2012 Dakar Rally
Three-time Dakar winner Marc Coma was unbeatable Wednesday, taking the Stage-Four win of the 2012 Dakar Rally.
The stage took the motorcycle riders from San Juan to Chilecito, and consisted of a 202-mile special, which the MRW Red Bull AMV KTM 450 Rally rider Coma covered in 4 hours, 16 minutes and 43 seconds.
Coma beat his rival and teammate Cyril Despres by 2:02, but still trails the Frenchman overall by 8:10 after four of 14 stages.
On Thursday, Stage Five will take Coma and his water carrier Joan Pedrero, who finished sixth Wednesday and is eighth overall, from Chilecito to Fiambala. The route will include 258 miles, 164 of which will be timed. During the stage, there is almost 62 miles of sand dunes, which increases the difficulty of stage.
Marc Coma (MRW Red Bull AMV KTM 450 Rally) says: “As the kilometres went by, we found a stage that was increasingly difficult. The first part was fast and nice to ride, and we could try to get a good speed, but then the difficulty started to increase. We found a river with a lot of water, which made us suffer a lot.
“Afterwards with the mud, as I started to have problems with the front brake. In the last few kilometres of the race the brake failed and I had to lower the pace, but I’m happy with this win, because to finish today was already a victory.
“We will keep working every day, fighting at each kilometre, and we will see, because today wasn’t easy for anyone. In such an extreme situation, any small problem can make a difference.”
Joan Pedrero (MRW Red Bull AMV KTM 450 Rally) says: “My assessment of today’s stage is very positive, because I started very far behind because I stopped yesterday to help Cody and I had to start sixteenth. I was able to improve and I had a lot of fun, but it was a tough and complicated stage.
“There was a lot of mud and places where the track was broken. Also, starting behind so many riders I had a lot of dust, but I finished sixth and I am very happy. The important thing is that I am setting a good pace and I ride more confidently reading the road book.”
