The first round of Dakar 2010 has concluded with a surprising first place to David Casteu with his Sherco, after 652 km of racing. Second place went to Cyril Despres and third place to favourite Marc Coma, both riding KTM bikes. Closing the top six were Jordi Viladoms (KTM), Francisco Lopez, with his Aprilia RXV 4.5, and David Fretigne on a Yamaha.

One participant in the legendary race is veteran Franco Picco, riding a Yamaha WR450F, marking 25 years from his first Dakar rally. The 54-year-old first appeared back in 1985 with a Yamaha TT600, winning overall third place.

Picco’s start has been marked with a sinister gesture though, when he found his bike sabotaged with someone having poured sugar in the engine. Luckily, it hasn’t created any permanent damage and he has been able to continue.

Continue reading: Sugar in your engine: Dakar goes ahead for Franco Picco and Yamaha WR450F

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Madrid’s efforts to host the 2016 Olympic Games face an important test this week, and the members of the Repsol teams have shown their whole-hearted support for the attempt. Coinciding with the presence of the IOC’s evaluation committee in the capital of Spain, Repsol has stated its clear support for the Olympic Games to be held in Madrid in 2016.

Moreover, the riders and drivers that are sponsored by the Spanish oil giant, and who have taken part in several different competitions over the last few days, also wanted to put their weight behind the city’s bid - they all appeared in their races with messages of support for the Spanish capital. Repsol’s relationship with the Olympic Games has existed since 1988 when the Asociación de Deportes Olímpicos (ADO) began its work, and at the moment the Spanish oil company is one of its sponsor members. Repsol’s involvement with sport in Spain has been progressing over the last few years, and it has become a preferential sponsor for the city of Madrid 2016.

Therefore Repsol did not want to miss out on a chance of helping the city in this very important week, backing the bid for the four year festival of sports, with thousands of sportsmen and women from all over the world taking part, to be held in Spain for the second time in its history.

Continue reading: Dani Pedrosa and Repsol riders support Madrid for 2016 Olympics

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Heavy fog caused a delay and a course modification in Stage 10 of the Dakar Rally, however riders still faced one of the longest and most difficult routes that took them though the desert of Atacama.

Spanish rider Jordi Viladoms, on a KTM, won the 10th stage of the Rally. Viladoms finished 1min 06sec ahead of rider Alain Duclos (KTM) and 8:29 ahead of Portuguese biker Helder Rodriguez, also on a KTM.

Jordi Viladoms took the win after the early leaders went in the wrong direction. Spain’s Marc Coma made a navigational error and got lost, a mistake causing the leaders to go on a 23 km loop to get back on course allowing late starters to benefit. This allowed Viladoms, Alain Duclos, and Helder Rodrigues to the top three spots and the second stage win for Viladoms in his Dakar career.

Continue reading: Dakar 2009 Argentina- Chile Stage 10

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