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Orpi Maroc 2006 Special-Newssection
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This is the single-news section of the
marathonrally.com rally-live special of the Orpi Maroc rally 2006.
To see all news please use the link under the article or navigate
with the left main-navigation.
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Orpi Maroc: De Villiers and Peterhansel show the way in Marocco
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The Rally Orpi Maroc had a fast-paced second stage today made up of two specials. Speed was a total necessity but in the final approach of plush Aïn Beni Mathar, 500kms North of Erfoud, it was navigation skills that earned the best times. At the finish, it was Giniel de Villiers (VW Race Touareg II) and Stéphane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi Pajero) that profited the most from this stage. On two wheels, Cyril Despres (KTM Gauloises) won the stage and grabbed with a tiny one second's advantage the 2nd place in the overall results, four minutes behind Marc Coma (KTM Repsol).
Snuggly tucked away in the luxuriant pine forest of Aïn Beni Mathar, the first bivouac of the Rally Orpi Maroc was a welcomed respite for the competitors after a heady 475km-long stage. Giniel de Villiers, arriving well ahead of his opponents knows he has scored a hit. The South African - who tops the overall results - was one of the fastest to find his way off the rocky plateau that got so many other competitors ensnared in its traps. As a result Giniel and his teammate, experienced navigator and ex-biker Dirk Von Zitzewitz, succeeded in getting well ahead of the other official VW manned by Carlos Sainz and Michel Perin, in spite of them catching up to only a "virtual" 19 seconds behind at the end of the first special this morning.
Another smart move today came from Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi Pajero). Although 2 minutes slower than de Villiers on the second special, Peterhansel succeeded in leaping back to 2nd place on the overall results 2 minutes ahead of Sainz, partly thanks to having chosen to take the shortest way - straight down - to get off the infamous rocky plateau. Behind the three leaders Jean-Louis Schlesser (Buggy Ford), first at CP2, got lost before having trouble with his alternator. The sorcerer from Nice is still keeping up with the three leaders, just ahead of the Mitsubishis of Roma (fallen victim to a puncture this morning) and Masuoka.
Russia's Shmakov (Zil Buggy), 7th in the second stage, made the most of Philippe Gache's (SMG Buggy) upset (broken engine after 10km - but the Frenchman had quite a good day apart from that). In the Production category things went smoothly for Christian Lavieille (Nissan Pathfinder), except for the little diversion of the sort that seems to be the latest rage in cross country rallies. The ex-World Champion of Endurance strengthens his overall lead ahead of Maze Sencier's Mercredes ML.
As usual in African rallies the motorbikes opened the way for today's stage, so it was Marc Coma (KTM Repsol) and David Casteu (KTM Gauloises) who wasted precious minutes finding their way off the rocky plateau in the second special. Cyril Despres (KTM Gauloises) made the most of their effort and, by following in their tracks, avoided investigating every nook and cranny, and won the stage.
On the overall the Parisian is 4 minutes behind Coma and seizes the 2nd place ahead of team-mate Casteu. Two 450s struck up an exceptional performance on the second special, while all the other KTMs were off sight-seeing in the neighbouring valleys (Isidre Esteve losing 25 minutes). Portuguese Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha) was 5th on the stage and Chili's Francisco Lopes (Honda) hot on his tail hoisted himself up into the 4th place of the overall results! Seven times Chili's Motocross Champion, Supercross Champion of South America, "Speedy Lopes" is surprisingly only into his 4th rally, yet ahead of the closely-knit group of KTM 660s riden by Ullevalseter, Blais, Viladoms and Gau.
For the quads the battle still rages on between Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris Outlaw) and Christophe Declerck (Yamaha Raptor), the latter having been forced to go slowly on the end of the leg to avoid running out of fuel after a missed meeting with his assistance team at the refuelling area...
2006/06/01 I 20:36 CET I Editor: marathonrally.com/NPO
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