Driver Profile: Joan Barreda

Joan Barreda

Rider Statistics

Joan "Bang Bang" Barreda is the new ‘bad boy’ on the rally scene. The popular Spaniard started out in Motocross, but his career never really took off in a spectacular fashion; yet thanks to his talent and raw speed, Barreda made it all the way to the Motocross World Championship. Although he has paid a high price with a combination of misfortune and injuries, a decade later the 31-year-old has become a force to be reckoned with.

Rally mastermind Wolfgang Fischer became aware of Barreda in 2011, and decided to take him under his wing. The Spaniard immediately felt at home in his new environment and managed to kick-start his career. In 2012 Barreda entered the Dakar Rally for the second time, and it did not take long for him to grab people’s attention. He matched the pace of the leading Dakar riders and finished on the podium at four stages, eventually topping his stunning performance with a stage win.

In 2013, Barreda set about proving that his success was no flash in the pan. The rider from Castellon amazed the world with a hugely impressive performance that finished with four Dakar stage wins. If it hadn´t been for a setback due to mechanical gremlins, he would have undoubtedly ended on the overall podium. Further demonstrations of his riding prowess were shown with victories at the Baja España – Aragón in 2012 and 2013, and the Pharaons Rally in 2012.

In the most recent Dakar 2014, Barreda showed his enormous potential: he was the rider with the most stage victories and was in the running for the overall title. However, a bad crash in the penultimate stage as he battled for the leadership, put paid to his chances of a final podium place. This 2014 Joan won the Qatar Sealine Rally, 2^ndround of World Championship, with Team HRC.

2015 starts with the Dakar rally, where Joan wins 4 stages, managed the leadership the first week of competition and finally ends in 17 position after big problems in the infests stage in Uyuni Salar, in Bolivia.

Career Information
1993: Motocross Spanish Champion

1996: Motocross Spanish Champion

1998: Motocross Spanish Champion

2000: Motocross Spanish Champion

2001: Motocross Spanish Champion

2002: Racing in MX World Championship 125

2011: First participation at Dakar Rally

2012: Winner Baja Aragon, Winner Pharaons Rally, 11^th overall at Dakar and 5^th overall Cross Country Rally World Championship

2013: 17^th overall Dakar with 4 stage wins

2014: 7^th overall Dakar with 5 stage wins, winner in Sealine Qatar rally, 3^rd in World Championship

2015: 17^th overall Dakar with 4 stage wins