Coma and Viladoms
By TMX Archives on 6th Jan 09
The long stage from Puerto Madryn to Jacobacci smiled on the Repsol KTM team with Marc Coma and Jordi Viladoms crossing the final finishing line together ahead of their rivals Less fortunate was their KTM team mate Cyril Despres (Red Bull KTM) who againsuffered tyre problems and had to wait for his support rider Alain Duclos to‘lend' him his rear wheel.
Marc Coma (Repsol KTM)
It was agood day for us. I started in 17th place but fortunately there was a lot of windso dust wasn't a problem. The biggest challenge was finding the right compromisebetween preserving the tyre and maintaining a good speed. Once again today weopted for a tube. It is a very difficult decision to make because nobody hasmuch experience of riding here, but for this stage at least it seemed like theright choice. Tonight we will again have a good look at our road book beforemaking any decisions for the fourth stage. Here we can only make tactics day byday.
Jordi Viladoms (Repsol KTM)
I started fourth thismorning and took it easy to let Marc (Coma) catch me up. Then I was able tofollow him and the time I lost waiting I made up for in his ‘slipstream'. It isa little scary riding with the tube you have to be always looking out for stonesand over the first part there was a lot o them. Later on the piste became muchsmoother and we could open the throttle a bit more.
Cyril Despres(Red Bull KTM)
Before CP1 everything was going well and I was thinking Ihad made the right choice running a mousse. But by the time I got to the firstrefuelling the tyre was starting to go soft so I thought I would take advantageof the 15 minute stop to put a tube in. The problem was that when I stopped themousse swelled up and I couldn't get the tyre off. In the process of trying Idamaged the bead and so on leaving the refuelling I was convinced I would be onthe rim in 20 kilometres. In fact, by taking it easy I managed to get to CP2. Ifound out there that Alain (Duclos) wasn't too far behind so I decided to waitfor him. In all I lost 50 minutes between CP1 and CP2 and another 10 minuteswaiting at CP2 which explains why I am down 1.5 hours overall this evening. Itis starting to be a lot...
Alain Duclos (Kaestle KTM)
When Igot to CP1 I heard that Cyril was having trouble with his mousse so I rode hardfrom there not to keep him waiting. Unfortunately I was in too much of a rushand went over the bars at about 80 kph - and it hurt. When I got to CP2 Cyrilwas waiting and so I handed over my wheel. He told me not to go over 80 kph so Itook it easy til the end. I almost made it to the bivouac but 35 kms from homethe mousse came out of the tyre and I had to finish on the rim.
Provisional results after 3rd stage
1. Marc Coma, Spain,KTM
2. Pal Anders Ullevalseter, Norway, KTM
3. Jordi Viladoms, Spain,KTM
4. David Casteu, France, KTM
5. Guell Farres, Spain, KTM
47.Cyril Despres, France, KTM
71. Alain Duclos, France, KTM
Provisional overall standings
1. Marc Coma, Spain, KTM
2. David Fretigne, France, Yamaha
3. Pal Anders Ullevalseter, Norway,KTM
4. Jacek Czachor, Poland, KTM
5. Jonah Street, USA, KTM
6.Jordi Viladoms, Spain, KTM
21. Cyril Despres, France, KTM
23rdplace for KTM ATV rider Camelia Liparoti at 3rd stage, 23rd place overall.