Dakar 2012 Stage 12 - Coma regains lead
After a night spent at a separate bivouac area from the cars (where the riders all received Peruvian "comfort packs" consisting of ponchos and hats in the Peruvian style) and a long transit section, the field took off on the 197km Special Stage from Arequipa to Nasca. Originally a 245km timed section through the Peruvian dunes, this was shortened due to the weather conditions that have affected many stages throughout the 2012 Dakar.
On a stage characterised by more challenging sand dunes, Coma was on the attack throughout, picking up another stage victory, the 21st in his Dakar history. At the finishing line, the Spaniard beat his two countrymen, rally revelation Joan Barreda (Husqvarna Rally 450RR), 2nd 2'43" behind, and Jordi Viladoms (KTM Rally Replica), 3rd 3'10" behind.
Handicapped by being the first rider to start the stage, Despres tried everything to foil Coma's strategy. Risking everything, the Frenchman managed to only concede a little more than thirty seconds before getting to grips with the unstable dunes on the last part of the Special Stage. On this tricky terrain, Despres could not prevent himself from losing time whilst opening the road, finally conceding 3'57" to his main rival. This in turn meant that Coma regained the lead in the general standings by 1'35". Despite losing the overall lead to Coma again, Despres was upbeat about his performance on the stage.
"It was a magnificent stage, one of the finest specials that I've ridden on the Dakar over the last few years," Despres enthused. "In sporting terms, I expected that Marc was going to catch up with me and that it wouldn't be a good day. But it was majestic. I don't have any regrets, because I attacked throughout the first part. Against Marc Coma, I'm doing battle with an excellent rider. He's quick and clever. So, I try and find the right pace. Apparently, there are riders in between us, so that's good news for the start tomorrow."
Two days from the finish in Lima, Coma has taken command of the general standings, 1'35" ahead of Despres, who nevertheless may have played a good strategic card, since he will have the advantage of starting in fourth position for the penultimate stage, whilst his Catalan rival will have to open the road - a reverse of today's scenario. Behind the leading KTMs, the battle for the 3rd place on the podium is still close: Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha WRF 450), 7th today 7'31" behind Coma, lost 4'21" to his main rival Viladoms, and now only has a lead of 26'45" over the 2nd Catalan in the Top 4.
As the 2012 Dakar nears its conclusion, three Aussies are still in it, with Dean Nuttall (KTM 450 Replica) the best on Stage 12, finishing 38th. Behind him, David Schwarz (Husaberg FE450) finished 55th, with Dakar rookie Jamie Chittick (Honda CRF 450X) close behind in 60th. In the overall standings, Schwarz still leads (43rd), but only by four minutes from Nuttall (46th) and Chittick back in 57th.
In the quads, it seems like there's been a rope holding the Patronelli borthers together, who again finished one behind the other on Stage 12, 42 seconds separating the brothers on the finishing line in Nasca. This time Marcos was king of the reduced pack of quads (down to 11 from 30 original starters) still in the race. After Alejandro on Stage 11, 2010 winner Marcos triumphed in a stage that was a carbon copy of the previous days' scenarios. The two Patronellis (Yamaha Raptor 700) and Maffei (Yamaha 650 GRW) are ploughing ahead of the other competitors, who are struggling to get themselves noticed. In spite of the difficulties announced and encountered during the day, none of the leading trio faltered and the general standings, with gaps in the region of an hour separating the three men, the prospect of an all Argentinean podium seems set in stone.
For full results and further details, go to www.dakar.com
Images: dakar.com
