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 | OiLibya Rally of Tunisia: Sixth Victory for Jean-Louis Schlesser in Tunisia.
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Suspense was the key of this Rally Oilibya of Tunisia 2010, where a sandstorm marked the last stage of the race on its 130 km of timed section. At the end, Jean-Louis Schlesser gets the victory in cars, leaving Christian Lavieille (Team Dessoude) in the second step of the standings, while Leonid Novitkskiy takes the third place.
No surprises in the Production category, Laurent Rosso (Team Dessoude), leader of this category in the World Cup, takes the first place, followed by Artem Varenstov (Team Georaid) and his father, Joseph Rosso (Team Dessoude). The Wildcat Trophy was for Yves Fromont, followed by Gilles Billaut and Rainer Wissmans.
Meanwhile in bikes, it was the first victory in a World Championship leg for the Chilean Rider, Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez on his Aprilia Giofil 450cc. Marc Coma (KTM) show his power in this last special section, and finishes second, in front of the young Polish from Team Orlen, Jakub Przyonski.
In the Enduro Cup, Romain Souvignet (Team Casteu) gives his best until the end of the race and gets the victory. In Quads, today was the second and consecutive stage win for Vincent Albira (Team Baninga), and the second place in the general classification, after the unstoppable Rafal Sonik. Dimitry Pavlov completes the standings.
The last kilometers of a rally are the harder. It is there were mistakes are forbidden, and riders and drivers need the most concentration to get to the finish in the best way. All competitors of the Rally Oilibya of Tunisia 2010 crossed the famous dunes of El Faouar between Ksar Ghilane and Douz. The wind didn´t make this task any easier. It was a day that no one will forget.
Chaleco Lopez, after an outstanding performance, reaches the top and gets his first victory in a Cross Country Rally World Championship leg for the very first time, with his Aprilia 450cc. A South American winning in Africa - a good forecast for the Dakar.
Behind him, the Spaniard Marc Coma, takes the second places on the standings, and the first one in the 450+ class. Lack of fortune in the beginning of the race, he couldn´t get back for the time he lost in the first stages and he is followed by the talented Polish young rider, Jakub Przygonski, great performer in the six stages of the race. His team mate in Team Orlen, Jacek Czachor, didn´t get to the standings, but is now satisfied after having done a race in team, and so is Marek Dabrowski.
Fifth in the general classification is David Casteu, who places his Sherco 450 cc. in the second place of its class while taking points for the World Championship, where he keeps the head. Great race also for Tim Trenker and line victory for Team Vectra and race that places two of its riders, Emmanuel Geynes and Marcel Butuza, in 8th and 9th place. Rafal Sonik has the world title as his main goal, and he shows over Tunisia´s quad rider Vincent Albira (stage winner) and Dimitry Pavlov.
Meanwhile, Romain Souvignet obtained a beautiful victory in the Enduro Cup, without any mechanical problems. Hervé Ortuni and Philipe Mace, in his quad, complete the trio. The best classed Tunisian rider was Philipe Pages in the 16th place, for who this is the fourth Rally of Tunisia, a race that he loves. A bow for Willy Jobard with his hybrid bike that did the race all the way to Douz!
There was tension in the faces this morning at the start of the stage Ksar Ghilane - Douz. The victory of the rally was in the game! After yesterday´s penalty, Christian Lavieille had the tough task to get 18 minutes from Schlesser, the new leader. This was an almost impossible mission on the 132 km of the special, where he was able to take back 8 minutes. The French finishes second, before Leonid Novitskiy, who wins Friday´s stage and comforts his leadership in the World Cup classification.
Jean-Louis Schlesser takes the sixth victory in the Rally of Tunisia (7th for his team), after a regular and tactical race. Schlesser dedicates his victory to his team mate, Jean- Marie Lurquin, who was injured two days ago in the burning of the buggy driven by François Lethier.
The fourth place is for Ronan Chabot (buggy SMG), who has done an excellent race. Always applying his knowledge, the new gun of MD Rally Sport, driven by Pascal Thomasse has convinced everyone. Sixth place is for Eric Vigouroux (EVR) after bad luck in the second part of the race.
Too bad for the Trophy Truck that was in the fight for the standings and even won the third stage. The first Tunisian in cars is in the seventh place; Ludovic Leloup had a clean and clear race. Excellent result for his Toyota that also takes the second place in T1 class, after Novitskiy.
In the Wildcat Trophy, Yves Fromont imposes his experience in the bowler after some mechanical frights this morning. Gilles Billaut and Rainer Wissmans complete the Wildcat standings. In Production class, Laurent Rosso carried out a smooth performance throughout the race, so nothing pushed away the announced victory. In the top of the T2, the French is actually the second in the World Cup (T2 leader). The Russian driver, Artem Varentsov finishes the rally in the second place, while Joseph Rosso is third.
Great hostess of the truck category, Elisabete Jacinto (Team Oleoban) has done the last 130 km with care. Undeniable leader from the start, the Portuguese driver takes the first victory on her MAN truck home, and is 8th in general classification. The rally has allowed her to learn and get familiar with her truck over different kinds of tracks. Hubert Molina, on his Renault, does a great job also, like Luisa Trucco, who finishes a very demanding rally.
Overall Final results Top 6 after SS06
01) Schlesser/Zhiltsov (F/RUS) I Schlesser Porsche I 15:41:19 I 00:00:00
02) Lavieille/Polato (F/F) I Dessoude Nissan Proto I 15:51:22 I 00:10:03
03) Novitskiy/Schulz (RUS/D) I X-Raid BMW X3CC I 16:01:29 I 00:20:10
04) Chabot/Pillot (F/F) I SMG Gache Buggy I 17:17:03 I 01:35:44
05) Thomasse/Larroque (F/F) I MD Rally Nissan I 18:10:49 I 02:29:30
06) Vigouroux/Winocq (F/F) I Chevrolet Protruck I 19:44:02 I 04:02:43
2010/05/08 | 12:36 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/NPO
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