Marc Coma has now won 2-of-3 stages and is demolishing his competition. Staying trouble-free is the key to his success.
The tire problems continue to mount for top riders as Stage 3 of the 2009 Dakar Rally saw more flats creating discouraging time losses. Cyril Despres was the primary victim on the winding route to Jacobacci. The rally has yet to leave Argentina, but as the approach to Chile nears, the Red Bull KTM rider must be looking forward to a change. In a show of team tactics, Alain Duclos executed his support role perfectly and gave his wheel to Despres who was able to ride hard to the finish for 47th place. Duclos finished 71st.
Spanish rider Marc Coma was again smooth, fast and catastrophe-free, which led to his second stage victory and a nearly 40-minute overall lead above France’s David Fretigne. Here’s the catch, Fretigne is mounted on a Yamaha WR450F, and is not even competing in the same division as the KTM 690 Rally that Coma and most other riders choose to mount. The Frenchman finished seventh on the day and was 22 minutes behind Coma, but he is solidly in second place overall.
Norway’s Pal Anders Ullevalseter had his best day yet with a second-place result. He was more than 17 minutes outside of Coma’s dust, and he tied with Jordi Viladoms who finished with the exact same time of 5:36’06. As a result, the Norwegian is now in third overall while Viladoms has rebounded from early troubles in Stage 1 to find sixth in the rankings.
Jonah Street remains in the fifth spot on the leaderboard but was eighth today. Steve LaRoza is the next closest American, all the way down in 93rd overall. Thierry Mas is the only other US rider still in contention by holding down 134th on his KTM 525 XC-W.
It has been a frustrating rally for mechanical crews. Everyone is trying to figure out the secret to keeping tires inflated and on the rims.
After the trouble I had yesterday, I was a bit concerned because there were a lot of riders ahead of me and a lot of dust too. But I could drive at my own pace. It was a fast stage with a very technical section; a very complex stage actually. One thing is certain: the bikes are suffering a lot and the tires are suffering even more. For now, we are staying out of trouble. Each one has his own strategy and we are doing fine with ours.
Jordi Viladoms (Esp - KTM) – 3rd, 6th OA
It was good team work. Everything went as planned. In the beginning of the stage, I had some trouble with the roadbook but it ended up allowing Marc and I to drive together from CP1 on. In the last kilometers, I was a bit careful with the tires, because we drove a lot of kilometers. And our choice was really the right one. We know Dakar is Dakar and this one is only beginning.
David Fretigne (Fra - Yamaha) – 7th, 2nd OA
Today was super fast again. This is the third fast stage and I am managing. I just mind my own business and do my own race. I manage. I am very demanding with my bike too. But I have to be careful and pay attention to absolutely everything even if my small 450cc is doing a great job right now.
Cyril Despres received some help from his KTM teammate, Alain Duclos.
Since I’ve had a flat tire, I am having a hard time believing in inner tubes. This morning I pushed in a foam bib and after 200km the tire was flat again. It’s hard if I cannot use either inner tubes or foam bibs. Marc Coma is doing great. They must have worked hard. There must be a secret. Today, I have lost a lot of time again. I have no solution to the problem. I don’t see my future: in three days, I had three tough times. I just cannot believe it. Today, I am not sure I have what it takes technically to win the Dakar.
At refueling I decided to wait for Alain Duclos who gave me his wheel. The good news is that as of that moment I could really start racing on the last 150 km, open up and give gas. It’s only 150 km out of the 2,000 in the race so far and it was pure pleasure... at last.
Stage 3 Results:
Stage 3 was considered well-rounded and technically challenging by the riders.
1. COMA (ESP) KTM 05:18:17
2. ULLEVALSETER (NOR) KTM 05:36:06
3. VILADOMS (ESP) KTM 05:36:06
4. CASTEU (FRA) KTM 05:36:33
5. FARRES GUELL (ESP) KTM 05:36:59
6. MARCHINI (FRA) YAMAHA 05:39:55
7. FRETIGNE (FRA) YAMAHA 05:40:37
8. STREET (USA) KTM 05:41:07
9. KNUIMAN (NLD) KTM 05:41:14
10. RODRIGUES (PRT) KTM 05:42:51
Overall Standings:
1. COMA (ESP) KTM 10:31:49
2. FRETIGNE (FRA) YAMAHA 11:11:00
3. ULLEVALSETER (NOR) KTM 11:14:14
4. CZACHOR (POL) KTM 11:15:10
5. STREET (USA) KTM 11:16:25
6. VILADOMS (ESP) KTM 11:19:06
7. MARCHINI (FRA) YAMAHA 11:20:11
8. KNUIMAN (NLD) KTM 11:26:42
9. PAIN (FRA) YAMAHA 11:27:05
10. VINTERS (LVA) KTM 11:28:34