The Monster Energy Honda Team got the Morocco Rally off to a start with good result in the first full stage of the race, although the squad had its first retiree. Gonçalves, Brabec and Cornejo successfully completed a tough first day, while Benavides was forced to drop out after a heavy fall.
A long and gruelling day got the first stage of the Morocco Rally underway – the fifth and final round of the world championship, which started in Fez and concluded in Erfoud. The day was made up of two parts, with a first 98.68-kilometre special after crossing the Atlas between Boulemane and Midelt, followed by a second, some 68.5 kilometres after completing a long liaison section in the Erfoud region, The navigation proved to be particularly tricky, with some demanding steps. Rock-filled fast track and dry river beds were the order of the day
Portuguese Monster Energy Honda Team rider Paulo Gonçalves, performed well to finish fourth on the day, 8’47