Declarations
bike
Jean De Azevedo (BRE - KTM - 4ème)
Until kilometre 173, the stage was very technically demanding, but then it became very fast in spite of the dust.
After CP1, I caught up Street, but I was very bothered by his dust and I couldn’t overtake him.
I really like this kind of stage, since it looks like the tracks I am used to practicing on in Brazil."
bike
After CP1, I caught up Street, but I was very bothered by his dust and I couldn’t overtake him.
I really like this kind of stage, since it looks like the tracks I am used to practicing on in Brazil."
Marc Coma (ESP - KTM - 2th)
It was very dusty today and the tracks looked really like the one we had in Mali. The ground was supposed to be in laterite, but there was many holes. So, it was quite dangerous. I rode at my pace, without attacking. I will only have to check a few things, but nothing serious."
bike
Chris Blais (USA - KTM - 3rd)
"I rode at my pace, without taking risks. But I fell twice, what ususaly never happen to me. The first fell was a little one at very low speed. And on the second one I slipt on the side of the road, but without any serious consquences. I am fourth at the overall ranking. ,It would be fanatstic if I could still be fourth in Dakar."
bike
Jonah Street (USA - PAI Rally Pan America - 5ème)
"It is another good day for me after yesterday’s good result. I really appreciate this kind of track, with dust and holes. But my bike can’t compare to the leaders’ones. When Coma overtook me, I couldn’t stay in touch. Tonight, I am in the Top 20. It’s great but is very far from my original goal. I thought I could be in the top 10, but I lade big mistakes in Morocco, I missed some waypoints in Mauritania, but, above all I was really penalized by my lack of speed."
bike
Cyril Despres (FRA - KTM - 1st)
"It was a very nice stage, a bit like on the Tour de France. On the liaison, there were thousands of peaople. What a beautiful country! The special itself was technical, with holes and branches on the ground. There were also a few rivers to cross, but nothing serious, just deep enough to refresh my feet. I know that I can’t easily gain the time I lost. And beingt second in Dakar with a wrist tendonitis, it is defintely not too bad."