Cyril Despres takes first stage victory
By TMX Archives on 8th Jan 09
The KTM factory rider and 2007 Dakar winner at last had a trouble free day. He started at eighth in today's sixth stage with the Frenchman showing his classic skills to be the quickest over the dunes that launched it.
Indeed today the KTM factory riders were back where they are used tobeing - at the top of the leader board. Despres (Red Bull KTM) won hisfirst stage of the 2009 edition 2'09 ahead of Marc Coma (Repsol KTM)with team mate Jordi Viladoms third (at 5'15). Alain Duclos was 18th(at 22'04). Overall Cyril takes a tiny bit of time back from Marc, whonow leads Jonah Street (KTM) by 40'29, with the Frenchman Frétignéthird at 47'30. Jordi Viladoms is fourth at 1h09'48 while Cyril movesup another place to seventh (at 1h33'59)
Cyril Despres (Red Bull KTM) first and seventh overall (at 1h33'59)
A good ‘normal' day of rally-raid. I didn't set out especially to winthe stage, nor did I ride particularly hard, but being a short day Icould ride normally on the mousse without having to worry about it toomuch. We started off in the same dunes that we finished in yesterday -except after last night's storm they were completely different, darkgrey in colour with a black line where your wheel had been. I overtookRodrigues, then Frétigné and Casteu, and by the time I came out of thedunes there were just three tracks in front. Eventually they was justone and seeing the amount of slide, how hard the rider in front of mewas attacking, I was pretty sure it was Lopez. I guessed right, as Ifinished just behind him at the line.
Marc Coma (Repsol KTM) second (at 2'09) first overall
Coming into Mendoza was just crazy - for the last 20 kilometres therewere thousands and thousands of people each side of the road. They arevery friendly and knew who each rider was. Today the dunes were easierthan yesterday because when they are wet they hold the weight of thebike better. Then after the dunes it was just a short, fast piste tothe end of the special (cut short by the organisers after last night'sstorm). The only thing you had to watch out for was the puddles, someof which were quite deep. Once again my strategy was to stay out oftrouble and preserve my lead - so from that point of view everythingwent fine.
Jordi Viladoms (Repsol KTM) 3rd (at 5'15) 4th overall (at 1h09'48)
After the rain the dunes were a little like a big moto-x track and funto ride - all in all a pretty easy day. Then on the liaison I melted mymousse and had to stop and fit a tube - which I did all by myself!Fortunately there weren't too many people around. If it had happenednear the town I don't know what I would have done - I would have beenimpossible to do anything with so many people.
Alain Duclos (Kaestle KTM) 18th (at 22'04) 54th overall (at 12h02'50)
Once again today I was obliged to ride with pain killers. I thought myback would be better after a couple of days, but unfortunately it isn'tthe case. I will have to go and see the doctors again tonight.
Shortened Stage Six
Organisers decided to reduce the distance of the timed section on StageSix following a very tough Stage Five and complications caused by aflooded river ford on the original course. Competitors therefore endedin the village of La Junta at the foot of the Andes.
Competitors to cross into Chile in Stage Seven
Stage Seven, which brings the riders half way in their quest to conquerthe first ever Dakar race held in south America takes riders fromRuiders Mendoza in Argentina down to the sea at Valparaiso on theChilean coastline. It will be a day of challenges that starts with the"fesh fesh" a series of dunes very like the sands of the Sahara beforerising to 3,000 m in the Andes during the technical routes.
Provisional results after sixth stage
1. Cyril Despres, France, KTM
2. Marc Coma, Spain, KTM
3. Jordi Viladoms, Spain, KTM
4. Francisco Lopez, Chile, KTM
5. David Fretigne, France, Yamaha
6. David Casteu, France, KTM
7. Helder Rodrigues, Portugal, KTM
8. Frans Verhofen, Netherlands, KTM
9. Henk Knuiman, Netherlands, KTM
10. Thomas Berglund, Sweden, KTM
18. Alain Duclos, France, KTM
Provisional overall standings
1. Marc Coma, Spain, KTM
2. Jonah Street, USA, KTM
3 David Fretigne, France, Yamaha
4 Jordi Viladoms, Spain, KTM
5 Pal Anders Ullevalseter, Norway, KTM
6 Helder Rodrigues, Portugal, KTM
7 Cyril Despres, France, KTM
8 Frans Verhofen, Netherlands, KTM
9. David Casteu, France, KTM
10. Henk Knuiman, Netherlands, KTM
54. Alain Duclos, France, KTM
Go to www.dakar.com for results