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Loprais Tatra Team crew was certainly looking forward to this particular stage. Originally it was supposed to be mastered by Carlos Sainz at it was run on tracks used for Rally Argentina in the WRC. Rally Argentina is one of a few WRC events, in which navigator Vojta Stajf had not participated. The stage was run on marvelous slopes of the Sierra Cordoba range.
Already at km 80 of the opening liaison, the clutch problem occurred again, in a different way. The vehicle had to be set aside. The team gathered together alongside the road and conducted the clutch replacement o spot. The crew was to reach the start of the special on time. After it had reached it the problem showed up again in a different way. "Fortunately the start took place down the hill and we slowly crawled into the special and started the repair once again. After 3 hours, the truck got moving in a provisional way and eventually finished the special before the final time check control went to sleep. Eventually we reached the bivouac at 11 p.m. As we have to leave to the special stage early in the morning there is not much time to do the repair. We'll try our best," Ales Loprais summarizes.
The Saturday final stage to Buenos Aires still contains some 271 kilometers of special stages. After reaching the Argentinian capital, competitors have to report to la Rural again for final checks and then to parc ferme to be ready for the podium ceremony.
23:39 - Car
SUMMARY OF STAGE 13
Pending validation by the race stewarts, Spaniard Nani Roma (Mitsubishi) has given the Japanese manufacturer its first stage victory on this 31st Dakar, which is also Nani’s first stage victory on four-wheels in a Dakar! In this 13th stage, the Spaniard took the lead by 7’18" over Polish driver Krzysztof Holowczyc (Nissan), and by 7’27" over French driver Guerlain Chicherit (BMW). However there has been no change in the general standings where South-African driver Giniel De Villiers (VW) is still in command, 2’20" ahead of his US team-mate Mark Miller (VW), and 1h27’13" ahead of the Hummer of Robby Gordon. Victim of a mechanical problem after hitting a big boulder, the US driver still holds the lead in the Open category but looses his first stage in this category to his team-mate, Frenchman Eric Vigouroux. Finally, in the Production category, Japanese driver Jun Mitsuhashi (Toyota) has won stage 13 but it is still France’s Nicolas Gibon (Toyota) who leads the general standings.
23:32 - Bike
SUMMARY OF STAGE 13
Pending validation by the race stewarts, French rider Cyril Despres (KTM) has won his fourth stage in this 31st Dakar, his 20th (!) Dakar stage victory alltogether, by winning stage 13, 1’45" ahead of Spain’s Marc Coma (KTM), and 2’37" ahead of French rider David Frétigné (Yamaha). In consequence, in the general standings, Spanish biker Marc Coma (KTM) remains firm leader, 1h28’03" ahead of today’s winner Cyril Despres, and 1h34’47" ahead of David Frétigné, who remains the undoubted leader in the 450cc category. On the marathon side, it is still Dutch rider Frans Verhoeven (KTM) who holds the lead.
23:28 - Truck
SUMMARY OF STAGE 13
Pending validation by the race stewarts, Russia’s Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) has won stage 13 - his 2nd stage victory on this raly - 2’12" ahead of Dutch driver Gerard De Rooy (Ginaf) and 2’47" ahead of Brazilian driver Andre De Azevedo (Tatra). In consequence, in the general standings, Kabirov takes the lead again over five-time Dakar winner "Czar" Chagin who now ranks 2nd at 3’00. The 3rd place goes to Dutchman Gérard De Rooy (Ginaf), who is 57’37" behind the leaders in the standings.
23:25 - Quad
SUMMARY OF STAGE 13
Pending validation by the race stewarts, Spanish rider Carlos Avendano (Suzuki) won stage 13 - his first victory in the Dakar - with a 2’12 lead over the leader in the general standings Czech rider Josef Machacek (Yamaha), and a 2’49" lead over Frenchman Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris). This, however, does not change the general standings where the Czech Machacek (Yamaha) is still comfortably in the lead, 2h20’20" ahead of Argentinian Marcos Patronelli (Can-Am), and 7h20’15" ahead of Poland’s Rafal Sonik (Yamaha).
19:11 - Car 306 - Chicherit provisional leader at km 62
The first 9 cars have now passed km 62 of today’s special stage and it is French driver Guerlain Chicherit (BMW) who checks in the lead, 2’09" ahead of Polish driver Krzysztof Holowczyc (Nissan), and 2’54" ahead of Germany’s Dieter Depping, who is obviously privileged within the Volkswagen team thanks to the strategy of the squad of the German manufacturer from Wolfsburg.
18:45 - Bike 12 - Frétigné gets third place...
The five first bikes have now completed today’s 13th stage and it is French rider David Frétigné and his Yamaha 450cc that get the stage’s third place 2’37" behind today’s winner Cyril Despres (KTM).
18:28 - Quad 251 - Avendano provisional leader at km 154
The first 3 quads have now passed km 154 of today’s special stage and it is Spanish driver Carlos Avendano (Suzuki) who checks in the lead, 2’12" ahead of the leader in the general standings, Czech Republic’s Josef Machacek (Yamaha) and 2’21" ahead of Frenchman Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris).
18:24 - Bike 1 - Fourth stage victory for Despres
Already the winner of yesterday’s stage, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) has done it again and wins today’s stage 13, 1’45" ahead of the leader in the general standings, Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM).
January 15, 2009: The leader of the general standings, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) is said to have careered into a ravine after 79 km of the day’s special stage. It appears that his co-pilot, Frenchman Michel has received a shoulder injury and has been evacuated to the bivouac for medical attention... This would mean withdrawal from the race for the Spaniard, who has won 6 special stages out of the 10 already completed.
The Spanish driver Carlos Sainz and his French co-pilot Michel Perin have just arrived by helicopter at the bivouac in Fiambala, thus confirming the withdrawal of Volkswagen Race Touareg No. 301, leader of the general standings until the start of the 12th stage this morning.
Sainz Navigator, Michel Périn, commented after his flight from the crash site to the Dakar mobile headquarters said, "We had made a small mistake in the first part. We took the wrong direction at a Y crossing but it was not too bad because we did end up on the right trail. We were tailing Giniel De Villiers who had started about 10’ after us so it was still sort of OK. Then there was a hidden waypoint with a wadi indicated as ’danger’. But it should have been indicated as ’extremely dangerous’. By the way, the car behind us, Nani Roma’s car, would have fallen in the same hole as we did if we had not been there already. I’m ok; I just have something broken in my arm, but I’m alright."
Teammate and fellow racer, Mark Miller commented, " I can tell you that this was a very demanding stage. I cannot even imagine how the amateurs will make it to the finish today. It was not just difficult, navigation was almost impossible. It was a long series of horror situations from start to finish. These were the longest 200km in my life. It’s not good news to know that Carlos had to withdraw. He has an important place in the team. We got ’tanked’ three times. The sun and the sand were so bright that I would not see anything. I thing it was the toughest stage I ever drove in my life."
23:46 Stage 11 cancelled
As the weather forcast for tomorrow announces heavy fog on the whole route of stage 11 and as the timing of the stage cannot be altered due to the crossing of the Andes and the crossing of the border between Chile and Argentina, the organizers of the Dakar have decided to cancel the portion of stage 11 between Copiapo and Fiambala that should have been against the clock. The participants will be getting to the Fiambala bivouac in liaison.
23:41 - Car SUMMARY OF STAGE 10
Pending validation by the race stewards, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (VW) wins his 6th stage in this year’s rally raid, his fourth consecutive victory and his 15th stage victory in all his Dakar participations, with a 21" lead over the Hummer of US driver Robby Gordon, excellent 2nd place after having led the stage for a very long time and 7’39" ahead of his US team-mate Mark Miller (VW). In consequence, in the general standings, the two-time world rally champion in 1990 and 1992 and Volkswagen further reinforce their domination over the raid. Indeed, the Spaniard now has a 27’31" lead over Mark Miller (VW) and a 41’13" on South-African driver Giniel De Villiers (VW); this is a comfortable and even stronger triple victory for the Wolfsburg manufacturer in the general standings. The only Mitsubishi driver still in the race - but faced with tough engine overheat problems - Spanish driver Nani Roma is still ranking 4th but sees the dangerous come-back of US driver Robby Gordon who is now tailing him in 5th position, 21’25" behind the Mitsu and who is more than ever in the lead of the Open category. Finally, in the Production category, France’s Nicolas Gibon (Toyota) has won this stage 10 and has an increasing lead at the top of his category.
23:34 - Bike SUMMARY OF STAGE 10
Pending validation by the race stewards, Spanish rider Jordi Viladoms (KTM) is the winner of stage 10 - this is his first stage victory in this year’s edition, his second in the Dakar alltogether - and finishes 1’06" ahead of Franco-Malian rider Alain Duclos (KTM), and 2’07" ahead of Norway’s Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM). In consequence, in the general standings, Spanish biker Marc Coma (KTM), 7th in today’s stage, now has a 1h24’50" lead over France’s David Frétigné (Yamaha), 15th in today’s stage but still hanging tough in the lead of the 450cc category. On the marathon side, the day’s winner is called Henk Knuiman (KTM), 8th at scratch. The Dutchman is hence making a come-back on the alltime category leader, his fellow countryman Frans Verhoeven (KTM).
Carlos Sainz Captures Victory Number 15 ahead of American Robby Gordon by 21"!!!
21:44 - Car 301 - Stage victory number 15 for Carlos Sainz!...
The first 3 cars have now arrived at the end of the day’s special stage and it is Spain’s Carlos Sainz (VW) who wins the stage 21" ahead of the Hummer of US driver Robby Gordon, and 7’39 ahead of his US team mate Mark Miller (VW). The already solidly anchored leader in the general standings wins here his 6th stage victory of this year’s rally and its 15th stage victory in the history of the Dakar!
21:10 - Bike 9 - Viladoms wins stage 10
The first 7 bikes have now reached the end of stage 10 and Spain’s Jordi Viladoms (KTM) is the day’s winner, a first stage victory in this edition and his second one in the Dakar alltogether, 1’06" ahead of Franco-Malian rider Alain Duclos (KTM) and 8’29 ahead of Portuguese biker Helder Rodriguez (KTM). French rider Cyril Despres (KTM) has arrived 8’50" after the day’s winner; as for the leader in the general standings, Spain’s has arrived 12’17" after his fellow countryman.
20:38 - Car 309 - Gordon stays in the lead but Sainz is closing in on him...
As the first 5 cars have now cleared CP5 located at km 423 of today’s special stage, although Robby Gordon (Hummer) still checks in the lead, the US driver only has 50" lead left on Spain’s Carlos Sainz (VW) who is closing in. However, the gap between him and Giniel De Villiers (VW), remains stable with the South-African still checking 2’51" behind the stage leader.
16:25 - Bike 1 - Despres, provisional leader at CP3
Now that the first 9 bikes have passed CP3, at km 195 of today’s special stage, France’s Cyril Despres (KTM) is still in the lead, 1’42" ahead of the leader in the overall standings, Spain’s Marc Coma (KTM), and 4’02" ahead of Spain’s Jordi Viladoms (KTM), who is the new man in 3rd position today.
15:58 - Bike 1 - Despres establishes a convincing lead...
As the first 6 bikes have now crossed CP2 located at km 178 of today’s special stage, French rider Cyril Despres (KTM) is still in the lead but has now a 1’33" lead over general standings leader, Spain’s Marc Coma (KTM), and a 4’01" lead over Chile’s Francisco Lopez (KTM).
15:49 - Car 301 - It’s a go for cars...
The winner of yesterday’s special stage and still solid leader in the general standings, Spain’s Carlos Sainz (VW) opened the day’s special stage for cars at 11:38 AM and was followed 2’ later by his US team mate Mark Miller (VW).
19:08 - Car Summary of stage 9
Pending validation of the results by the race stewards, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) has won his 5th stage of the rally, his 3rd in a row and 14th on the Dakar, 1.47 ahead of his American team-mate Mark Miller (VW) and 2.16 in front of the Hummer belonging to another American, Robby Gordon, who finished in an excellent 3rd position. As a result in the general standings, the two times world rally champion in 1990 and 1992 took advantage of his victory to again increase his lead at the top. He is now 19.52 ahead of Mark Miller (VW), who himself took over 2nd place following the mishaps encountered by his South African team-mate Giniel De Villiers (VW), who in turn finished 5th, 12.01 behind the stage winner. The only Mitsubishi driver left, Spaniard Nani Roma, 7th today 24.41 behind Sainz, is still in 4th place in the general standings but now trails the race leader by 58.12. In the Open category, Robbie Gordon (Hummer) was once again victorious, is 5th in the general standings, but is more than an hour and a half from first position. Finally, in the Production category, Frenchman Ronan Chabot (Toyota) won the 9th special stage, but it is still another Frenchman, Nicolas Gibon (Toyota), who leads the category in the general standings.
19:07 - Bike Summary of stage 9
Pending validation of the results by the race stewards, Dutchman Frans Verhoeven (KTM) has picked up his 2nd stage victory on the rally and on the Dakar, 3.09 ahead of Frenchman David Frétigné on his 450cc Yamaha, and 3.40 in front of local star, Chilean Francisco “Chaleco” Lopez (KTM). As a result in the general standings, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM), 4th today, now boasts a lead of 1:04.38 over Frenchman David Frétigné (Yamaha), more comfortably than ever the leader of the 450cc category, and 1:34.38 over Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM), who finished 5th today. In the marathon category, the winner of the day’s special reinforced his position as leader of the category.
19:06 - Truck Summary of stage 9
Pending validation of the results by the race stewards, Russian Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) has won the 9th stage, 24.57 ahead of Brazilian Andre De Azevedo (Tatra) and 33.30 in front of his countryman and team-mate Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz). As a result in the general standings, “The Tsar”, five times winner of the Dakar, takes over control. Chagn now has a lead of 29.50 over his countryman and team-mate Firdaus Kabirov, and 48.35 over Dutchman Gérard De Rooy (Ginaf), who is in third place.
19:05 - Quad Summary of stage 9
Pending validation of the results by the race stewards, Czech Josef Machacek (Yamaha) has picked up his 4th stage victory on this Dakar by winning the 9th special stage, 39 seconds ahead of Argentine Marcos Patronelli (Can-Am) and 17.26 in front of Frenchman Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris). In the general standings, Josef Machacek continues to open up a chasm of 2:31.02 between himself and Patronelli. Third-placed in the general standings, Poland’s Rafal Sonik (Yamaha) is already 3:26.21 behind.
15:05 - Car 301 - Number 3 for Sainz
Now even more comfortably installed as leader of the general standings, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) has picked up his 3rd consecutive victory and his 5th on this 31st edition of the Dakar, by winning the 9th special stage, 1.47 ahead of his American team-mate Mark Miller (VW). Provisional third place goes to another American, Robby Gordon (Hummer), 2.16 behind the stage winner.
14:55 - Car 301 - Sainz regains the lead
The first 5 cars have made it through CP5, after 399 km of the day’s special stage, and now the leader of the general standings, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW), is out in front, 1.11 ahead of his American team-mate Mark Miller (VW)
14:50 - Truck 512 - Tomecek in trouble
The leader of the 9th special stage in the truck race at CP1, Czech Tomas Tomecek (Tatra) has run into trouble after 147 km of the day’s special stage and is now awaiting his assistance team.
14:25 - Truck 512 - Tomecek is surprise leader at CP1
With the first 10 trucks already through CP1, after 131 km of the day’s special stage, Czech driver Tomas Tomecek (Tatra) is in the lead, 51 seconds ahead of Brazilian Andre De Azevedo (Tatra), and 4.01 in front of the general standings leader, Russian Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz). Russian Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) is 13.27 behind the current stage leader, whilst Dutchman Gerard de Rooy is 26.36 behind!
14:12 - Car 308 - Problem for Miller!
The leader of the day’s special stage at CP5, American Mark Miller (VW) has stopped after 362 km of the special due to a flat tire. He has taken advantage of this unplanned halt to fill up his Race Touareg on oil.
14:05 - Car 308 - The VWs are opening up a gap…
Now that the first 10 cars have passed through CP4, after 296 km of the day’s special stage, American Mark Miller (VW) is still out in front, but now has a lead of 4.37 over his Spanish team-mate Carlos Sainz (VW). Still 3rd and 4th, the BMWs of Argentinean Orlando Terranova and Russian Leonid Novitskiy are placed 10.43 and 12.43 respectively behind the stage leader.
13:00 - Car 315 - BMW back in with a shout...
The first 9 cars have made it through CP3, after 234 km of the day’s special stage. Whilst American Mark Miller (VW) is still in the lead, 4.31 ahead of general standings leader, his Spanish team-mate Carlos Sainz, the two Volkswagen drivers now lead the two BMWs of Argentine Orlando Terranova and Russian Leonid Novitskiy, who are in 3rd place 6.03 behind, and in 4th place 8.00 behind the stage leader respectively.
12:35 - Truck 506 - Kabirov in provisional 1st place after 57 km
Now that the first 5 trucks have completed 57 km of the day’s special, the leader of the general standings, Russian Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz), is in the lead, 3 minutes ahead of his countryman and team-mate Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) and 16.58 (!) in front of Dutchman Gerard De Rooy (Ginaf), who was nonetheless first to start this morning.
12:15 - Quad 250 - Machacek regains the lead
With the first 5 quads through CP2, after 218 km of the day’s special, it is now the general standings leader, Czech Josef Machacek (Yamaha), who leads, 1.04 ahead of Spaniard Jose Maria Pena (Yamaha) and 2.10 in front of Frenchman Eric Carlini (Polaris). The stage leader at CP1, Argentine Marcos Patronelli (Can-Am) is now 12.08 behind the current leader.
536.42 km on the menu for the 9th stage about to get under way
Third place in Stage 8 opens the second half of the Dakar for Ales Loprais vydal
6:30 Stage 9: La Serena – Coppiapo There are 536.42 km on the menu for the 9th stage, including a 448.9-km timed section, and this is when things get serious, with fast tracks, mountains, but also some imposing dunes to get through, as well as several off-track sections to be negotiated. It will be an opportunity for the most experienced to show off their navigational skills, but also how adept they are at handling their equipment, which could be capital before a double whammy of two very difficult stages. In these tricky conditions, the Volkswagens will need to drive as a team, whereas in the bike race, leader Marc Coma (KTM) must avoid taking any risks whatsoever and let his rivals do the hard work out on the track in front of him.
Stage 8 - Ales Loprais takes his first podium placement in Stage 8 of the Dakar rally with a minimum gap behind the winning duo of Gerard de Rooy and Vladimir Chagin and stays 12th overall.
Ales started the stage in accordance with the combined calculation of starting order from stages 5 and 6 as tenth. Straight after the start, he gradually overtook five competitors to proceed further on and clocked time splits very close to the leading Kamaz and Ginaf of de Rooy. Te overall leader, Firdaus Kabirov, lost 7m34s but still retains his overall position.
"Today was our first clean stage without a single stop. We made all overtakings at the beginning of the stage where there was enough space. There was not even a sign of anyone not willing to clear the way for us. At the end, we would not have been able to pass anyone even if they really wanted to let us go, so narrow the track was," Ales summarizes the stage. For all teams without exception, it was a bad stage for brakes.
The health condition of navigator Vojta Stajf remains an important factor further on. It has improved. "Of course I don't feel 100% right but it is significantly better. I started taking some prescribed pills and today, without all the side bounces it was fine. I will spare myself for the rest of the days and get a massage from the race therapist," Vojta adds.
The special was shortened for trucks in the last part, with trucks finishing at CP1. the rest of the special was considered too narrow and there was a warning o trucks jamming the stage. "it was a WRC-type special, no wonder Carlos Sainz won it in cars," Vojta Stajf added.
In the overall rakings, there are no changes, Ales remains twelfth and Gerard de Rooy tightens the gap behind the leading Kamaz trucks. The highlight of the rally, a series of stages in the Chilean Atacama desert, called the decisive trilogy, added by another highly technical special in Argentina. The stage to La Serena has prepared a solid starting position for Ales in the dune section of the rally. Unfortunately, the toughest dunes at the end of the day have been canceled, which lessens the chance to even the gap at the hardest possible conditions. Psychologically, it was an important encouragement for the whole team.
Jiri Vintr, Loprais Tatra Team, La Serena
Dakar Rally - Stage 7 Cars
Robby Takes 2nd in Stage 7
Well, it might only be 9:30 am here in California but Team Dakar USA has already finished a whole day of racing and Ramses just called from Chile to share great news...Robby took 2nd place today and moved into 5th place overall!
That's right - 5th place overall in the 2009 Dakar Rally! And he still has eight stages to go before he reaches the end of what is being called one of the toughest Dakars ever.
Eric Vigouroux also had a great day, finishing 7th and vaulting up in the overall standings. We are all still waiting on final results but Ramses thinks Eric might have even broken the Top 10! Keep checking this site for a confirmation.
Ramses said they have crossed the border into Chile and they are in the mountains. The high altitude is noticeable just walking short distances.
He is hopeful to find an internet connection soon and post more photos.
In the meantime, check out the video below of Robby flipping!!
Francisco Lopez finds victory in Dakar / Sainz captures 3rd victory of the rally
14:01 - Bike Summary of stage 7
Pending validation of the results by the race stewards, Chilean Francisco Lopez (KTM) has won the 7th stage, picking up his 1st success on the Dakar, 3.57 ahead of the leader of the general standings, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) and 5.21 in front of France’s Cyril Despres (KTM). As a result, in the general standings Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) carries on opening up a gap at the top of the rankings, with a 51.22 lead over American Jonah Street (KTM), still leader in the marathon category, and a 52.31 lead over Frenchman David Frétigné (Yamaha), leader of the 450cc category.
14:00 - Quad Summary of stage 7
Pending validation of the results by the race stewards, Argentine Marcos Patronelli (Can Am) has won the 7th stage, picking up his 1st success on the Dakar, 14.01 ahead of Uruguayan Luis Henderson (Suzuki) and 20.22 in front of le Poland’s Rafal Sonik (Yamaha). As a result, in the general standings Czech rider Josef Machacek (Yamaha) is way out in the lead, 2:27.32 ahead of Patronelli and 2:38.27 in front of Polish rider Sonik.
13:00 - Car 300 - Breakdown for “Peter”!
After a fire in his engine at the beginning of the day, then overheating problems, the title holder, Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel (Mitsubihsi) is currently halted on the special stage, due to a broken engine and is waiting to have his car towed out of the timed section. This could be the second abandon due to mechanical problems for the Frenchman, 9 times winner of the event and who is taking part in the Dakar for the 20th time.
12:45 - Car 301 - 3rd victory for Sainz
Now that the first 5 cars have finished the day’s special stage, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) is the provisional winner, 3.41 ahead of his American team-mate Mark Miller and 4.13 in front of another American, Robby Gordon and his Hummer.
January 8, 2009 - Nasser Al-Attiyah has been disqualified for missing hidden waypoints on today's stage of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally. The Qatari was leading after yesterday's stage to Mendoza, but complained of overheating and a possible cracked cylinder head to his BMW engineers last night. Only 5 kms into the stage that was shortened from 394 to 178 kilometres, Al Attiyah soon found the water temperature rocketing to 130 degrees with the first dunes approaching.
Al-Attiyah in the lead at the finishing line
17:05 - Car Summary of stage 6
Pending validation of results by the race stewards, Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW) looks to have won the 6th special, 5.07 in front of the Volkswagen of Giniel de Villiers. The South African came home ahead of his two VW team-mates, American Mark Miller, 3rd 5.27 behind the provisional winner, and Spaniard Carlos Sainz, 4th 8.37 behind the Qatari. In 5th, with a gap of 13.14 from Al-Attiyah, lies Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel, the leading Mitsubishi driver. As a result, in the general standings, the Qatari leads, 7.31 ahead of South African De Villiers and 15.10 in front of “El Matador” Sainz. In the Open category, Robby Gordon (Hummer) is in the lead, whereas in the Production category, Frenchman Nicolas Gibon (Toyota) leads the category.
17:02 - Bike Summary of stage 6
Pending validation of results by the race stewards, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) has won the 6th special, his first stage victory this year and his 17th on the Dakar, 2.09 ahead of general standings leader, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM), and 5.15 in front of another Spaniard Jordi Viladoms (KTM). As a result, in the general standings, Spain’s Marc Coma (KTM) is still in the lead, 40.29 in front of American Jonah Street (KTM), who still leads the marathon category, and 47.30 ahead of Frenchman David Frétigné (Yamaha), who is leading in the 450cc category.
17:01 - Truck Summary of stage 6
Pending validation of results by the race stewards, the “Tsar of the Dakar”, Russian Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) has won the 6th special, picking up his 45th stage victory on the Dakar and his 2nd this year, 20 seconds ahead of his team-mate and countryman Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) and 25.53 in front of Dutchman Gerard De Rooy (Ginaf). As a result, in the general standings, it is now Kabirov who has taken the lead, 9.32 ahead of Chagin and 25.20 in front of Gerard De Rooy.
Al-Attiyah moves into the lead after 86km
Stage 6 - San Rafael > Mendoza
Following a decision by the race directors Stage 6 - San Rafael > Mendoza will be finish after 178 kilometers
13:01 - Quad 250 - Machacek wins the 6th stage
Now that the first 3 quads have finished this 6th special stage, Czech rider Josef Machacek (Yamaha) is the provisional winner and has picked up his 2nd victory of the rally, 10.04 ahead of Spaniard Joan Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha) and 15.14 in front of Frenchman Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris).
12:38 - Car 302 - Al-Attiyah first through CP1, but...
Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW) was the first to arrive at CP1, after 86 km of the day’s special, and boasts a lead of 21.35 over South African Giniel De Villiers (VW). However, the Qatari may not have gone through all the hidden way points on the first part of the special...
January 8, 2009 12:09 - Car 308 - Now that the first 5 cars have completed 38 km of the day’s special, American Mark Miller (VW) is in the lead, 36 seconds ahead of South African Giniel De Villiers (VW) and 1.03 in front of German Dieter Depping (VW).
11:51 - Quad 250 - Machacek leads at CP1
With the first 5 quads already through CP1, Czech rider Josef Machacek (Yamaha) leads the day’s special stage, 3.04 ahead of Frenchman Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris) and 4.36 in front of Argentina’s Marcos Patronelli (Can-Am).
11:36 - Bike 1 - 1st special stage victory for Despres
Now that the first 10 bikes have finished the day’s special stage, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) has provisionally picked up his first stage victory on the 31st edition, and his 17th on the Dakar, 2.09 and 5.15 ahead of Spaniards Marc Coma (KTM) and Jordi Viladoms respectively.
January 8, 2009 12:00 AM (DAKAR RALLY LOCAL TIME) The Dakar Rally was in mourning on Wednesday with the news that Pascal Terry, French motorcyclist, had been found dead while competing in this year's race.
The 49-year-old was found dead overnight after the fourth stage of the gruelling spectacle which is taking place for the first time in South America.
January 8, 2008 - Stage of Dakar 2009 should have been the key one for the development of the race, rightly so but the end of the stage was eventually affected by different factors.
The special from Neuquen to San Rafael was 505 kilometers long and offered a varied mixture of fast and technical tracks, oueds and finally at the end a 20-kilometer dune field, which took its own role in the development of the stage. Only temporarily. At 7 p.m. when the press car and the assistance of Loprais Tatra Team reached the bivouac the bivouac was almost empty, only assistance teams were still awaiting their racing crews. The service zones were astonishingly calm.
January 7, 2009 - Ramses just called by cell phone from the Finish Line of Stage 5. Robby finished 3rd, just 4 minutes and 12 seconds behind the stage winner, Giniel De Villiers. This moves Robby into 7th overall for the 2009 Dakar Rally.
Today's course was 763 km total and included some grueling terrain. Fortunately, the Hummer H3 is built for grueling terrain and Robby was able to make up some time. Ramses said he even sat in the lead for a bit.
Eric Vigouroux is still on the course with a couple hundred kilometers left to go.
Ramses thinks they are staying in a hotel tonight (versus on the ground in a tent) so he hopes to find a strong internet connection. If that happens, we should see pictures and more details by late tonight.
From all of us here at Toyo Tires, thanks for following Ramses' Rally Journal! Go Team Dakar USA!
20:18 - Car 302 - Al-Attiyah is the new leader of the general standings!
Arrived 5’23" after today’s stage winner, Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW) made the most of the miseries of Carlos Sainz (VW) in the last set of dunes to get to the top of the general standings. The Spanish VW driver arrived at the end of the special stage 15’42" after the day’s winner and 10’19 after the Qatari.
20:15 - Car 305 - Special stage victory for De Villiers
The first 9 cars have now reached the end of the day’s special stage and South-Africa’s Giniel De Villiers (VW) is the provisional winner of the 5th stage, 2’18" ahead of his German team mate Dieter Depping (VW) and 4’12" ahead of US driver Robby Gordon (Hummer).
20:04 - Quad 258 - Gonzalez is making the best of Declerck’s bad luck
As the 3 first contenders have now passed CP2, Spain’s Joan Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha) checked in the lead, 5’25" ahead of Czech driver Josef Machacek (Yamaha) and 23’52" ahead of the leader in the general standings, Christophe Declerck (Yamaha). In the lead since the beginning of the special stage this morning, the leader in the general standings endured a flat tyre between both CPs.
19:51 - Car The sand dunes are giving the leaders a hard time
As battle is raging in the last sand dunes of this fifth special stage, the leader in the general standings, Spain’s Carlos Sainz (VW) made a driving mistake and tore off his front hood. Same situation but for the rear hood for Stéphane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi). However, both drivers were able to continue the race.
19:42 - Truck 506 - Kabirov, provisional leader at CP2
As the first 4 trucks have now passed CP2, Russia’s Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) checked in the lead, 11" ahead of general standings leader, Dutchman Gerard De Rooy (Ginaf), and 11’48" ahead of his team mate and countryman Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz).
19:17 - Bike 15 - Verhoeven, second fastest time of the day
As the first 10 bikes have now reached the end of the day’s special stage, it is now Dutchman Frans Verhoeven (KTM) who finishes with the second fastest time 5’53" behind the winner of the day, US rider Jonah Street (KTM), but 1’41" ahead of Chile’s Francisco Lopez (KTM), who is now third in the stage standings.
18:49 - Bike 2 - Marc Coma looses a quarter of an hour
Timed at 6h56’51", the leader in the general standings, Spanish biker Marc Coma (KTM) a lost 15’45" on today’s winner, Jonah Street (KTM). As for Cyril Despres (KTM), he also lost 14’46" on the young American rider.
The car category put on a great show on this very versatile special stage where all driving skills had the opportunity of being expressed by the drivers. Dieter Depping was the first to make his name known. He had a 23" lead at CP1 where he was ahead of Stéphane Peterhansel who was making a come-back and - using one his proven techniques - was returning center stage of the race after just a few days in the rally raid.
The Depping-Peterhansel duo was making a first gap of 1’50" and 2’07" on the cars of Nasser Al-Attiyah, Mark Miller and Carlos Sainz. Then came a change in the configuration of the race between both check points as the Madrid and Qatari leaders in the general standings picked up their personal fight where they had left it leaving their adversaries far behind. The gap developed really quickly between them and Miller, De Villiers and the three Mitsubishis together. But the situation changed yet again and it is German driver Dieter Depping who ended up surprising everyone by being first to cross CP2 with a 24" lead over the title holder, whilst Al-Attiyah was timed with a 2’33" lead on Sainz.
The last events of the day were offered by the first sand dunes on this edition of the Dakar. 20 kilometers of sand where the leaders in the car category both broke their machines. De Villiers came out first of this boxing match and won the stage in front of Depping and Gordon, while Al-Attiyah was taking the lead in the general standings in front of De Villiers and relegated Carlos Sainz in third position, 6’33" behind.
The duel between Al-Attiyah and Sainz turned to the benefit of the Qatari who is the new leader in the car general standings.
Once again, the race in Stage 5 was a matter of tyres. Coma and Despres both had to stop to change tubes. American rider Jonah Street did not have the same problem and ends up with his very first stage victory on a Dakar special stage.The tide seems to have turned slightly in the bike race of this 2009 Dakar. Spared by tyre problems, Marc Coma, the winner of the 2006 edition of the rally raid, ran flat at km 45 which forced him to stop for a good 20 min. This is when the pursuit started and that was great news for Cyril Despres… until right after the first CP (km 230) where the Frenchman had caught back 15’ from his Spanish rival. But the curse of the tyre tubes was going to hit again on the title holder. Forced - in turn - to organize an emergency pit stop, Despres lost his head start. Worse! He even lost an additional 7 min over Coma at the following CP (km 422).
After starting third in the early hours of the morning, Jonah Street once again demonstrated flawlesness and steadiness. Four times in the top ten since the start of this year’s edition of the Dakar, the American rider managed to both preserve his tyres and keep up the pace with the best in the race. Being the best to handle the first sand dunes in the finish, Street ended up with a 5’53" lead over Frans Verhoeven and a 7’34" lead over Francisco Lopez. In the duel between Despres and Coma, it is the first one who managed to steel back a tiny little minute to the Catalan rider.
In the general standings, Marc Coma, who ends the stage in 7th position, is loosing ground from the 42’ lead he had yesterday over a surprising Street, he only has 27’ left. David Frétigné, third of today’s stage, gets closer to the leader and is now at 39’09" of the leader.
The Pampa Battle is still raging in the truck category. This time, it is Firdaus Kabirov who won the stage achieving here his 26th stage victory in the Dakar and - hence - stealing the second place in the general standings to the Czar, Vladimir Chagin. Gerard de Rooy is still resisting the endless assaults of the Kamaz trucks. De Rooy’s third place at the finish in San Rafael, 12’28" from the winner, allows the driver to remain the general standings leader but his lead on the new number two is only of 13".
Stage 5 of Dakar 2009 between Neuquen and San Rafael was once again a matter of tyres with Marc Coma, race leader, and Cyril Despres, defending bike champion, both suffering trouble with their tubes.
However Jonah Street, American rider, did not have any such problems and ended up with his very first victory on a Dakar special stage.
Stage 4 Summary
15:21 - Car Summary of stage 4
Pending validation of the results, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) picked up his 2nd stage victory of the rally, his 11th on the Dakar, 6 short seconds only in front of his main rival since the start of the event, Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW), and 2.24 in front of Frenchman Luc Alphand (Mitsubishi). In the general standings, the VW-BMW duel continues: “El Matador” Sainz holds onto the lead and is now 3.46 ahead of the Qatari. The Wolfsburg based constructor has two Touaregs on the provisional podium, because 3rd place is still occupied by South African Giniel De Villiers (VW), now 11.33 behind Sainz. In the Open category, Robby Gordon (Hummer) pulled off another stage victory, with the day’s 10th best time. Lastly, in the Production category, once again the category leader in the general standings, Japan’s Jun Mitsuhashi (Toyota), was victorious.
15:19 - Truck Summary of stage 4
Pending validation of the results, Dutchman Gerard de Rooy (Ginaf) picked up his 2nd stage victory of this 31st Dakar, 46" ahead of five times winner of the Dakar, Russian Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz), and 4.55 in front of “the Tsar’s” team-mate and countryman Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz). As a result, in the general standings, Gérard De Rooy (Ginaf) is still in the lead ahead of the three Kamaz trucks belonging to Russia’s Chagin, 2nd placed 10.14 behind, Kabirov, 3rd placed 12.41 behind, and Mardeev, 4th placed 46.58 behind.
15:18 - Bike Summary of stage 4
Pending validation of the results, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) picked up his 3rd stage victory and 7th on the Dakar by finishing this 4th day 1.17 ahead of Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM), who rode an excellent race having started in 48th place this morning. 3rd place went to American Jonah Street (KTM). As a result, in the general standings, Coma now has a lead of 42.57 over Street, the new 2nd placed rider and leader of the marathon category, and 43.42 over Frenchman David Frétigné (Yamaha), 3rd placed and leader of the 450cc category. As regards Cyril Despres (KTM), he is now 11th in the general standings.
15:17 - QuadSummary of stage 4
Pending validation of the results, Spaniard Joan Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha) won the 4th stage, his first success on the Dakar, 16.18 ahead of France’s Christophe Declerck (Yamaha) and 18.59 in front of another Frenchman: Eric Carlini (Polaris). In the general standings, Christophe Declerck still holds a solid lead, 31.27 ahead of the day’s winner, Gonzalez, the new 2nd placed rider, and 49.34 in front of Czech Josef Machacek (Yamaha).
Jacobacci, Argentina - January 6, 2008 - DIRTnewz received a satellite telephone call from Turbo Tom Geviss, the driver of the #524 Robby Gordon Motorsports MAN assistance truck at 1:21 p.m. Pacific Standard Time today.
He reported that his #524 MAN Assistance truck was out of the DAKAR Rally after a harrowing crash that has rendered the MAN diesel assistance race truck with heavy damage that has left them no other option than to quit the race. Geviss reported that he has been working on the race truck for the past 24 hours hoping to temporarily fix the truck enough to limp back to Buenos Aires along the highway. The team will have to travel some 750 miles over the highways back to massive city of Buenos Aires.
Now it’s Gonzalez’s turn
January 6, 2009 (13:33 Quad) - #254 - With the first three quads having finished this 4th special stage, Spaniard Joan Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha) came first, winning his first special stage in the event, 16.18 ahead of Frenchman Christophe Declerck (Yamaha), who, nonetheless, is still leader of the general standings.
13:27 - Car #303 - Provisional 3rd place for Alphand
Now that the first 10 cars have finished this 4th special stage, Frenchman Luc Alphand (Mitsubishi) came home in 3rd position, 1.17 behind the day’s winner, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW).
13:22 - Truck #505 - De Rooy opens up the lead...
Now that the first 10 trucks have completed 290 km of the day’s special stage, Dutchman Gerard De Rooy (Ginaf) leads, 1.53 ahead of Russian Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) and 2.24 in front of “the Tsar’s” team-mate and countryman Kabirov (Kamaz).
#26 - Street is in provisional 2nd place
Now that the first six bikes have finished this fourth special stage, American Jonah Street (KTM) is in 2nd position, 1.21 behind the provisional winner Marc Coma (KTM), but 4.31 in front of Frenchman David Frétigné (Yamaha), who is in 3rd place.
Jacobacci, Argentina - January 5, 2008 - After an 8-hour overnight clutch overhaul, Ales Loprais set out for Stage 3 of the Dakar Rally heading to Jacobacci. He continues the race despite another sequence of good and bad luck. Stage 3 did not start for Ales Loprais with the morning liaison or with the start into the special. It started at midnight as the truck was towed into the bivouac in Puerto Madryn.
SUMMARY - Stage 2: Verhoeven opportunistic whilst Sainz takes control
Buena Aires, Argentina (January 3, 2009) While Marc Coma’s victory was foreseeable for the first stage, the magnitude of his success and the catastrophes experienced by other bike race favorites is about what was predicted. Despres and Casteu may have already seen their hopes for overall Dakar victory evaporate. In the car race, BMW met both with success, for Nasser Al Attiyah, and disappointment, with Guerlain Chicherit’s accident, after he started out of the blocks a bit too ambitiously.
Buenas Aires, Argentina (January 3, 2009) The festive podium ceremony at the Plaza La Republica created a grand 6 hour show that demonstrated the rich history of Dakar. Hundreds of thousands of crowds created the colossal back drop for the starting field.
Nothing in the history of the motor event compares to what happened on January 2. Crowds of spectators joined all the way from Parc Ferme to the podium and back at an estimated number of over 500,000. Perhaps only the passing of Barcelona in 1987 can be compared.
Buenas Aires, Argentina (January 3, 2009) Tom Geviss, known among the world of off road desert racers as "Turbo Tom" crossed the finish line in the first stage of the 2009 DAKAR in 44th position in the envious truck class. Geviss has piloted the #524 Monster Energy MAN race truck for Robby Gordon Motorsports for the past two DAKAR races and 2009 has been no different as he'll lend support to the NASCAR / Baja 1000 Champion Robby Gordon if he has problems along the way. Turbo Tom has long been a bad ass in the world of off road desert racing.
Volkswagen Out to Conquer America - Team Volkswagen heads to Dakar 2009
January 8, 2009 12:00 AM (DAKAR RALLY LOCAL TIME) The Dakar Rally was in mourning on Wednesday with the news that Pascal Terry, French motorcyclist, had been found dead while competing in this year's race.
