Declarations
bike
Marc Coma (SPA - KTM - 2nd)
« It was a difficult stage. We had to be focused on the navigation, the dust and the numerous speed controls. Actually we had to pay attention to many details all along a very technically demanding stage. Having this 34’ advantage is interesting, but there still are four stages among which a marathon one. Above all, the ground will change. So we can’t conclude anything yet about the following days.â€
bike
Jean de Azevedo (BRE – KTM – 5ème)
"It was a good stage for me. There was a lot of dust and it was very difficult ride and overtake. I fell in the first kilometres but I was riding at about 50 km/h so I didn’t hurt myself. I didn’t ride fast because I spent the whole in the dust of the bikes ahead of me, especially De Gavardo and Ullevalseter. At the overall standing, I am 8th, what is not so bad since I received a two hours penalty two days ago. My goal is still to be in the top 10 in Dakar."
bike
Chris Blais ( USA - KTM - 4th)
"It has been a good day for me, without any trouble except a little fall. I was looking at my raodbook and I fell because of a stone. My head hit the ground and I have been almost knocked out. I waited for a while before starting again. Actually, I lost about two minutes. We crossed many villages. It was cool since the people along the track were very welcoming They seem to really enjoy life here. Abobve all, I treally enjoyed myself on this very technically demanding stage. About the heat, it is far less hot than in California for the mexican baja, so it has been really bothering for me. Actually, I only have one problem. My bottom hurts me becouse of the hours I spent sitted on my bike for the liaison."
bike
Cyril Despres (FRA - KTM - 9th)
"It has been a positive day, anyway. There was a lot of technical riding and a lot of navigation as well. I wish I didn’t trust the roadbook. At kilometre 37, I followed the instructions and I went into some bareers. I looked for the good way for a while and lost a bit of time. Since we were in speed limited zone, when I found the good track,I was in Sala, Ullevalseter and Coma’s dust. I followed the roaboak whereas they directly passed across the village. Then, it was a bit more physically and technically demanding
I hit a stone and fell on my wounded collarbone. In spite all this, I am quite happy about my stage. I try and make my race, but it is very hard to ride with this kind of problem since the days are long. What’s more, I am getting more and more tired every day."
bike
I hit a stone and fell on my wounded collarbone. In spite all this, I am quite happy about my stage. I try and make my race, but it is very hard to ride with this kind of problem since the days are long. What’s more, I am getting more and more tired every day."
Alain Duclos (FRA/MAL - Toni Togo - 1er)
"It is a dream coming true. It is a great emotion to win a stage here, in Bamako, at home, in Mali. I dedicate this victory to my parents; I will wait untill I see them before crying. The course today was exactely the kind of course I like. I know theses tracks quite well since I used to practice here on my moped when I was a kid. There are lots of holes. Everything went on well from the very beginning till the end. Even if I had not planned a victory, I pushed myself as much as I could to win today. It is a kind of fulfilment for my pasion for rally, Mali and Africa. But I don’t forget my first goal, which is to be in the top ten in Dakar. And there are still three nice stages before the Lac Rose.
bike
Jonah Street (USA - PAI-Rally Pan America - 3rd)
"I have been very surprised to clock the third time since I fell in a hole inthe first kiometres. Luckily, I was not fast. What’s more, it is my first Dakar, on a bike I had never tested before the starting line in Lisbon. So far, my best result was my 13th in Portimao’s stage. I think this good result is due to my good navigation. I always followed the track whereas most of the other riders lost themselves."