Dakar Rally Update: KTM leading

As the Dakar Rally wends its way through the Chile, the sandy Atacama desert delivering dust and dunes by the truck load, the toll is starting to show on riders with 125 bikes remaining of the 186 that started.

Two-time Dakar winner Marc Coma (KTM) was still the overall leader after stage seven, but Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) has clawed back plenty of time after his unfortunate 10 minute penalty before the weekend, to be 7min 24sec behind Spanish-born Coma in second place overall.

Stage seven was won by local Chilean rider Francisco Lopez (Aprilia), who has shown impressive form in recent days, cementing his spot in third place outright behind Coma and Despres. Fourth place is Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha) while Ruben Faria (KTM) is fifth, both frmo Portugal.

Overall leader Marc Coma has dealt with the dry Atacama desert well, but was honest in his appraisal of the seventh stage: "I suffered in the first part, because I was behind Ruben Faria and I was getting a lot of his dust; it was hard to pass. But in the last part, the sand dunes, I could ride at my own pace."

His ninth Dakar Rally, Coma revealed said "My life revolves around it [the Dakar Rally] - around getting ready and working hard day after day to keep myself competitive and in a position to fight for the win. I'm proud to be part of the Dakar family," he told reporters.

Despres was still very upbeat too, "Today was one of the best days of motocross-type racing of my entire life. Not only was it a beautiful stage, it was also a fantastic one to ride - a really great day, even in terms of results."

An Australian in the auto category, Bruce Garland (Isuzu), crashed out of the Dakar Rally on Friday, after his D-MAX ute got airborne over a sand dune and came down hard, fracturing his vertebra in the process. After the incident, he said he was happy not to be a paraplegic.

Garland told AAP "I felt my spine crunch ... I've landed hard plenty of times but never had this much pain. It was unbelievable.

"I just drove off the main track so we were out of the way of the crazy truck racers, and then I got out and lay down. The hit was so hard on my side that it broke an engine mount. We were lucky that a spectator who obviously knew a lot about cars came out of the crowd and helped Harry get the car sorted.

"I took a couple of Nurofen and then we took it slowly for the last 30km and I went straight to the medical centre," explained Garland.

Garland was in the top 20 at the stage of Friday's stage last week, and was looking for a strong result, but is happy to be able to walk away.

"If it had been a bigger hit or I'd had another knock, I could have ended up a paraplegic, so I do know how lucky I am. I've had to lie really still for the last 24 hours or so, which is a big challenge for someone like me, but you do as you are told in a situation like this. They are making me a special hard brace and I could be ready to come home next week."

Stage eight, to take place on Monday, will consist of 268km of road and then a 508km timed special stage. There is a long and sandy section towards the end of stage, which could prove to be tricky for the dwindling group of riders.

Overall Standings after Stage Six

1. Marc Coma, Spain, KTM, 26:13:50
2. Cyril Despres, Andorra, KTM, at 7:24
3. Francisco (Chaleco) Lopez, Chile, Aprilia, 18:27
4. Helder Rodrigues, Portugal, Yamaha, at 33:04
5. Ruben Faria, Portugal, KTM at 40:53

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