Dakar Update – Despres Wins

Stage 8 – Isidre Esteve suffered a gearbox failure and came in 34th.  Marc Coma won yet another stage and Cyril Despres tried everything but could only manage 2nd.  The race is slipping away from the Frenchman now as Coma really stamps his authority on the 2007 Dakar.

I hope we didn't give Francisco Lopez bad luck with our mention of him yesterday.  The Chilean was leading the 450 category but is now on the long list of withdrawals after stage 8.  The lone Honda now disappears from the time sheets.

Norway's, Pal Anders Ullevalseter brought his KTM home in 3rd.  He said after the stage that from the 150km mark, Coma just cleared out and was impossible to keep up with.  Esteve commented on the scenery after completing the last 530km in 1st gear at around 40km/h!

Stage 9 is a short one at only 497km, but 494 of them are timed, so it's a flat out day over a variety of terrain from sand to rocky areas.  The top 12 is, as always, KTM dominated, 10 of 12 spots are orange.