No last minutes surprises on the 2012 Dakar, with the final victory going to Cyril Despres ahead of Marc Coma. The Portugese rider Helder Rodrigues was third.
Cyril Despres
“Without doubt this fourth Dakar victory was the hardest – both physically and psychologically. From the very first stage, all the way to the end of the last real stage, Marc (Coma) and I battled it out and mentally that made it particularly exhausting. We are so close in terms of outright speed and navigational ability that the slightest error can allow the other to pull out a decisive lead – there is never a moment to relax. To have such a rivalry doesn’t make either of our lives easy, but it does add to our sport’s excitement and gives our victories greater merit.
Once again we were both blessed with excellent machinery and a fantastic road book with which to fight our battle, so a very sincere ‘thank you’ to KTM for producing such a great bike and ASO for organising such an excellent event. The last part of the rally in Peru provided some of the best terrain I have ever raced over, the 12th stage in particular left a lasting souvenir. Finally, a big thank you to my team and my sponsors for making this fourth victory possible”.
Overall
1 – DESPRES – 19:28:11
2 – COMA – 20:21:31 – variation 00:53:20
3 – RODRIGUES – 20:39:28 – variation 01:11:17
4 – VILADOMS – 21:09:07 – variation 01:40:56
5 – SVITKO – 21:15:39 – variation 01:47:28
Pictures: Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool
Starting 4th this morning and 1’35 overall behind Marc Coma, Cyril Despres (KTM Red Bull) chased hard to regain the lead. At the end of a stage rich in drama the Frenchman eventually finished 11’03 ahead of his rival with just a short 29 kms special tomorrow.
Cyril Despres
“Obviously when you start the last real special one and a half minutes down, but with the possibility to pull back just enough time to win, there is a lot of pressure. That pressure is the first thing you have to manage. Then you actually have to ride the bike fast enough to regain those precious seconds. Up until CP1 everything was more or less under control. Every corner I cut was a little time gained – and I was cutting lots of corners! Then at the refuelling I didn’t know what to think. Did Marc have a problem or was there some tactic I hadn’t thought of? With that playing on my mind I made a few mistakes and lost a little time. Fortunately I managed to pull myself together and then at the finish line I realised he had a mechanical problem. Now it is looking good for tomorrow. I am not superstitious, but until I have crossed that final finish line I am not declaring myself the winner.”
Stage 13
1 – RODRIGUES – 03:21:16
2 – DESPRES – 03:22:03 – variation 00:00:47
3 – VILADOMS – 03:24:16 – variation 00:03:00
4 – BARREDA BORT – 03:26:29 – variation 00:05:13
5 – GONCALVES – 03:27:02 – variation 00:05:46
Overall
1 – DESPRES – 19:01:54
2 – COMA – 19:57:57 – variation 00:56:03
3 – RODRIGUES – 20:13:21 – variation 01:11:27
4 – VILADOMS – 20:43:06 – variation 01:41:12
5 – SVITKO – 20:51:30 – variation 01:49:36
Picture: Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool
Opening the piste today, on sandy ground, Cyril Despres (KTM Red Bull) was eventually caught by Marc Coma who wins the stage and in the process takes the lead from Cyril by 1’35.
Cyril Despres
“I managed to stay out front on my own until nearly the end of the special, but the last dune section allowed Marc to catch me and we then had another rush to the line, which I got to just before him. Although I lose the overall lead I had a really great day on the bike. It is to ride specials like this that I train hard all year and why I love to ride motorcycles in the desert. Absolutely magical!
Tomorrow is the last long special of the rally and there is still everything to play for. I feel good on the bike, the bike is performing very well and I am as motivated as ever.”
Stage 12
1 – COMA – 02:24:38
2 – BARREDA BORT – 02:27:21 – variation 00:02:43
3 – VILADOMS – 02:27:48 – variation 00:03:10
4 – DESPRES – 02:28:35 – variation 00:03:57
5 – GONCALVES – 02:30:03 – variation 00:05:25
Overall
1 – COMA – 15:38:16
2 – DESPRES – 15:39:51 – variation 00:01:35
3 – RODRIGUES – 16:52:05 – variation 01:13:49
4 – VILADOMS – 17:18:50 – variation 01:40:34
5 – SVITKO – 17:20:01 – variation 01:41:45
Picture: Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool
Starting second this morning, Cyril Despres (KTM Red Bull) caught and overtook piste opener Marc Coma to win the stage and increase his overall lead from 21 seconds to 2’22.
Cyril Despres
“Another hard day today, but apart from a small, low speed crash I’m pleased with how the stage went. Once again Marc and I had a real tough battle, swapping the lead several times before I finally got in front at the finish of the second special. If it carries on like this, with the two of us taking back two minutes from each other alternate days, it is going to be a very exciting end of rally for the spectators and a very nerve racking one for us!”
Stage 11
1 – DESPRES – 04:03:37
2 – FARRES GUELL – 04:05:16 – variation 00:01:39
3 – COMA – 04:05:38 – variation 00:02:01
4 – AUBERT – 04:07:07 – variation 00:03:30
5 – BARREDA BORT – 04:08:30 – variation 00:04:53
Overall
1 – DESPRES – 13:11:16
2 – COMA – 13:13:38 – variation 00:02:22
3 – RODRIGUES – 14:19:56 – variation 01:08:40
4 – VILADOMS – 14:36:02 – variation 01:24:46
5 – SVITKO – 14:46:12 – variation 01:34:56
Picture: Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool
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Picture: Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool
Moto Verte website: http://www.motoverte.com/site/despres-on-est-pendu-au-guidon–64037.html
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