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 | OiLibya Rally of Morocco: Coma-Despres duel in Bikes, Frétigne accident
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After Monday's fast and technical tracks, on Tuesday the bikes faced a whole new terrain: An abundance of sand dunes in the erg of Chegaga. It was a real test for the new KTM 450 Rally of Cyril Despres and Marc Coma, the inseparable duo in this discipline; the two champions rode together today.
Coma took advantage over Despres's slight fall, followed by a navigational error of the Frenchman to take the lead and raise the level in the second loop. Stages win, goes to the Spaniard who grabs the the provisional overall lead.
Behind the two leaders, Rodriguez from Portugal proved the fastest. Mid-lap leader, the Yamaha only conceded three minutes in the second loop. Ditto for Olivier Pain (Yamaha YZF 450 No. 6), who conceded ten minutes following engine trouble within a stone's throw of the finish line.
Not so spectacular, however for BMW, Eric Verhoeven (BMW G450RR) conceded almost half an hour in the first loop after a navigational error. Yet more bad news for David Fretigne (BMW G450RR), he suffered a fall at kilometre 39 in the second loop and was repatriated in the helicopter with back pain.
A final word on the bikes at the end of this loop in the Chegaga erg, to give you news of Bruno Da Costa, as you know, his bike was completely burned out in the first stage.
A spontaneous show of solidarity followed! 'La compagnie du lit", his main partner, gave him a budget extension for the Dakar, and the Englishman John Mitchinson (Rally-Raid Products), offered him a new unwinding road book and two Icos for the construction of a new bike for his appointment in January.
As for quads, after an initial stage being dominated by pilots from the east, the French team Nomad took advantage in the dunes. After missing a way point on Monday, Pascal Delesque Polaris got the record straight, many of his direct competitors finishing out of time after the first loop and not being allowed to complete the second leg...
2010/10/20 | 14:50 CET | EDITOR: MR/HS/NPO
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