Dakar update: Street wise, KTM duo lead
American Jonah Street has won stage nine of the punishing rally, but it's still a battle at the front between KTM stars Coma and DespresThe 2011 Dakar Rally has spent its last day on the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert, with American Jonah Street (Yamaha) coming out on top after a tricky day of navigation.
After the day of confusion ended, Street was the stage nine winner by three minutes and 38 seconds (3:38) over Belgian Frans Verhoeven (BMW), with David Casteu (Sherco) making it three different marques in the leading positions.
Dakar leader Marc Coma (KTM) was ninth, while defending champion Cyril Despres (KTM) was seventh.
Street improved to 14th overall after his stage win, but is too far out of the hunt to challenge for outright honours.
At the front, Despres has trimmed Coma’s lead to 8:14, with Chaleco Lopez (Aprilia, 23:33)) in a clear third position. The battle for fourth is being fought out between Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha, 1.01:51) and Rubin Faria (KTM 1.21:20).
Jacob Smith remains the only Australian in action, and he sits in 46th position on his Honda.
Stage 10 will take riders from Copiapo to Chilecito -- 686 km of road and a short special of just 176km as they cross back across the Andes and into the hot white dunes of Fiambala.
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