Marc Coma won the first special with authority, carrying out the Repsol KTM team`s strategy, planned before the start, down to the smallest detail: to set a a calm pace, get used to the terrain and not take any unnecessary risks. In the end the Team Repsol KTM rider won the first special – already in the Pampas – and got a lead of 22 minutes over the rider that finished second, what is more he benefitted from the problems that many of his rivals had with their tyres. In spite of his good fortune the Team Repsol KTM rider insists that this has just begun, that there is a lot of race left and a lot of things can still happen.
After analysing the roadbook for today`s stage, provided by the organisers, it was obvious that the first leg was going to be especially fast and with a minimal amount of navigation – with long straights, hardly any crossroads or changes of direction, and with few instructions in the roadbook – so it was clear that the pace was going to be fast (between 130-140Km/h) and that riding gently to protect the rear tyre was the overriding priority. This stage unlike those typically found in the Dakar, was notable for its length which was far longer than the average stage. The 371 Km special, and the 733 Km total, including the two liaisons, were accompanied by high temperatures and this was the root of the many problems that some riders had with their tyres.
Coma`s two teammates in the Team Repsol KTM were two of those that had tyre problems, this took them down the overall classification. Jordi Viladoms, delayed by a puncture had to stop for 20 minutes, finished in 20th position. Gerard Farrés did not have a good start to the Dakar either. The Repsol rider finished the special without a tyre – it punctured and then simply disintegrated. Farrés finished far from the lead, 206th position.
Today`s stage was a very fast one, with very clear tracks, right-angled corners and virtually without any difficulties. The biggest one was the almost 400 Km long special. Tomorrow Sunday will see a day very similar to today`s – a flat fast leg with zones of wet sand and tracks that cross streams, dry lakes and lagoons. Moreover the race will go through a volcanic zone. The navigation will become more important and the first cross-country sections will appear.
The participating motorbikes start from Santa Rosa de la Pampa tomorrow at 6:15am, where the second liaison ended today, it is also where they begin on Sunday. After the 237 Km special the participants must then do a long liaison of 600 Km until they reach Puerto Madryn. In total 837 kilometres for the motorbike riders, car and truck drivers tomorrow in the Dakar 2009.
Marc Coma
“It was a complicated stage. It is not normal for the first special to be 400km long. I started off calmly so as I could get to know the tracks, the sensations transmitted by the terrain and the bike itself. I am pleased with the result, but this has just started. This is just the beginning and the important thing is to take each day as it comes, without making any mistakes. We will see if we can carry on along the same lines. This was a very fast stage, on sandy land that was a bit hard but practically all the corners were the same type, 90º, not very difficult but because it was long it was difficult. We knew that the heat would be an important factor, but because it was a fast special it meant that I did not have to work so hard riding the bike. You noticed the high temperature but today it was tolerable. When we do the more technical specials we will suffer more. I do not really know what the rest of the riders have got on, I think they had tyre problems. But that will not change our plans as the important thing is not to have them ourselves, and one thing is clear this Dakar is going to be difficult and complicated. The reaction of the public was impressive. Just like yesterday, which was an unforgettable day in Buenos Aires, today throughout the whole special and on all the liaisons they were fantastic; their support really pushes you on.”
Jordi Viladoms
“This is a stage which, on paper, did not present any special difficulties, but things got complicated for me early on. Around kilometre 50, I think I caught something – I do not know exactly what, I did not see it – and I got a puncture. It was a pity because I had overtaken the rider in front of me – something that cost me quite a bit of time – and I was going along fine. I calmed down, I changed the wheel, losing almost 20 minutes. As it was very soon after the start of the special a lot of riders were coming up behind me as they start more bunched up after rider number ten, and it became much more complicated to find a good pace and overtake my rivals. Overall though, I think that after the puncture I clawed back some of my time and overtook a few other riders, which is the important thing, and the ride was a good one. There are a lot of stages left and I think we are just fine at the moment.”
Gerard Farrés >> Audio
“At kilometre 130 the tread on the tyre melted away, and the problem was that at the same time the tyre was pierced several times, so when I changed the inner tube it came out of the holes and it was impossible to ride well like that. I was only able to do about 20 kilometres when I had another puncture. The rest of the special I had to do without any inner-tube, just the tyre itself, slowly very slowly, trying to make sure that it did not break, because that would have meant farewell to the race. Even though I had very bad luck I can say that I finished the leg, so I can carry on helping the team the best I can.”
