The rider Felipe Zanol (foto: Isaias Miciu)
One of the greatest Brazilian motorbike riders has a very controversial opinion about the contest between Cyril Despres and Felipe Zanol in the 19th edition of the Sertões International Rally. According to the five time champion of the test, although small time differences have marked the dispute between the two first placed, they are not that fast this year.
Zé Helio is managing the Husqvarna SpeedBrain team and is not participating in the 2011 competition. Oh, I think that Despres is slow and Zanol is slower still. Thats what I think. They seem like two old ladies. They seem to be on an expedition and not a race, he stated.
The rider intends to get back to motorbike competitions in October, in the Morrocos rally, as a preparation for the Dakar. Meanwhile, he is part of the Klaumann brothers
team with David Fretigné, who was injured in the race and Paulo da Silva Gonçalves.
I pass my experience to them. I have managed to make my riders develop a lot. Unfortunately, a serious problem of bad fuel ended up taking two of my motorbikes out today [yesterday]. And a serious accident yesterday [the day before yesterday] took the other one out. But my main motorbike [Gonçalves] continues doing well, he declared.
Zanol praised Zé Hélio and highlighted that he, Zanol, had the experience of only two rallies, while Despres has of 90: So I am far from being able to apply my best riding in this test. I think I have much to learn in order to impose the strong rhythm that I have in enduro and in cross-country.
Despres states he is giving his maximum in the Sertões International Rally: I did my best this morning, he did his best. You cannot have an excellent test if you dont have an adversary. I think Zanol is a great competitor.
In 2008, Zé Hélio had a tough dispute with Despres and came out ahead. This year, the French rider has an advantage of 1min37s over Zanol after seven stages.
Este texto foi escrito por: Andrei Spinassé
Last modified: agosto 16, 2011
