2007 Dakar Rally Stage 2 Results
Stage 2:
Portimão – Málaga
January 7, 2007 - KTM Team Report
The riders had to pay attention today. The second
stage of the 29th Dakar Rally was a tricky one.
The loop near Portimão was
not very long, but the fog and the clay made it a very dangerous special.
Many of the lesser skilled riders fell, those with trial experience had some
advantage in the Portuguese hills. Cyril Despres (KTM Gauloises) found out
the hard way what the track was like. Halfway in the stage, near kilometer
30, Despres missed a corner and fell in a gorge. The winner of the 2005
Dakar didn’t sustain any injuries, but his bike was badly damaged. The fuel tank was cracked, some of the levers were broken.
Despres managed to get out of the ravine himself, but needed
the mechanical help of his teammate Frans Verhoeven to continue. Luckily the
Dutchman was very close behind and was able to repair the bike as good as
could be hoped.
Despres lost 5.45 minutes to Portuguese winner Helder Rodrigues and
finished 26th. Verhoeven lost 6.25 and finished in 36th position. David Casteu (4th, just behind Isidre Esteve Pujol) really enjoyed the ride.
"It
was like home, with the smell of the mimosa. I was happy enough to stay on
the bike. The leg injury I sustained in the first special didn’t bother me
anymore. I had a good massage and I am build like a horse."
Marc Coma (KTM Repsol) again didn’t take any risks and
finished with a fifth time. "It was very slippery, like riding on ice.
I can imagine the power was a disadvantage today, but after a few kilometers
I was understood how to use the power of the bike in a way that was
helpful."
As the rest of the KTM factory riders, Coma is looking forward to Africa.
"The
first stage in Morocco will be one for the best navigators. I trust in my
own skills. It will be a combination of navigation, paying attention
and try to keep the pace as high as possible."
Results Stage 2 - Portimão - Málaga:
2007 Dakar Rally - Stage 2 KTM Results
|
Rank |
Rider |
Nation |
Bike |
Time |
|
3 |
Esteve Pujol
|
SPA |
KTM |
1.04.29
|
| 4
|
David Casteu
|
FRA
|
KTM
|
1.04.54
|
| 5
|
Marc Coma |
SPA
|
KTM
|
1.05.10
|
| 9
|
Giovanni Sala
|
ITA
|
KTM
|
1.06.49
|
| 11
|
Jordi Viladoms
|
SPA
|
KTM
|
1.07.11
|
| 26
|
Cyril Despres
|
FRA
|
KTM
|
1.08.29
|
| 36
|
Frans Verhoeven
|
NED
|
KTM
|
1.09.09
|
| 81
|
Chris Blais |
USA
|
KTM
|
1.14.34 |
2007 Dakar Rally - Overall KTM Standings at Stage 2
|
Rank |
Rider |
Nation |
Bike |
Time |
| 3
|
Esteve Pujol
|
SPA
|
KTM
|
2.31.36
|
| 4
|
David Casteu
|
FRA
|
KTM
|
2.32.08
|
| 8
|
Marc Coma |
SPA
|
KTM
|
2.34.59
|
| 11
|
Cyril Despres
|
FRA
|
KTM
|
2.38.02
|
| 12
|
Frans Verhoeven
|
NED
|
KTM
|
2.38.44
|
| 14
|
Giovanni Sala
|
ITA
|
KTM
|
2.40.38
|
| 15
|
Jordi Viladoms
|
SPA
|
KTM
|
2.41.13
|
| 18
|
Chris Blais |
USA
|
KTM
|
2.42.14 |
Photos and text courtesy of
KTM
Motorcycles. Edited by webBikeWorld.
Chris Blais - U.S.A. Update: Blais 18th After Stage 2
What could have (and probably should have!) been Chris Blais' first visit to
the podium was compromised due to a mechanical gremlin that sidelined his #9
Red Bull KTM 660 Rallye. In a nutshell the problem was a pinched oil
breather tube created a pressure build up in the engine resulting in the
loss of a substantial quantity of engine oil (about 700cc - almost half of
the supply!) and sub-par performance for Chris' KTM 660 LC4 engine.
"Thank God it didn't happen tomorrow on the first major
stage (Stage 3) in Morocco." Explained Dr. Edwards. "With
today's short special, the lack of oil wasn't as traumatic and while it took
him out for a short time, his engine sustained no damage."
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