For the third time in the 2011 Dakar Rally, Marc Coma was victorious aboard the KTM 450 Rally.
Marc Coma (KTM Dakar) says: "We took turns to open the way and at a very fast pace. At Stage 8, Paolo Goncalves crashed, breaking his collar bone. He has now exited the 2011 Dakar Rally.
During Stage 9 on Tuesday, the Dakar riders will travel the desert from Copiapo back to Copiapo through a 35-km link, and then 235 km of timed special.
There is also a group start with the front runners going off in rows of 10 riders and the later rows of 20 riders so there will be no traditional, dust free advantage for the front rider.
After a mistake by his nemesis, Marc Coma took victory Wednesday at Stage 10 of the 33rd edition of the Dakar Rally. Due to his win aboard the KTM Rally 450, Coma has now extended his overall Dakar lead to 18:10 over his main challenger, Cyril Despres.
Regardless of his mistake, Despres still took second in Stage 10, and was followed by his KTM teammate Ruben Faria.
"We got a bit lost, but managed to find the right track and finish off decently. After Despres left the company of Frans Verhoeven (BMW), he found himself on a rocky path, eventually becoming stuck in a dry river bed.
Cyril Despres says: "I made a first big mistake after 120 km whilst I was riding well. Out of 186 motorcycles that started the 2011 Dakar, 103 remain.
Riders headed back to Argentina today in Stage 10 of the 2011 Dakar Rally Raid and who would have thought that with all the desert terrain and arid sand dunes, a mud hole would have the biggest effect? Navigational woes continue to hound all of the motorcycle riders, but factory KTM rider and runner-up in the overall standings, Cyril Despres, found himself stuck in a mud hole late in the special which allowed for the first sizeable gap this year in the race for Dakar glory. Despite getting lost earlier in the 176-kilometer special while following Frans Verhoeven, and then the gooey mud-hole misfortune, Despres managed a time good enough for second on the day. Chilean rider Francisco Lopez Contardo broke up a KTM sweep of the top-five with his Aprilia. Quinn is currently 10th overall with Street down in 16th.
Marc Coma (ESP – KTM) 1st, 1st OA
“It was another very difficult special. We know that Fiambala is one of the hardest days of the rally. We got a bit lost, but managed to find the right track and finish off decently. Cyril Despres (FRA – KTM), 2nd, 2nd OA
“I made a first big mistake after 120 km whilst I was riding well. I thought I was going to lose even more time. Ruben Faria (PRT – KTM) 3rd, 5th OA
“It was a very difficult stage… crazy. Everyone got lost in the dry river bed towards the end.”
Helder Rodrigues (PRT – Yamaha) 10th, 4th OA
“It was the same as yesterday! Afterwards, about 10 kilometers from here, we got lost in a dry river bed and couldn't find the way out. I lost a lot of time there.