash and bolted out into the stage lead. Mare would benefit from situation in that he was able to follow Branch, and the other lead bikes’ tire trails in the sand, letting the lead bikes handle the heavy lifting with navigation where Mare smartly used the tracks as a guide.
• At the scene of Docherty’s crash, Mare, who was running with the lead pack, stopped, along with fellow competitor Konrad Dabrowski, and spent nearly an hour with the fallen competitor – until race officials arrived. Both Mare and Dabrowski, per FIM rules, were credited the time spent with a downed racer back to their overall time. And with that Mare won the stage, and took the overall competition lead.
• “Michael’s (Docherty) one of my good buddies,” said Mare. “Did what I could to help until the medical team got there. After that I just focused on the road book and tried to ride my own race.”
• Added Branch: “Hope Michael’s OK. He had a big one. And you never like to see another rider on the floor injured.”

Up next… Action gets back underway on Thursday with Stage 3, a 252 km Special with a 163 km Liaison that runs from Mezaira’a to Mezaira’a, a 414 km loop around the Liwa City oasis, featuring 52-percent dune racing. Reported “fierce” heat awaits the Monster Energy/Hero Motosports team. For more information, including ‘Live’ results tracking, link to www.worldrallyraidchampionship.com