(Marc Coma reasses his navigational error)

Despres and Coma - tit for tat in Dakar

 After completing eight stages, 4,563km including 1,632km of specials it seems the 2012 Dakar Rally will be decided between KTM racers; leader Marc Coma and second placed Cyril Despres on the home stretch to Lima. 

Stage eight from Copiapo to Antofagasta stretched more than 477kms with Despres (KTM) starting in the lead.

There are 125 motorcycles still competing in the Dakar.
Despres and Coma have shown their class in the event, winning six of the eight stages run so far.
Coma despite making a navigational error clawed his way back bridging his eight minute gap and taking the stage win.



To Coma’s luck Despres and third placed Gonçalves (Husqvarna) hit a big muddy pothole setting those two back more than 10 minutes in this stage.

“There was a torrent of mud between the inspection of the reconnaissance car two days ago and today. Therefore, it did not appear in the road book and I was the first to fall into the trap. There was no way I could have avoided it. I am awaiting the organisers' decision: after Ullevalseter, Gonçalves and a few others had gone through, they took a detour, otherwise there would have been 200 vehicles trapped in the mud. So I fail to see why I and the others should be the only ones to pay the price. But I do not think we will let this be.” - said Despres.

That setback allowed for two new riders to finish ahead of Despres in this stage; Ruben Faria (KTM) finished in second and Spain’s Berreda Bort (Husqvarna) in fourth with times of +7:00 and +8:44 respectively.

In the overall placing Coma still leads, shortly chased by Despres and Rodrigue.


“When everything goes well you don't change a thing. The team is the same for this Dakar as it was last year.” - said Coma.

(Despres - coming out of a corner prior to his pothole delays)