Rodrigues Leads FIM Rally World Cup After Tunisia Event

WR450F rider Helder Rodrigues is fronting the FIM Cross-Country
Rallies World Championship after two rounds thanks to his victory
last week at the OiLibya Rally of Tunisia.
The Portuguese Dakar stage winner finished second at the Abu Dhabi
Desert Challenge during April (the opening event of four in the
2011 schedule) but was able to go one better through the North
African dunes - six stages and 1800km of riding - heading Jakub
Przygonski and Jacek Czachor on the podium. Fellow Yamaha rider
Jordi Viladoms was able to reach the finish line first in the final
stage but just missed out on the top three.
"I am so happy," said Rodrigues. "I have been waiting a long time
for this moment. I want to thank all my partners and the people who
believed in me. If I'm here today it's mainly thanks to all those
people. It is obvious that my season has started very strongly and
this is great in our preparation for the 2012 Dakar."
Rodrigues heads the standings by five points from Przygonski at the
half way stage with riders award points similar to a motocross
grand prix event; the winner taking 25, second place 22 and third
20 and so on. Round three will take place over a week at the end of
May on the island of Sardinia with the final meeting occurring in
Eygpt for the Pharaoh's Rally in October.