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2012 Dakar Rally Results

In spring of 2011, Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez suffered a heavy crash during the Rally of Tunisia, breaking various bones.

"Chaleco," which means "sweater," underwent six surgeries, and didn’t get back into competition aboard the Team Aprilia RSX until the Pharaons Rally; during that race, the 36-year-old finished in 36th position.

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But the Chilean rider remained determined, and trained endlessly for the 2012 Dakar Rally. And his training paid off – Lopez took Stage One in the 33rd edition of the Dakar Rally, topping three-time Dakar winner Marc Coma (MRW Red Bull AVM KTM 450 Rally) by 14 seconds.

Taking the final podium position in Stage One was Argentina’s Javier Pizzolito (Honda).

The stage took the riders from Mar del Plata to Santa Rosa de Lap Pampa in Argentina, a trek of over 474 miles, with the first 35 timed.

Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez (Aprilia RSX) says: "I’ve been cautious, I started very fast this morning because the first part of the special stage was hard and there were many spectators. The Dakar´s first stage must always be faced with caution, avoiding risks and it is useful to take the race rhythm. Fortunately, the last 20 km were fast and I succeeded guiding in an aggressive way, showing of the power of my Aprilia.

"I did not get off to a very fast start this morning, since the first part of the special stage was quite tough, with all the dunes and all those spectators. Moreover, the first special of the Dakar is always more challenging, since you need to find your focus on the race, and the new GPS is somewhat smaller, so I really was very careful. Fortunately, the special’s last 20 kilometers were very fast and I was able to drive much more aggressively."

The highest-placed American was JCR Honda’s Quinn Cody, who took fourth aboard the CRX. As for three-time Dakar winner Cyril Despres, the Frenchman finished 13th aboard the Red Bull KTM 450 Rally, 1:48 behind Chaleco.

During Stage Two on Monday, the riders will endure a timed special of 186 miles as they go from Santa Roas to San Rafael, Argentina. 

2012 Dakar Rally Results: Motorcycles Stage One Results

Pos. N° Name Mark Time variation Penalty

1

 4
  • LOPEZ (CHL)

APRILIA

 00:32:37 – –

2

 1
  • COMA (ESP)

KTM

 00:32:51 00:00:14 –

3

 27
  • PIZZOLITO (ARG)

HONDA

 00:33:04 00:00:27 –

4

 9
  • CODY (USA)

HONDA

 00:33:07 00:00:30 –

5

 11
  • PRZYGONSKI (POL)

KTM

 00:33:26 00:00:49 –

6

 23
  • BARREDA BORT (ESP)

HUSQVARNA

 00:33:34 00:00:57 –

7

 36
  • SUNDERLAND (GBR)

HONDA

 00:33:42 00:01:05 –

8

 8
  • FARIA (PRT)

KTM

 00:33:55 00:01:18 –

9

 14
  • CASTEU (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:34:03 00:01:26 –

10

 19
  • STREET (USA)

YAMAHA

 00:34:07 00:01:30 –

11

 6
  • ULLEVALSETER (NOR)

KTM

 00:34:18 00:01:41 –

12

 16
  • PAIN (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:34:20 00:01:43 –

13

 2
  • DESPRES (FRA)

KTM

 00:34:25 00:01:48 –

14

 15
  • VERHOEVEN (NLD)

SHERCO

 00:34:26 00:01:49 –

15

 3
  • RODRIGUES (PRT)

YAMAHA

 00:34:28 00:01:51 –

16

 7
  • GONCALVES (PRT)

HUQSVARNA

 00:34:34 00:01:57 –

17

 25
  • GOUET (CHL)

HONDA

 00:34:56 00:02:19 –

18

 5
  • PEDRERO GARCIA (ESP)

KTM

 00:35:01 00:02:24 –

19

 10
  • VILADOMS (ESP)

KTM

 00:35:02 00:02:25 –

20

 21
  • AUBERT (FRA)

KTM

 00:35:06 00:02:29 –

21

 34
  • BOTTURI (ITA)

KTM

 00:35:40 00:03:03 –

22

 20
  • FARRES GUELL (ESP)

KTM

 00:35:49 00:03:12 –

23

 32
  • SVITKO (SVK)

KTM

 00:35:49 00:03:12 –

24

 49
  • DABROWSKI (POL)

KTM

 00:35:49 00:03:12 –

25

 22
  • DUCLOS (FRA)

APRILIA

 00:35:51 00:03:14 –

26

 28
  • ZANOL (BRA)

KTM

 00:35:52 00:03:15 –

27

 18
  • KNUIMAN (NLD)

KTM

 00:35:53 00:03:16 –

28

 26
  • RODRIGUES FILHO (BRA)

HUSQVARNA

 00:36:09 00:03:32 –

29

 24
  • STANOVNIK (SVN)

KTM

 00:36:46 00:04:09 –

30

 35
  • CECI (ITA)

KTM

 00:37:17 00:04:40 –

31

 82
  • GUINDANI (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:37:19 00:04:42 –

32

 31
  • JAKES (SVK)

BMW

 00:37:26 00:04:49 –

33

 37
  • KLAUMANN (BRA)

HUSQVARNA

 00:37:33 00:04:56 –

34

 57
  • WILLEMSEN (NLD)

HONDA

 00:37:38 00:05:01 –

35

 47
  • ZANOTTI (ITA)

TM

 00:37:47 00:05:10 –

36

 12
  • PELLICER (ESP)

HUSQVARNA

 00:38:06 00:05:29 –

37

 148
  • GOMEZ (ARG)

YAMAHA

 00:38:06 00:05:29 –

38

 39
  • GYENES (ROU)

KTM

 00:38:09 00:05:32 –

39

 110
  • BIRCH (NZL)

KTM

 00:38:28 00:05:51 –

40

 40
  • SERRADORI (FRA)

KTM

 00:38:31 00:05:54 –

41

 30
  • GUASCH (ESP)

GAS – GAS

 00:38:34 00:05:57 –

42

 29
  • BERGLUND (SWE)

HUSABERG

 00:38:35 00:05:58 –

43

 183
  • RODRIGUEZ (ARG)

HONDA

 00:38:40 00:06:03 –

44

 113
  • FAGGOTTER (AUS)

HUSABERG

 00:38:41 00:06:04 –

45

 64
  • SCHRÖDER (DEU)

KTM

 00:38:49 00:06:12 –

46

 68
  • BARROT (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:38:52 00:06:15 –

47

 50
  • SALVATIERRA (BOL)

HONDA

 00:38:53 00:06:16 –

48

 17
  • CZACHOR (POL)

KTM

 00:38:57 00:06:20 –

49

 48
  • LIEFHEBBER (NLD)

KTM

 00:38:59 00:06:22 –

50

 66
  • LORMAND (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:39:00 00:06:23 –

51

 51
  • ARREDONDO (GTM)

KTM

 00:39:02 00:06:25 –

52

 44
  • DA COSTA (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:39:08 00:06:31 –

53

 33
  • BETHYS (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:39:29 00:06:52 –

54

 157
  • CERDERA (ARG)

KAWASAKI

 00:39:44 00:07:07 –

55

 86
  • MUNK (DNK)

KTM

 00:40:18 00:07:41 –

56

 46
  • BIANCHI PRATA (PRT)

HUSQUARNA

 00:40:23 00:07:46 –

57

 43
  • PISANO (FRA)

KTM

 00:40:24 00:07:47 –

58

 168
  • GUIRAL (ARG)

HONDA

 00:40:36 00:07:59 –

59

 144
  • CURTIS (ZAF)

KTM

 00:40:36 00:07:59 –

60

 53
  • RODRIGUEZ (CHL)

HONDA

 00:40:36 00:07:59 –

61

 38
  • BESNIER (FRA)

APRILIA

 00:40:51 00:08:14 –

62

 73
  • BONY (FRA)

KTM

 00:41:02 00:08:25 –

63

 185
  • SANCHEZ (ARG)

KAWASAKI

 00:41:05 00:08:28 –

64

 98
  • BLONDEAU (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:41:08 00:08:31 –

65

 70
  • JAMETT (CHL)

HUSQUARNA

 00:41:32 00:08:55 –

66

 55
  • MERKIT (TUR)

KTM

 00:41:45 00:09:08 –

67

 89
  • NASCIMENTO (BRA)

HONDA

 00:41:59 00:09:22 –

68

 97
  • LAGRIVE (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:42:01 00:09:24 –

69

 75
  • BUSIN (ARG)

YAMAHA

 00:42:02 00:09:25 –

70

 42
  • PROHENS (CHL)

HONDA

 00:42:03 00:09:26 –

71

 145
  • NUTTALL (AUS)

KTM

 00:42:28 00:09:51 –

72

 84
  • CARILLON (FRA)

KTM

 00:42:34 00:09:57 –

73

 56
  • MENARD (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:42:37 00:10:00 –

74

 77
  • PICCO (ITA)

YAMAHA

 00:42:37 00:10:00 –

75

 81
  • SUESSE (USA)

KTM

 00:42:44 00:10:07 –

76

 72
  • GOUNON (FRA)

KTM

 00:42:45 00:10:08 –

77

 173
  • MALO (ECU)

KTM

 00:42:46 00:10:09 –

78

 169
  • HEINRICH DEL VALLE (PER)

KTM

 00:42:53 00:10:16 –

79

 79
  • BOULANGER (FRA)

APRILIA

 00:42:54 00:10:17 –

80

 45
  • SANZ PLA-GILIBERT (ESP)

GAS – GAS

 00:43:00 00:10:23 –

81

 69
  • PAYEN (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:43:10 00:10:33 –

82

 62
  • SCHWARZ (AUS)

HUSABERG

 00:43:18 00:10:41 –

83

 41
  • PROHENS (CHL)

HONDA

 00:43:24 00:10:47 –

84

 61
  • MATTOS (BRA)

KTM

 00:43:27 00:10:50 –

85

 92
  • HAMARD (FRA)

KTM

 00:43:31 00:10:54 –

86

 172
  • LUCCHESE (ITA)

HUSABERG

 00:43:43 00:11:06 –

87

 60
  • WATT (GBR)

KTM

 00:43:48 00:11:11 –

88

 76
  • PEDERZOLI (ITA)

YAMAHA

 00:43:50 00:11:13 –

89

 134
  • SERRA RIPOLL (ESP)

HONDA

 00:44:03 00:11:26 –

90

 119
  • DOLLEVOET (NLD)

HONDA

 00:44:07 00:11:30 –

91

 94
  • WEI (CHN)

JINCHENG

 00:44:10 00:11:33 –

92

 87
  • MEILLAT (FRA)

KAWASAKI

 00:44:20 00:11:43 –

93

 115
  • BASSI (ARG)

YAMAHA

 00:44:24 00:11:47 –

94

 164
  • DEMELCHORI (ARG)

KAWASAKI

 00:44:36 00:11:59 –

95

 184
  • SAKIR (TUR)

KTM

 00:44:39 00:12:02 –

96

 154
  • GAJDOSECH (ARG)

YAMAHA

 00:44:55 00:12:18 –

97

 63
  • SAGHMEISTER (SRB)

KTM

 00:44:57 00:12:20 –

98

 65
  • LAZARD (URY)

YAMAHA

 00:45:00 00:12:23 –

99

 122
  • PALANTE (BEL)

KTM

 00:45:04 00:12:27 –

100

 58
  • PUERTAS HERRERA (ESP)

YAMAHA

 00:45:13 00:12:36 –

101

 177
  • VAN GEEL (NLD)

HONDA

 00:45:29 00:12:52 –

102

 114
  • FESANI (ITA)

RIEJU

 00:45:30 00:12:53 –

103

 186
  • VAN GERVEN (NLD)

HONDA

 00:45:32 00:12:55 –

104

 179
  • PETRONE (ARG)

BETA

 00:45:34 00:12:57 –

105

 178
  • VAN WOERKUM (NLD)

HONDA

 00:45:40 00:13:03 –

106

 151
  • BEALUSTEGUI (ARG)

YAMAHA

 00:45:47 00:13:10 –

107

 159
  • CHITTICK (AUS)

HONDA

 00:45:47 00:13:10 –

108

 74
  • KOFMAN (NLD)

KTM

 00:45:56 00:13:19 –

109

 165
  • MULDER (NLD)

HONDA

 00:46:05 00:13:28 –

110

 124
  • TARLINGTON (AUS)

KTM

 00:46:08 00:13:31 –

111

 96
  • CID DE LA PAZ (ARG)

BETA

 00:46:08 00:13:31 –

112

 100
  • VESELY (CZE)

YAMAHA

 00:46:10 00:13:33 –

113

 181
  • RIOS (PER)

KTM

 00:46:21 00:13:44 –

114

 131
  • THEURIOT (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:46:42 00:14:05 –

115

 150
  • BELAUSTEGUI (ARG)

KTM

 00:46:46 00:14:09 –

116

 152
  • TER BEEK (NLD)

HONDA

 00:46:47 00:14:10 –

117

 104
  • DE BENEDICTIS NETO (BRA)

KTM

 00:47:17 00:14:40 –

118

 71
  • BUTUZA (ROU)

KTM

 00:47:20 00:14:43 –

119

 59
  • CIOTTI (ITA)

RIEJU

 00:47:21 00:14:44 –

120

 80
  • PASCUAL (ARG)

JINCHENG

 00:47:35 00:14:58 –

121

 95
  • MAZET (FRA)

KTM

 00:47:43 00:15:06 –

122

 149
  • CIPKA (SVK)

BMW

 00:47:47 00:15:10 –

123

 102
  • ALAN (ARG)

YAMAHA

 00:47:50 00:15:13 –

124

 109
  • BUDWEG (BRA)

KTM

 00:47:50 00:15:13 –

125

 138
  • LECOQ (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:48:00 00:15:23 –

126

 140
  • REINIKE (CHL)

KTM

 00:48:38 00:16:01 –

127

 153
  • BEKTAS (TUR)

KTM

 00:48:40 00:16:03 –

128

 116
  • GEOFFROY (FRA)

HONDA

 00:48:51 00:16:14 –

129

 93
  • GOMEZ (ESP)

BMW

 00:48:56 00:16:19 –

130

 67
  • BALOOSHI (ARE)

KTM

 00:48:57 00:16:20 –

131

 107
  • BODINGER (SWE)

HUSABERG

 00:48:57 00:16:20 –

132

 170
  • KREIDL (AUT)

KTM

 00:48:58 00:16:21 –

133

 85
  • PENATE MUNOZ (ESP)

KTM

 00:49:09 00:16:32 –

134

 120
  • ILLANES (CHL)

HUSQVARNA

 00:49:15 00:16:38 –

135

 137
  • COUE (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:49:41 00:17:04 –

136

 176
  • RAAF (ZAF)

KTM

 00:49:41 00:17:04 –

137

 101
  • SULEM (FRA)

KTM

 00:49:43 00:17:06 –

138

 188
  • CONGER (USA)

HUSQUARNA

 00:49:45 00:17:08 –

139

 91
  • TONETTI (ITA)

HONDA

 00:50:01 00:17:24 –

140

 127
  • KARATHANASSIS (GRC)

YAMAHA

 00:50:33 00:17:56 –

141

 78
  • ROMERO FONT (ESP)

KTM

 00:50:39 00:18:02 –

142

 105
  • BARRON (PER)

KTM

 00:51:11 00:18:34 –

143

 121
  • DAVIDSON (AUS)

KTM

 00:51:17 00:18:40 –

144

 129
  • DEPOORTER (BEL)

KTM

 00:51:27 00:18:50 –

145

 136
  • IGARIS (LTU)

YAMAHA

 00:51:56 00:19:19 –

146

 135
  • SCOTT-WILLIAMS (ZAF)

KTM

 00:52:05 00:19:28 –

147

 126
  • MUTELET (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:52:39 00:20:02 –

148

 112
  • GUYOMARC’H (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:53:01 00:20:24 –

149

 130
  • DETANG (FRA)

SHERCO

 00:53:15 00:20:38 –

150

 117
  • GHITTI (ITA)

KTM

 00:53:32 00:20:55 –

151

 143
  • PAILLÉ (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:53:59 00:21:22 –

152

 155
  • GALLO (ITA)

YAMAHA

 00:54:02 00:21:25 –

153

 90
  • DIGUIET (FRA)

KTM

 00:54:44 00:22:07 –

154

 156
  • BARBERY (ARG)

BETA

 00:54:53 00:22:16 –

155

 125
  • ASTORI (ITA)

KTM

 00:55:04 00:22:27 –

156

 99
  • CHERPIN (FRA)

KTM

 00:55:05 00:22:28 –

157

 128
  • ANO (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:55:26 00:22:49 –

158

 108
  • STEVENSON (ZAF)

KTM

 00:55:28 00:22:51 –

159

 106
  • EMBRO (USA)

KTM

 00:55:58 00:23:21 –

160

 111
  • ESPINASSE (FRA)

SHERCO

 00:56:52 00:24:15 –

161

 171
  • LORENZETTI (ARG)

KTM

 00:57:04 00:24:27 –

162

 139
  • GARD (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:58:58 00:26:21 –

163

 161
  • ORLANDO (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:58:59 00:26:22 –

164

 162
  • FLAMBERT (FRA)

YAMAHA

 00:59:05 00:26:28 –

165

 166
  • PANIGALLI (ITA)

YAMAHA

 00:59:53 00:27:16 –

166

 142
  • CAREVIC (CHL)

YAMAHA

 01:00:07 00:27:30 –

167

 187
  • YOUNGER (GBR)

KTM

 01:00:19 00:27:42 –

168

 147
  • STANFIELD (USA)

KTM

 01:01:02 00:28:25 –

169

 163
  • CHAPSAL (FRA)

KTM

 01:01:26 00:28:49 –

170

 158
  • VELLUTINO (PER)

KTM

 01:01:39 00:29:02 –

171

 182
  • ZATKO (SVK)

BMW

 01:02:14 00:29:37 –

172

 180
  • PICKERING (GBR)

KTM

 01:02:20 00:29:43 –

173

 167
  • DEZEIRAUD (FRA)

KTM

 01:02:34 00:29:57 –

174

 132
  • FRIGERIO (ITA)

BETA

 01:02:45 00:30:08 –

175

 160
  • HAMEL (FRA)

YAMAHA

 01:04:20 00:31:43 –

176

 174
  • MARTÍNEZ (ESP)

KAWASAKI

 01:13:51 00:41:14 –

177

 133
  • SCHNEIDER (FRA)

SHERCO

 02:02:32 01:29:55 –
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Ron Lieback
Ron Lieback
One of the few moto journalists based on the East Coast, Lieback joined the motorcycle industry as a freelancer in 2007, and is currently Online Editor at Ultimate Motorcycling.

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