RUI GONÇALVES
(prt) 1.72m / 76kgHobbies
Trial riding
Sponsors
SHERCO, TVS, BOTICAS, RACR
2023: DNF
2022: 24th
2021: 19th (3rd rookie)
2023: Rallye du Maroc: 10th RallyGP
2022: Andalucia Rally (9th), Baja Aragon (3rd), Rallye du Maroc (15th), W2RC (16th)
2021: Andalucia Rally (10th), Baja Aragon (5th), Rallye du Maroc (18th)
2020: Andalucia Rally (21st)
2009: MX2 World Championship (2nd)
17-year career in motocross + ISDE
“If we have a clear run we can do something interesting overall”
With 17 seasons in top level moto-x, including a runner up spot in the MX2 World Championship, Rui Gonçalves knows how to ride a dirt bike. However he came late to rally raid, making his Dakar debut in 2021 at the age of 35 with only the Andalucia Rally as preparation. He nevertheless finished 19th overall and third best rookie behind Daniel Sanders and Tosha Schareina. On the 2022 Dakar Rui had a difficult first stage, finishing way down in 70th place, but he managed to regroup and go on to regularly feature in the top 10, with a best result of third on stage 4. Climbing up regularly in the overall standings, the Portuguese rider finally finished 24th overall in Jeddah. Dakar 2023 didn’t go at all according to plan, with the Sherco pilot going out with a mechanical problem on stage 6. Since then the team have been working hard and were able to see the fruits of their labour at this year’s Rallye du Maroc.
“You train all year for the Dakar so it is always tough to go out -especially for a minor mechanical that’s never happened before and that you can’t fix by the side of the track. But that’s rally raid. Since then we’ve been testing a lot and improving the bike, focusing on the suspension, and we saw at the Rallye du Maroc that the bike was working well. I think this next edition with the 48 hours chrono and early marathon stage is going to be tough but it will certainly spice things up. Obviously the first goal on a Dakar is to finish but if we can stay in the top 15 and have a clear run I think we might be able to achieve something interesting overall.”
Vehicle
SHERCO RALLY FACTORY
SHERCO 450 SEF RALLY
SHERCO TVS RALLY FACTORY
- Mark SHERCO
- Model 450 SEF RALLY
- Performance tuner Sherco Factory
- Assistance Sherco Factory
- Class Rally GP
Ranking 2024
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