Dakar – Dakar: Francisco Lopez (Aprilia) wins the 8th stage –

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Dakar: Francisco Lopez (Aprilia) wins the 8th stage

Dakar - Dakar: Francisco Lopez (Aprilia) wins the 8th stage -

After the rest day on Saturday it is the regional of the stage, the Chilean Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez (Aprilia), who won the 8th stage of the Dakar 2010 disputed yesterday between Antofagasta and Copiapo (Chile), over 568 km including 472 special.

After the rest day on Saturday it is the regional of the stage, the Chilean Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez (Aprilia), who won the 8th stage of the Dakar 2010 disputed yesterday between Antofagasta and Copiapo (Chile), over 568 km including 472 special.

The French Cyril Despres (KTM), 5th on the stage, however retains the first place in the general classification. Lopez, who takes his second victory in this edition after the 5th stage, edged the Spanish Marc Coma (KTM) by 42 seconds and the Norwegian Pal Ullevalseter by one minute 22 seconds.

"I drove fast! Especially since I had finished the 7th stage a little less well. There, after the rest day, I wanted to finish the stage well for all these people who are waiting for me. happy to offer this stage to the Chilean people who are accompanying me ", declared" Chaleco "who goes back to 3rd place at 1 h 24 min 21 sec from Despres but less than 4 minutes from Ullevalseter, second.

Coma, penalized on Saturday by six hours by the race director for having changed wheels during the 7th stage (read), is now 19th at seven hours behind Despres. "It was a difficult day, especially because of yesterday with this problem of the penalty," commented Coma. “It was really a special, hard, atypical day of rest. Today, I got back on the bike to try, as always, to do the best possible and to forget all that too. The stage was beautiful, with magnificent dunes in the end when we had a lot of rocks at the start. Until the refueling I rode with the others. After that I was in front, maintaining a good pace and with good navigation ".

For Cyril Despres, this 8th stage confirms his fine performance: "I led it all by myself, this stage!", Explained the Frenchman: "I felt calm on the bike, solid, strong, not too tired. took two stones, once at the front, once at the rear. I didn’t really realize. When I got to km 245, I saw the condition of the two rims: split in two, smashed! "

Luckily, his "water carrier" Ruben Faria was driving just behind him: the Portuguese rider, whose role as Despres’ teammate forces him to make up for the failings of the Frenchman, then passed his front wheel to him. "I felt that the rear did not need it. When setting off again, I still ensured in the stones to preserve the rear. So, I’m really happy to be there. On the Dakar anything can happen. and I did not take any risk ", rejoiced Despres.

General motorcycle classification after the 8th stage

  • 1. Cyril Despres (FRA / KTM) in 33 h 46:21
  • 2. Pal Ullevalseter (NOR / KTM) at 1 h 20:31
  • 3. Francisco Lopez (CHI / Aprilia) 1 h 24:21
  • 4. Helder Rodrigues (POR / Yamaha) 1 h 25:15
  • 5. Alain Duclos (FRA / KTM) 1 h 52:29
  • 6. David Fretigne (FRA / Yamaha) 2 h 02:33
  • 7. Jonah Street (USA / KTM) 2:28:32
  • 8. Olivier Pain (FRA / Yamaha) 2 h 41:59
  • 9. Thomas Berglund (SWE / KTM) 2 h 48:41
  • 10. Juan Pedrero Garcia (ESP / KTM) 2 h 50:15
  • …
  • 19. Marc Coma (ESP / KTM) 7:00:49 am

LE JOURNAL MOTO DU NET (with AFP)

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