Coma wins fourth Dakar
It was a one-two for Spain and KTM in the 2014 Dakar Rally, with Marc Coma doing the business ahead of Jordi Viladoms. Yamaha's Olivier Pain was thirdMarc Coma coasted into Valparaiso, Chile, on Saturday, January 18 to pick up his fourth individual Dakar title and KTM’s 13th victory in the gruelling rally.
Coma’s factory teammate Jordi Viladoms made it a memorable day for the Austrian manufacturer by finishing second overall, with the top five completed by Yamaha duo Olivier Pain and 2013 champion Cyril Despres and Paolo Rodrigues (Honda).
Coma dedicated the win to “my friend Kurt Caselli”. Caselli, part of the Red Bull KTM Factory team was killed in a race accident in November, 2013.
“Without the right people behind me it would have been impossible to win,” Coma said. “We have worked very well throughout the race and also before. Last year I went through a very difficult situation not being able to compete because of injury and I came back to win the race.
“I think this says a lot about the people I have around me. I am very proud of this victory. What was key to winning the Dakar was not to make any mistakes.”
It was perhaps Coma’s finest victory in his Dakar Career as he led the overall standings from stage five. He completed the 13-stage, near 9000 km course in 54 hours, 50 minutes and 53 seconds, almost two hours ahead of Viladoms.
Coma, first won in Africa in 2006. He then repeated his success in 2009 and 2011 after the Dakar was relocated to South America. He did not compete in 2013 because of injury.
Understandably, going into the final stage with a massive lead, Coma took it easy in the, finishing in 18th place. However the main focus for KTM was whether Viladoms was going to be able to finish second.
Going into stage 13 he was challenged for the podium spot by Pain and Despres, but his sixth place proved more than enough to give him second place on the podium.
The 2014 Dakar also represented a return to its roots in terms of levels of toughness that saw only 78 bikes of the original field of 196 starters in the final stage 13.
The highest place Australian finisher was Shane Diener (Yamaha), in 38th position, one spot ahead of Allan Roberts (KTM). Full final results, click here.
For the review of the truck section, click here.
US - Stage 13 - Car/Bike - Stage Summary - (La...
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