The Monster Energy Can-Am Team will be represented by the Spanish duo of Gerard Farrés and Armand Monleón in this weekend’s Baja Spain Aragón, round five of the 2021 FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Bajas.
Farrés is a 42-year-old former Dakar motorcycle rider and has considerable experience of international off-road racing. He will be challenging for honours on his home event in the FIA T4 category with a Can-Am Mavrerick.
The Spaniard faces strong competition in the baking heat of a Spanish summer from the likes of six South Racing Can-Am team rivals, including Saleh Al-Saif, Kees Koolen, Meshari Al-Thefiri and talented rookie Molly Taylor, and an armada of side-by-side vehicles that have entered the category and taken the cross-country rallying scene by storm in the last three years.
Farrés tackled the Dakar on 11 occasions on two wheels and three times in an SSV. His best finishes on two wheels were third and fifth in 2017 and 2018 and we went to finish as runner-up in the SSV section in 2019. Monleón tackled the Dakar on four occasions on two wheels and was s former winner of the China Grand Rally before switching to a co-driving and navigating role.
Monster Can-Am Team principal Scott Abraham said: « This is Gerard’s home event and it is always special to be able to race in front of your fans and family. The crew are looking for a strong result on an event which they know well. The Monster Energy Can-Am crew will be hoping to be fighting at the front of the field. »
Support for the Monster Energy Can-Am Team comes from Method Wheels, Tensor Tires, Motul, J.Juan Brake Systems, Bell, Lazer and OMP.
Baja Spain Aragón will be fought out over two legs with 539.36 competitive kilometres in a route of 829.95km.
The opening leg includes a selective section of 180km on Friday, July 23, while the second leg offers two stages of 151km and 208.36km before the finish in the town of Teruel.