Today, the fourth event in the Raids World Championship season, the Sertões International Rally, has ended, in which Marc Coma has dominated the bikes category. The Repsol rider, who took part on his KTM 690 Rally, secured victory in three of the ten stages that made up the race, finishing first at the end of the third day and accumulating a final advantage of 17 minutes and 25 seconds.
With today’s 390-kilometre stage – 107 of which were timed -, the Repsol rider finished the almost 4,500 kilometres of the 18th edition of the Sertões International Rally with a total time of 25 hours, 52 minutes and 42 seconds. Coma started the last day in second place, with a 22 minute advantage in the accumulated standings and without pushing the pace to ensure that he reached the finish line in Fortaleza, he finished eighth with a time of 1 hour, 19 minutes and 56 seconds.
In a rally that stands out for the diversity of the terrain over the different stages, Coma won the second special and on the third day, led the accumulated standings, benefiting from local rider José Helio pulling out. Since then, with two more stage wins and four second places, the Repsol rider extended his advantage to more than 22 minutes over the rider in second at the end of the day yesterday, a difference that he managed to take the final victory.
With this result, Coma wins the special Brazilian event for the first time in his career and is now just two points off the top spot in the Raids World Championship.
Marc Coma
“I’m very satisfied. Today’s stage was a stage without complications despite the obvious physical exhaustion after riding 4,500 km. It’s been a really tough rally and with very varied terrains, so we couldn’t lose concentration for a second. But it’s also been fun, as the scenery and conditions changed every day. Now, we’re just two points off the World championship, so now we have to finish with a good result in the last rally if we want to be World Champions. I’d like to thank my team for their effort, as we the Sertões International Rally 2010 wasn’t in our competition plans. I want to dedicate this win to a very special and dear person, who unfortunately is no longer with us. Jaume Mimó, this victory is yours too”.
