Dakar – Dakar 2012 – stage 9: Despres sticks out his teeth! –

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Dakar 2012 – stage 9: Despres sticks out his teeth !

Dakar - Dakar 2012 - stage 9: Despres sticks out his teeth! -

Cyril Despres displayed all his rally-man skills yesterday on the ninth stage of the Dakar 2012: uncompromising during the 606 km of the special between Antofagasta and Iquique, the official KTM takes the lead of the general from his rival Marc Coma.

Cyril Despres displayed all his rally-man skills yesterday on the ninth stage of the Dakar 2012: uncompromising during the 606 km of the special between Antofagasta and Iquique, the official KTM takes the lead of the general from his rival Marc Coma.

The payback !

Annoyed by his "muddy" misadventures of the day before (read), Cyril Despres tackled the ninth stage biting his teeth: immediately at a high pace, he scooped up minutes from the leader of the day, Marc Coma, at each checkpoint.

At the head of each CP, Despres was very comfortable on this long and very fast 606 km special which ends with an incredible descent of more than three kilometers on Iquique..

A real slide with a view of the Pacific, this section shows up to 32% of elevation (see the photos of Hugo Payen and Bianchi Prata Pedro below) !

"After a complicated day like yesterday where doubts set in, we had to get back to work," said Despres. "In the head it was not easy, but I’m very happy with my day. We left to fight with seconds, minutes. The competition is there. Like any high level athlete, if you don’t like confrontation, go and seek the last strengths deep inside yourself, you’re not ready for a fight ".

Winner of his 3rd stage on the Dakar 2012, the 29th of his career, the French driver stuck 3’54 to his "teammate" Marc Coma and at the same time regained the lead of the standings with a lead of 2’28. Forced to change the engine of their 450 KTM, the two drivers will however downshift to 2nd and 6th places on the stage once the 15 minutes of regulatory penalties have been added to their times for the day..

First engine change for official KTMs

“We knew it would be a tough race,” Coma said. "It was long and I had the navigation to ensure (winner of the previous stage, the Spaniard started in the lead and therefore paved the way for motorcycle racing, Editor’s note)." We are entering the decisive part of the rally. Cyril is a great rival and we are going into a battle of every kilometer ", recognizes the title holder.

"Yesterday, the KTM technicians decided that it was time to change our engines, since we had arrived at the halfway point: it is very good like that", concludes the n ° 1 who did not spare his mount during the last three stages to catch up on Despres.

Yamaha rider Helder Rodrigues took advantage of the penalty inflicted on the Katoches to narrow his gap in the general standings: fourth in the stage, the Portuguese consolidated his third place in the general classification. However, he is still 44’19 behind the leader and will probably also have to change his engine block at one time or another….

"I took a good pace to try to stay in contact with Marc and Cyril. I think that if I manage to continue like that, it will be a good rally", relates the pilot of the WR450F n ° 3 whose teammate David Casteu had a very difficult day.

Victim of a mechanical breakdown on his YZ450F Rallye at the end of the special, the Frenchman finished the day in 99th place with 3:32:26 behind the winner. Towed by another competitor until the finish, the friendly n ° 14 is now in 23rd place in the provisional, at 4:25:52 behind the leader.

The podium is out of reach for Casteu

"It’s a big blow for the team," admits David Casteu, who smashed his engine crankcase with a hit with a stone. "I can’t wait to find my bike for the 10th stage tomorrow between Iquique and Arica, because the stage will be marked by a special of 377 km in the dunes where I will be able to find good vibrations", he ambitions however , resolutely turned towards the rest of the race.

"The finish is still a long way off and if the podium has definitely moved away from me, I can make up some of my delay and have fun riding my fantastic Yamaha YZ450F Rallye for the end of the rally", announces David Casteu who did not say his last word !

"David is obviously disappointed that the race for the podium stops so quickly and for a little nonsense", comments Jose Leloir, the coordinator of the Yamaha Rallye France team, but "that does not call into question his machine which remains of a solidity and foolproof efficiency ".

Always surprisingly regular for his second participation, the Spaniard Juan Barreda Bort signs the 3rd fastest time of the day at 8’28 behind Despres with his Husqvarna. The Spaniard is more than three minutes ahead of regulars Helder Rodrigues and Paulo Goncalves: impressive !

"It was fast and difficult, there was danger, a lot of dust, a lot of stones", comments the n ° 23.

"At the end there is some navigation to do and you could lose everything you had done during the day. I had some difficulties with the Way Points. I was 30 seconds behind Cyril Despres, but I lost my course a bit and I preferred to go more quietly so as not to make a mistake ".

Rallying Iquique in Arica (Chile), the 10th stage of the Dakar 2012 will begin soon and will be the last to be contested in Chile. It includes 317 km of liaison and 377 km of a special marked by long passages in the dunes. To be continued on Site: stay connected !

Video summary of the 9th stage of Dakar 2012

Motorcycle classification of the 9th stage of the Dakar 2012 (Antofagasta – Iquique)

  1. 3 RODRIGUES (PRT) YAMAHA 05:16:17 –  –
  2. 2 DESPRES (FRA) KTM 05:19:33 00:03:16 00:15:00
  3. 32 SVITKO (SVK) KTM 05:20:52 00:04:35 –
  4. 10 VILADOMS (ESP) KTM 05:22:15 00:05:58 –
  5. 15 VERHOEVEN (NLD) SHERCO 05:23:19 00:07:02 –
  6. 1 COMA (ESP) KTM 05:23:27 00:07:10 00:15:00
  7. 20 FARRES GUELL (ESP) KTM 05:23:29 00:07:12 –
  8. 28 ZANOL (BRA) KTM 05:26:58 00:10:41 –
  9. 23 BARREDA BORT (ESP) HUSQVARNA 05:28:01 00:11:44 00:15:00
  10. 5 PEDRERO GARCIA (ESP) KTM 05:31:41 00:15:24 –
  11. 7 GONCALVES (PRT) Husqvarna 05:34:45 00:18:28 00:15:00
  12. 6 ULLEVALSETER (NOR) KTM 05:35:16 00:18:59 00:15:00
  13. 16 PAIN (FRA) YAMAHA 05:36:26 00:20:09 –
  14. 50 SALVATIERRA (BOL) HONDA 05:39:27 00:23:10 –
  15. 22 DUCLOS (FRA) APRILIA 05:40:41 00:24:24 –
  16. 34 BOTTURI (ITA) KTM 05:41:19 00:25:02 00:05:00
  17. 64 SCHRODER (DEU) KTM 05:43:37 00:27:20 –
  18. 17 CZACHOR (POL) KTM 05:44:36 00:28:19 –
  19. 12 PELLICER (ESP) HUSQVARNA 05:44:40 00:28:23 –
  20. 25 GOUET (CHL) HONDA 05:46:43 00:30:26 –
  21. 29 BERGLUND (SWE) HUSABERG 05:49:34 00:33:17 –
  22. 8 FARIA (PRT) KTM 05:49:44 00:33:27 00:15:00
  23. 39 GYENES (ROU) KTM 05:53:40 00:37:23 –
  24. 144 CURTIS (ZAF) KTM 05:56:37 00:40:20 –
  25. 18 KNUIMAN (NLD) KTM 05:58:03 00:41:46 –
  26. 21 AUBERT (FRA) KTM 05:58:14 00:41:57 00:15:00
  27. 89 NASCIMENTO (BRA) HONDA 05:58:40 00:42:23 –
  28. 33 BETHYS (FRA) YAMAHA 05:59:24 00:43:07 –
  29. 53 RODRIGUEZ (CHL) HONDA 05:59:42 00:43:25 –
  30. 110 BIRCH (NZL) KTM 06:01:17 00:45:00 –
  31. 49 DABROWSKI (POL) KTM 06:01:47 00:45:30 –
  32. 26 RODRIGUES FILHO (BRA) HUQSVARNA 06:02:22 00:46:05 00:15:00
  33. 43 PISANO (FRA) KTM 06:04:19 00:48:02 –
  34. 184 SAKIR (TUR) KTM 06:05:26 00:49:09 –
  35. 66 LORMAND (FRA) YAMAHA 06:05:47 00:49:30 –
  36. 35 THIS (ITA) KTM 06:06:29 00:50:12 00:20:00
  37. 48 LIEFHEBBER (NLD) KTM 06:06:40 00:50:23 –
  38. 24 STANOVNIK (SVN) KTM 06:10:05 00:53:48 –
  39. 41 PROHENS (CHL) HONDA (Transformada) 06:10:43 00:54:26 –
  40. 42 PROHENS (CHL) HONDA 06:20:16 01:03:59 –
  41. 57 WILLEMSEN (NLD) HONDA 06:20:27 01:04:10 –
  42. 45 SANZ PLA-GILIBERT (ESP) GAS – GAS 06:24:05 01:07:48 –
  43. 60 WATT (GBR) KTM 06:24:55 01:08:38 –
  44. 62 SCHWARZ (AUS) HUSABERG 06:33:54 01:17:37 –
  45. 56 MENARD (FRA) YAMAHA 06:41:50 01:25:33 –
  46. 154 GAJDOSECH (ARG) YAMAHA 06:42:10 01:25:53 –
  47. 59 CIOTTI (ITA) RIEJU 06:43:42 01:27:25 –
  48. 61 MATTOS (BRA) KTM 06:45:32 01:29:15 –
  49. 148 GOMEZ (ARG) YAMAHA 06:46:23 01:30:06 00:15:00
  50. 73 BONY (FRA) KTM 06:47:14 01:30:57 –

Dakar 2012 general motorcycle classification

  1. 2 DESPRES (FRA) KTM 04:45:17 – 00:15:00
  2. 1 COMA (ESP) KTM 04:47:45 00:02:28 00:15:00
  3. 3 RODRIGUES (PRT) YAMAHA 05:29:36 00:44:19 –
  4. 10 VILADOMS (ESP) KTM 05:59:00 01:13:43 –
  5. 20 FARRES GUELL (ESP) KTM 06:03:22 01:18:05 –
  6. 32 SVITKO (SVK) KTM 06:03:50 01:18:33 –
  7. 7 GONCALVES (PRT) Husqvarna 06:11:14 01:25:57 00:21:00
  8. 5 PEDRERO GARCIA (ESP) KTM 06:22:30 01:37:13 00:15:00
  9. 6 ULLEVALSETER (NOR) KTM 06:34:44 01:49:27 00:55:00
  10. 16 PAIN (FRA) YAMAHA 06:42:37 01:57:20 –
  11. 34 BOTTURI (ITA) KTM 06:47:35 02:02:18 00:05:00
  12. 8 FARIA (PRT) KTM 07:13:53 02:28:36 00:55:00
  13. 25 GOUET (CHL) HONDA 07:26:58 02:41:41 –
  14. 28 ZANOL (BRA) KTM 07:28:26 02:43:09 00:55:00
  15. 17 CZACHOR (POL) KTM 07:53:46 03:08:29 –
  16. 21 AUBERT (FRA) KTM 08:16:43 03:31:26 00:15:00
  17. 23 BARREDA BORT (ESP) HUSQVARNA 08:18:23 03:33:06 01:00:00
  18. 15 VERHOEVEN (NLD) SHERCO 08:28:03 03:42:46 00:15:00
  19. 39 GYENES (ROU) KTM 08:36:28 03:51:11 –
  20. 18 KNUIMAN (NLD) KTM 08:40:56 03:55:39 –
  21. 35 THIS (ITA) KTM 08:41:23 03:56:06 00:35:00
  22. 24 STANOVNIK (SVN) KTM 08:52:59 04:07:42 –
  23. 26 RODRIGUES FILHO (BRA) HUQSVARNA 08:54:31 04:09:14 00:15:00
  24. 12 PELLICER (ESP) HUSQVARNA 09:02:17 04:17:00 –
  25. 14 CASTEU (FRA) YAMAHA 09:11:09 04:25:52 –
  26. 33 BETHYS (FRA) YAMAHA 09:35:05 04:49:48 –
  27. 64 SCHRODER (DEU) KTM 09:42:16 04:56:59 01:00:00
  28. 43 PISANO (FRA) KTM 09:44:06 04:58:49 00:15:00
  29. 89 NASCIMENTO (BRA) HONDA 10:20:58 05:35:41 –
  30. 144 CURTIS (ZAF) KTM 10:29:19 05:44:02 00:59:00
  31. 40 SERRADORI (FRA) KTM 10:41:40 05:56:23 00:15:00
  32. 82 GUINDANI (FRA) YAMAHA 10:44:53 05:59:36 –
  33. 41 PROHENS (CHL) HONDA (Transformada) 10:50:06 06:04:49 –
  34. 42 PROHENS (CHL) HONDA 10:55:10 06:09:53 –
  35. 49 DABROWSKI (POL) KTM 10:56:24 06:11:07 00:15:00
  36. 48 LIEFHEBBER (NLD) KTM 10:56:33 06:11:16 –
  37. 66 LORMAND (FRA) YAMAHA 11:10:13 06:24:56 –
  38. 110 BIRCH (NZL) KTM 11:36:23 06:51:06 00:20:00
  39. 53 RODRIGUEZ (CHL) HONDA 11:40:25 06:55:08 00:15:00
  40. 145 NUTTALL (AUS) KTM 12:25:28 07:40:11 00:56:00
  41. 60 WATT (GBR) KTM 12:28:27 07:43:10 –
  42. 50 SALVATIERRA (BOL) HONDA 12:37:54 07:52:37 00:15:00
  43. 29 BERGLUND (SWE) HUSABERG 12:38:57 07:53:40 00:55:00
  44. 184 SAKIR (TUR) KTM 13:19:38 08:34:21 00:55:00
  45. 57 WILLEMSEN (NLD) HONDA 13:22:38 08:37:21 02:10:00
  46. 45 SANZ PLA-GILIBERT (ESP) GAS – GAS 13:30:43 08:45:26 00:55:00
  47. 62 SCHWARZ (AUS) HUSABERG 13:45:31 09:00:14 00:16:00
  48. 183 RODRIGUEZ (ARG) HONDA 13:47:47 09:02:30 –
  49. 154 GAJDOSECH (ARG) YAMAHA 13:49:03 09:03:46 00:20:00
  50. 71 BUTUZA (ROU) KTM 13:55:08 09:09:51 –

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