KTM's Cyril Despres enjoys victory in Sardegnia.
Red Bull KTM Rally Team factory rider Cyril Despres of Andorra wrapped up a week of tough navigation and challenging rally riding the 2009 Sardegna Rally on Monday to emerge victorious for the second consecutive time.
Despres won four of the ten stages to triumph on the final day over fellow
KTM riders David Casteu and Jordi Viladoms who came home in the minor places in the Open Super Pro category. Eight of the top ten in the category were riding KTM 530 rally bikes. Lionel Laine of France, winner on a KTM quad in the Tunisia Rally earlier this year, also won the quad division of the rally on a KTM 525 machine.
Coma out after accident Sunday
But rally fans were denied the characteristic two man battle to the finish line when Despres' arch rival and fellow Dakar winner Marc Coma of the Repsol KTM Factory Team had to withdraw injured on Sunday. Coma crashed and was flown off the island with first reports saying he had a broken collarbone and a possible fractured arm. Doctors discounted internal injuries and he was flown back home to Spain for appropriate treatment. Coma had a four minute overall lead over Despres after Saturday's two stages and the two were all set to deliver yet another gripping race to the finish line. The Spaniard's accident thus deprived dedicated fans from seeing another closely fought battle between the world's two top rally riders.
Hard last days
Despres described Sunday as a hard day, saying navigation was difficult and there were many rocks hidden in the grass and it is possible that such a hazard may have caught Coma off guard. Sunday was a long ride after which competitors spent the night in the bivouac at about 1300 meters on the island's Mount Limbara, where they were in for a cold and wet night. Many had to set off on the final two stages on Monday with wet clothes.
Despres satisfied with second consecutive victory
Tough competitor Marc Coma before being put out with injury.
Despres said he was satisfied with his victory even though he had made mistakes during the stages that required absolute concentration and fine navigation skills. "I made some mistakes but in the end I am satisfied to have won this rally. The Sardegna Rally Race is unlike any other rallies we do. It is only for bikes and the terrain is much more technical. This is very different from competing in Africa. We came here with Enduro bikes and the navigation was very challenging," he said. Despres said he enjoyed variation in the rallies and was now looking forward to competing at the Erzberg Rodeo in Austria and the Red Bull Romaniacs. He will also compete in the Pharaohs Rally and in Morocco later in the year.
Lighter Enduro KTMs perfect for Sardegna terrain
KTM Rally team manager Alex Doringer said the leading KTM riders were all on the KTM EXC 530 in Sardegna instead of the KTM 690 machines that dominate the top rankings in the Dakar and other rallies. "The Sardegna Rally is a typical rally where the smaller Enduro bike is better placed than the rally bike," he said. "The special stages are shorter and more technical so there's no problem with fuel capacity. In addition the smaller, lighter bike is much better suited to the track profile."
Overall Results Super Pro
1. Cyril Despres, Andorra, KTM 530
2. David Casteu, France, KTM 530
3. Jordi Viladoms, Spain, KTM 530
4. Helder Rodriguez, Portugal, KTM 530
5. Jakub Przygonski, Poland, KTM 530
Overall Results All Classes
1. Cyril Despres, Andorra, KTM, 14:02.25.2
2. Andrea Macini, Italy, Husqvarna at 7.00.2
3. Olivier Pain, France, Yamaha, at 16:09.8
4. David Casteu, France, KTM at 21:29.6
5. Paolo Peci, Italy, Aprilia, at 23.10.0
Courtesy of Bike Village
French rider Olivier Pain, with a Yamaha, at his first season of commitment in the Cross Country Rally World Championship takes third place.
Cyril Despres (KTM) wins the Sardinia Rally Race. Andrea Mancini (Hsq) is second, Olivier Pain (Yam) Third.
After the night on the Mount Limbara, the last effort of Sardinia Rally Race in 2009. Shorter Stage, scenic route. Less difficulties in navigation, hard lands and sliding tracks. Grand Final between the natural granite sculptures of the wonderful Gallura region.
Total Distance: 234.2 kilometers (32km trasf. + 84.35 + 23.45 km PS1 Transfer km. + 68.24 + 25.31 km PS2 km).
Cyril Despres won "even" the 2009 edition of the Sardinia Rally Race. The French had dominated the first edition of the Rally organized by Bike Village, last year, but this year he has really given lessons of "Sardinia" Racing. In order to interpret correctly, and win, a so demanding and difficult rally it is necessary to use a very specific tactic, based on perfect management of technical and of concentration resources. The length of the route and of course the difficulties of navigation, require a careful mix of physical and mental energies, and the winner of a rally like this can only be an exceptional Champion. Despres has gone ahead in the race in the first stage, having given way to David Casteu after the prologogue, lost his lead in the second, when the head of the race went to Marc Coma, and returned permanently to the leadership after the withdrawal of the Spanish, which at the time of the accident was about four minutes leading over the French.
It was easy to believe that the victory of Despres is triggered by the misfortune of his "historic" opponent. In fact, given the circumstances, Cyril Despres was the master in not making mistakes, and when he was wrong, the French outstanding has always managed to limit the damage. Winning strategy!
Marc Coma was really unlucky, falling during the penultimate stage of Rally, and unlucky was also his team mate Jordi Viladoms that, after winning the penultimate stage, lost his second position for a breakdown of fuel during the first special of last day.
In this way rose a place Andrea Mancini, the best of Italian riders, who have obtained an excellent result, and for admission of the same pilot, in part unexpected. Modesty over the talent. No less surprised at the third place on the podium of the Sardinia Rally Race, was the French euphoric rider Olivier Pain, with an Yamaha, at his first season of commitment in the Cross Country Rally World Championship.
The last day of the the Sardinia Rally Race began with the departure from the camp on Mount Limbara, last fraction of the final stage of a two days Marathon. Less technical than the previous days, but in disrupted weather conditions. Low mileage, less than 250 kilometers in total, and two more Special Tests, won respectively by Cyril Despres and David Casteu.
Great enthusiasm on the stage at the final finish line in San Teodoro, that is the headquarter of the organizers Antonello Chiara and Gian Renzo Bazzu. It was a great rally, very attractive and purposeful, "turned" in the incomparable scenery of Sardinia, incredibly exciting, and acted by the best riders in the world.
