Dakar – Dakar 2012 – stage 5: Despres retains the advantage –

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Dakar 2012 – stage 5: Despres retains the advantage

Dakar - Dakar 2012 - stage 5: Despres retains the advantage -

A blow to me, a blow to you: that could be the summary of the Dakar 2012 motorcycle race, led with authority by the factory KTMs of Cyril Despres and Marc Coma. Yesterday, during a fifth stage shortened due to weather conditions, the Frenchman and the Spaniard widened the chasm that separates them even further …

A blow to me, a blow to you: this could be the summary of the Dakar 2012 motorcycle race, led with authority by the factory KTMs of Cyril Despres and Marc Coma. Yesterday, during a fifth stage shortened due to weather conditions, the Frenchman and the Spaniard widened the chasm that separates them from their competitors even further.

"Keep the same state of mind, the same concentration" (C. Despres)

"After the first day (Editor’s note) one could imagine that many other pilots would join in the fight. Finally not that much", underlines, almost disappointed, Cyril Despres who crossed the line victorious. arrival of the fifth stage located in Fiambala (Argentina).

Starting from Chilecito, the stage initially included 151 km of liaison and 265 km of special. But heavy showers forced the organizers to delay the start of the stage and to modify its route to respect the program..

Deprived of the spectacle offered by the immense dunes of Fiambala, the pilots finally explained themselves over 185 km of timed sector. Despres and Coma have accentuated their ascendancy over their rivals, despite some navigation errors.

For a long time in the wheel of his teammate, the French finally dislocated the defending champion in the last part of the special, before seizing the victory with a 1’41 lead. Thanks to this second stage success (the 28th of his career), Despres increased his lead over Coma to almost 10 minutes overall (9’51).

"Today was easier for me because I started behind Marc", admits Despres who did not have to "trace" the special. "Maybe tomorrow it will be the other way around. So the headroom I have on it is a comfortable cushion but it can quickly disappear! So I have to keep the same state of mind and the same concentration ".

"I want to mingle with the mano a mano of the first two" (H. Rodrigues)

Behind the two KTMs, the gap is inexorably widening at the rate of almost 10 minutes a day: a chasm! Third the day before yesterday and almost in line with the leaders yesterday, Frans Verhoeven had bad luck: already victim of electrical problems during the fourth stage, the Dutchman this time experienced mechanical problems on his Sherco.

Relegated to 85th place in the fifth stage at 2h31 behind the leader, the Nîmes motorcycle rider loses all the benefit of his encouraging start to the rally and plunges to 31st overall..

Still third overall despite a modest fourteenth place yesterday, Helder Rodrigues, for his part, is almost 50 minutes behind the KTMs…

Although he says he wants to join in the fight for victory, the Portuguese do not seem really able to worry Despres and Coma. In any case, not on a regular basis…

"It’s a difficult Dakar and I’m a little tired," admits Helder Rodrigues. "But everyone’s like that. I’ve had a lot of little problems with the bike and things aren’t going as well as I would like. But I’m here, I have nothing and I’m third overall. I’m in perfect conditions and I can attack when I want. That’s what I’m going to do. Because it’s now another Dakar that begins. I want to join in the mano a mano of the first two ".

Among the other Yamaha riders, Olivier Pain had a clean course – despite his sore shoulder – to 11th place, but he conceded the stage winner almost 20 minutes.

His teammate David Casteu has more than 28 minutes in the special after encountering fuel quality problems which will lead to injection pump problems.

The two pilots occupy the 11th and 7th places overall, at 1h14 and 59 minutes respectively.

Author of a catastrophic stage yesterday, Joan Barreda (Husqvarna), for his part, remains a possible candidate for a victory in the special: he proves it once again by signing the third time yesterday at 12’42 behind Despres. Also capable of some nice bursts, Stefan Svitko (KTM) signs the fourth fastest time in the special at 13’05 behind the winner. The two men are respectively 32nd and 9th overall.

Sixth stage canceled

Originally scheduled between Fiambala (Argentina) and Copiapo (Chile), the sixth stage of the Dakar, which was to start this morning, was canceled by the organizers due to weather conditions. The heavy snowfall and the cold (down to -15 ° C!) Which prevail in the Andes Cordillera have indeed pushed the Chilean authorities to close the border at Paso de San Francisco, which rises to 4700 m above sea level..

"In order to guarantee the safety of the competitors and those accompanying the rally, the organizers have decided to send all the vehicles in convoy," ASO explains in a statement. The competition will therefore resume on Saturday with a stage of 573 km from Copiapo, including 419 km of special..

"Operation Guillaumet"

For the director of the Dakar, Etienne Lavigne, this cancellation of a stage is not a first: "what we are experiencing today is a twist that poses a problem from a sporting point of view, which upsets the drivers and crews of the rally. But this event is also part of Dakar life ", he recalls..

"The event is sometimes confronted, like its competitors, with extreme situations. And as organizers, we must show an enormous capacity of adaptation to apprehend them. Organizational difficulties, the Dakar has some. collected a package. We even got into the habit of naming them. I knew "Last metro for Tombouctou", "Reine de Saba", but this is the first time that the Dakar has been blocked by snow! ", notice the big boss of the event.

"We will be able to baptize the device that we are putting in place" Operation Guillaumet ", in tribute to the aviator who had survived a crash in the Andes after having walked alone in the mountain for five days", concludes Etienne Lavigne..

Video summary of the 5th stage of Dakar 2012 (Chilecito – Fiambala) 

Ranking of the 5th motorcycle stage of the Dakar 2012

  1. 2 DESPRES (FRA) KTM 02:28:33 –  –
  2. 1 COMA (ESP) KTM 02:30:14 00:01:41 –
  3. 23 BARREDA BORT (ESP) HUSQVARNA 02:41:15 00:12:42 –
  4. 32 SVITKO (SVK) KTM 02:42:28 00:13:55 –
  5. 10 VILADOMS (ESP) KTM 02:42:50 00:14:17 –
  6. 6 ULLEVALSETER (NOR) KTM 02:43:14 00:14:41 –
  7. 8 FARIA (PRT) KTM 02:43:24 00:14:51 –
  8. 20 FARRES GUELL (ESP) KTM 02:47:22 00:18:49 –
  9. 4 LOPEZ (CHL) APRILIA 02:47:43 00:19:10 –
  10. 7 GONCALVES (PRT) Husqvarna 02:48:04 00:19:31 –
  11. 16 PAIN (FRA) YAMAHA 02:48:27 00:19:54 –
  12. 25 GOUET (CHL) HONDA 02:48:38 00:20:05 –
  13. 5 PEDRERO GARCIA (ESP) KTM 02:49:18 00:20:45 –
  14. 3 RODRIGUES (PRT) YAMAHA 02:49:41 00:21:08 –
  15. 28 ZANOL (BRA) KTM 02:49:43 00:21:10 –
  16. 34 BOTTURI (ITA) KTM 02:53:34 00:25:01 –
  17. 27 PIZZOLITO (ARG) HONDA 02:55:18 00:26:45 –
  18. 17 CZACHOR (POL) KTM 02:56:29 00:27:56 –
  19. 26 RODRIGUES FILHO (BRA) HUQSVARNA 02:56:53 00:28:20 –
  20. 14 CASTEU (FRA) YAMAHA 02:56:54 00:28:21 –
  21. 12 PELLICER (ESP) HUSQVARNA 02:59:20 00:30:47 –
  22. 144 CURTIS (ZAF) KTM 03:01:27 00:32:54 –
  23. 21 AUBERT (FRA) KTM 03:02:03 00:33:30 –
  24. 33 BETHYS (FRA) YAMAHA 03:03:35 00:35:02 –
  25. 48 LIEFHEBBER (NLD) KTM 03:03:37 00:35:04 –
  26. 64 SCHRODER (DEU) KTM 03:03:43 00:35:10 –
  27. 43 PISANO (FRA) KTM 03:05:07 00:36:34 –
  28. 18 KNUIMAN (NLD) KTM 03:05:20 00:36:47 –
  29. 183 RODRIGUEZ (ARG) HONDA 03:06:42 00:38:09 –
  30. 82 GUINDANI (FRA) YAMAHA 03:06:54 00:38:21 –
  31. 22 DUCLOS (FRA) APRILIA 03:09:43 00:41:10 –
  32. 40 SERRADORI (FRA) KTM 03:10:22 00:41:49 –
  33. 39 GYENES (ROU) KTM 03:10:56 00:42:23 –
  34. 24 STANOVNIK (SVN) KTM 03:11:16 00:42:43 –
  35. 57 WILLEMSEN (NLD) HONDA 03:11:17 00:42:44 –
  36. 41 PROHENS (CHL) HONDA (Transformada) 03:14:35 00:46:02 –
  37. 35 THIS (ITA) KTM 03:19:00 00:50:27 –
  38. 145 NUTTALL (AUS) KTM 03:21:03 00:52:30 –
  39. 66 LORMAND (FRA) YAMAHA 03:21:37 00:53:04 –
  40. 49 DABROWSKI (POL) KTM 03:21:54 00:53:21 –
  41. 42 PROHENS (CHL) HONDA 03:22:07 00:53:34 –
  42. 110 BIRCH (NZL) KTM 03:26:06 00:57:33 –
  43. 81 SWITZERLAND (USA) KTM 03:26:24 00:57:51 –
  44. 71 BUTUZA (ROU) KTM 03:31:16 01:02:43 –
  45. 50 SALVATIERRA (BOL) HONDA 03:32:36 01:04:03 –
  46. 185 SANCHEZ (ARG) KAWASAKI 03:32:42 01:04:09 –
  47. 58 PUERTAS HERRERA (ESP) YAMAHA 03:33:00 01:04:27 –
  48. 86 MUNK (DNK) KTM 03:36:28 01:07:55 –
  49. 75 BUSIN (ARG) YAMAHA 03:39:05 01:10:32 –
  50. 87 MEILLAT (FRA) KAWASAKI 03:41:25 01:12:52 –

Dakar 2012 general motorcycle classification

  1. 2 DESPRES (FRA) KTM 14:19:00 –  –
  2. 1 COMA (ESP) KTM 14:28:51 00:09:51 –
  3. 3 RODRIGUES (PRT) YAMAHA 15:06:56 00:47:56 –
  4. 4 LOPEZ (CHL) APRILIA 15:08:00 00:49:00 –
  5. 7 GONCALVES (PRT) Husqvarna 15:13:47 00:54:47 00:06:00
  6. 10 VILADOMS (ESP) KTM 15:17:17 00:58:17 –
  7. 14 CASTEU (FRA) YAMAHA 15:17:58 00:58:58 –
  8. 20 FARRES GUELL (ESP) KTM 15:22:13 01:03:13 –
  9. 32 SVITKO (SVK) KTM 15:26:26 01:07:26 –
  10. 5 PEDRERO GARCIA (ESP) KTM 15:33:04 01:14:04 00:15:00
  11. 16 PAIN (FRA) YAMAHA 15:33:18 01:14:18 –
  12. 34 BOTTURI (ITA) KTM 15:39:08 01:20:08 –
  13. 27 PIZZOLITO (ARG) HONDA 15:41:41 01:22:41 00:08:00
  14. 6 ULLEVALSETER (NOR) KTM 15:53:59 01:34:59 00:40:00
  15. 25 GOUET (CHL) HONDA 15:55:29 01:36:29 –
  16. 26 RODRIGUES FILHO (BRA) HUQSVARNA 16:03:17 01:44:17 –
  17. 28 ZANOL (BRA) KTM 16:07:38 01:48:38 00:40:00
  18. 22 DUCLOS (FRA) APRILIA 16:12:15 01:53:15 00:40:00
  19. 8 FARIA (PRT) KTM 16:12:54 01:53:54 00:40:00
  20. 17 CZACHOR (POL) KTM 16:14:32 01:55:32 –
  21. 21 AUBERT (FRA) KTM 16:28:03 02:09:03 –
  22. 39 GYENES (ROU) KTM 16:30:53 02:11:53 –
  23. 24 STANOVNIK (SVN) KTM 16:31:17 02:12:17 –
  24. 82 GUINDANI (FRA) YAMAHA 16:32:23 02:13:23 –
  25. 18 KNUIMAN (NLD) KTM 16:35:59 02:16:59 –
  26. 35 THIS (ITA) KTM 16:37:29 02:18:29 –
  27. 43 PISANO (FRA) KTM 16:38:37 02:19:37 –
  28. 40 SERRADORI (FRA) KTM 16:52:25 02:33:25 –
  29. 33 BETHYS (FRA) YAMAHA 17:07:00 02:48:00 –
  30. 12 PELLICER (ESP) HUSQVARNA 17:19:56 03:00:56 –
  31. 15 VERHOEVEN (NLD) SHERCO 17:28:23 03:09:23 –
  32. 23 BARREDA BORT (ESP) HUSQVARNA 17:32:26 03:13:26 00:45:00
  33. 48 LIEFHEBBER (NLD) KTM 17:34:59 03:15:59 –
  34. 64 SCHRODER (DEU) KTM 17:35:44 03:16:44 00:45:00
  35. 49 DABROWSKI (POL) KTM 17:37:01 03:18:01 –
  36. 57 WILLEMSEN (NLD) HONDA 17:48:13 03:29:13 –
  37. 144 CURTIS (ZAF) KTM 17:49:29 03:30:29 00:40:00
  38. 41 PROHENS (CHL) HONDA (Transformada) 17:55:49 03:36:49 –
  39. 89 NASCIMENTO (BRA) HONDA 17:57:16 03:38:16 –
  40. 42 PROHENS (CHL) HONDA 18:07:28 03:48:28 –
  41. 145 NUTTALL (AUS) KTM 18:22:36 04:03:36 00:41:00
  42. 183 RODRIGUEZ (ARG) HONDA 18:24:04 04:05:04 –
  43. 173 MALO (ECU) KTM 18:26:40 04:07:40 –
  44. 66 LORMAND (FRA) YAMAHA 18:33:36 04:14:36 –
  45. 81 SWITZERLAND (USA) KTM 18:35:42 04:16:42 –
  46. 60 WATT (GBR) KTM 18:42:57 04:23:57 –
  47. 110 BIRCH (NZL) KTM 18:55:11 04:36:11 00:05:00
  48. 53 RODRIGUEZ (CHL) HONDA 19:14:26 04:55:26 –
  49. 51 ARREDONDO (GTM) KTM 19:18:04 04:59:04 –
  50. 86 MUNK (DNK) KTM 19:24:40 05:05:40 00:40:00

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