Zé Hélio is Sertões winner for the fifth time (foto: Renato Cukier/ www.webventure.com.br)
The 17th Sertões International Rally was all about Zé Hélio. Driving a Honda CRF 450X, the pilot did not open any space for competition, and, relatively easily, won the main Brazilian off-road race for the fifth time, being this one, the third in a row.
The career and passion for bikes started early in the life of this pilot from São Paulo. Influenced by the family, he debuted over two wheels when was only 11 years old. Still a teenager, at 15, and following his brothers steps, he had his first experiences in Sertões.
Nowadays, Zé Hélio adds up 14 participations in the most traditional competition in Brazil. In his career, the Brazilian pilot was the winner in categories Production and 450 in the Rally Por Las Pampas.
Still this year, in Argentina and Chile, Zé Hélio placed third in category 450 and 12th in the final classification in his debut in of Rally Dakar. Zé Hélio also has experience in enduro, motocross and superbike competitions.
The race – Zé Hélios title came after winning seven out of ten stages in Sertões. The fight with Denísio do Nascimento, vice-champion and leader in the Brazilian Off-road Championship was constant, but the Brazilian pilot hegemony was only broken by the Polish pilot Jakub Przygonski, and Deni. Nevertheless, the first place in final classification was never shaken.
Zés victory came already in the first half of the rally, for he has pushed hard in the first specials, and acquired a large advantage, only to manage his result until the end of the rally. He also spared his equipment during Marathon Stage, for he couldnt have any service in case something broke, and any mechanical problem would take him out of the race.
The total advantage of the five times champion was 59min13 ahead of Deni do Nascimento. Besides his victory in the final classification, Zé Hélio won FIM 450 Super Production category, also for the fifth time.
Este texto foi escrito por: Redação Webventure