Dakar 2010 has concluded with Cyril Despres and his KTM taking out first place. Pal Ander Ullevalseter came second, also on a KTM, but what a success story for Aprilia! The RXV 4.5, ridden by Francisco Lopez, came in third in a fantastic result for its first official participation in Dakar.

The final stage was to Buenos Aires was won by Ruben Faria, with Ullevalseter coming second and sealing his overall place. On his overall victory, Despres said it was a hard Dakar this year, but he never doubted he would win it. The last stage was fast and easy and takes the riders into Argentina’s capital after 15 days and nearly 9,000 km of racing. See the final results first to fifth, after the jump.

Continue reading: Aprilia RXV 4.5 Rally Dakar podium place

Over the shortened route for the Stage 9 of Dakar 2010, Marc Coma won the stage with his KTM. The stage was about 170 km long due to severe fog in some areas, and it also marks the last stage in the Acatama desert.

Francisco Lopez‘ new Aprilia RXV 4.5 continues to do well at third overall and coming in third for this stage after Cyril Despres with his KTM. The brand also took out fourth spot, before Yamaha came in fifth with rider David Fretigné. Despres is in first place overall before Stage 10 starts.

Stage Nine:
1° #1 Marc Coma (SPA) KTM;
2° #2 Cyril Despres (FRA) KTM;
3° #9 Francisco Lopez (CHI) Aprilia;
4° #4 Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR) KTM;
5° #12 David Fretigné (FRA) Yamaha;

Continue reading: Dakar 2010: Marc Coma wins stage nine

The Aprilia RXV 4.5 has just won its first 2010 Dakar stage, with rider Francisco Lopez on board. The whacky but cool bike is a new entry for Aprilia, with the change to 450 cc models making it competitive this year. It has some nifty features in addition to the Dakar-needed help like the additional fuel tank and navigation equipment.

Lopez won the fifth stage in Aprilia’s first ever Dakar victory, crossing the Acatama desert in five hours and 52 minutes. Marc Coma experienced problems with the rear wheel of his bike, meaning he fell to 19th place. After the jump is a video with some great footage of the fifth stage, and the Aprilia win, as well as the placings for this stage. The sixth stage sees the riders cross the Andes, completing 670 km.

Continue reading: Aprilia RXV 4.5 first Dakar victory

The 14th and last stage with a 227km special followed by 341km of liaison into Buenos Aires was won by Portugal’s Helder Rodrigues (KTM), in 1.52.37 and second place went to Norwegian rider Ullevalseter (KTM).

The winner of the 2009 edition of the Dakar was Marc Coma.

Already a winner of the raid in 2006, Marc Coma finished this year’s edition 1h25’38″ ahead of France’s Cyril Despres (KTM), and 1h38’56″ ahead of France’s David Frétigné and his 450cc Yamaha.

Continue reading: Dakar 2009 Argentina-Chile - 14th and Final Stage

Heavy rain altered stage 13 which ran over 220km instead of 324km, and was the sixth stage to be amended in the 2009 race which is making its debut in South America.

France’s Cyril Despres, riding a KTM, on Friday won the 13th and penultimate stage of the Dakar Rally, his fifth stage win of the rally, Despres took the win with a time of 2h 33m 35s finishing 1m 45s ahead of Coma while extending his slender advantage over Yamaha mounted David Fretigne in third.

David Fretigne, on a Yamaha, was third on Friday, (2:37), and third overall at 1hr 34min 47sec off the pace.

Francisco Lopez’s was forced to withdraw due to a fall that heavily damaged his bike, but did not suffer any injuries during the crash.

Continue reading: Dakar 2009 Argentina- Chile Stage 13

Stage 12 from Fiambala to La Rioja started as planned with only a minor course adjustment shortening the stage by 30km and Cyril Despres took the win but was followed closely by Marc Coma who took second place and a surprise third place finisher was Farres Guell who finished only four seconds ahead of David Casteu.

David Fretigne overcame a serious oil leak problem to remain third in the overall standings. With just two days of riding left, Fretigne has lost 10:28 that has left him 1:33:55 behind Coma.

Jordi Viladoms lost his fourth place in the overall standings after making a navigational mistake but is seventh overall.
Coma remains atop the overall standings with 1:29:48

Source | dakar

Continue reading: Dakar 2009 Argentina-Chile Stage 12

After a much needed rest on Saturaday, yesterday the bikers took off on the 294 kilometre stage 8 between Valparaiso and La Serena, with Cyril Despres coming home first on his Red Bull KTM. Followed closely by Spain’s Marc Coma who finished second only 1’49 behind Despres, the reigning winner overtook Chile’s Francisco Lopez who finished third, 2’56 behind Despres and climbs to seventh overall

David Fretigne on his Yamaha WR450F lost almost 16 minutes on Sunday with a sixth-place result. Jonah Street dropped over 34 minutes on the lead pace finishing 29th and falling two places in the overall standings to fourth.

Continue reading: Dakar 2009 Argentina-Chile Stage 8

Dakar organisers decided to reduce the distance of the timed section on Stage 6 following a very difficult Stage 5 and complications caused by a flooded river ford on the original course. Competitors therefore ended the stage in the village of La Junta at the foot of the Andes.

Following a close duel through the dunes with Street and Lopez, starting eigth Frenchman Cyril Despres left his tyre troubles behind him and crossed the line two minutes ahead of Marc Coma, winning his first stage.

Stage 7 was won by Chilean rider, Francisco Lopez riding a KTM took the first stage win of his career yesterday and it couldn’t have been better timed as the event crossed into Chile, his home country, for the first time.

Continue reading: Dakar 2009 Argentina-Chile Stages 6 and 7

Spain’s Marc Coma of KTM won the opening motorcycle stage at the Rally Dakar Argentina-Chile 2009 from from Saladillo to Santa Rosa with a 22:05-minute advantage over second best Polish Jacek Czachor. The Catalan driver took 2h, 46 m to drive 371 km, while French Cyril Despres, current bike champion finished the stage 41 minutes after Coma after suffering a puncture.

“The problem with this special was the distance” said Coma. “I saw that Despres had problems with his back wheel after filling up at control point two. After that, I tried to open up the gap. I paced myself, waiting for the moment. On this route, there was little work to do with the bike, so I tried to ride my race to avoid problems.”

Continue reading: Dakar Argentina-Chile Stages 1 and 2