Faria wins sixth Dakar stage

From KTM Racing

KTM factory rider Ruben Faria of Portugal took line honours on Friday in Stage Six of the 33rd edition of the fames Dakar Rally after what the KTM riders agreed was a very tough day in the coastal desert of Northern Chile. Cyril Despres was third and Marc Coma finished fourth and still retains the overall lead from Despres by 8:48.  
       
Faria said it was a very tough stage that was long and bumpy.

"I started at my own pace, so until the refueling stop I probably lost some time," he explained. "After that I accelerated and I overtook Despres, Coma, Rodrigues and Chaleco (Lopez) 200km from the finish.

"As Cyril's water carrier, I always ride sensibly, but there are times when I can take advantage of the situation. I started seventh this morning and that helped me. I think Cyril will be happy for me."

It was in fact the second time Faria has taken line honours in this edition. He was first over the line in Stage One but then had to concede the stage to Despres after being handed down a minute's penalty by organizers.

Despres also said the day had been a difficult one as riders traveled from Iquique to Arica through Chile's coastal desert strip that looks like a moonscape. They started the day with a 50km ride though the sand before moving onto off-track sections in salt flats before finishing in the dreaded ‘fesh-fesh', the fine, talc-like sand that is feared by all riders. He finished the stage in third place just 3:54 behind Faria and is now in second place overall, trailing Coma by 8:48 as the rally pauses Saturday for the one rest day.

Coma came home in fourth place and like his team members also talked about a tough day in the saddle.

"It was a very hard stage, at the start with the dunes, then with all the navigation, because it was very technical until around the 200km point," he admitted. "It was a very restrictive stage and was hard to open the way. It was like I was stood still and was still in the same place since there was so much ‘fesh-fesh'. It was a really hard stage."

The rally resumes on Sunday after a welcome respite for riders and their support teams traveling with them and there is more of the same waiting for the riders and Stage Seven from Arica to Antofagasta will be another very hard day. The stage offers a 208km liaison and a mammoth 631km in two stages of special down to the shores of the Pacific. They can look forward to 40km of endurance style riding and plenty of dunes that are going to test both their skill as riders and their physical and mental fitness.

Stage Six Results
1. Ruben Faria, Portugal, KTM, 5:35:27
2. Helder Rodrigues, Portugal, Yamaha, at 00:50
3. Cyril Despres, Andorra, KTM, at 3:54
4. Marc Coma, Spain, KTM, at 5:20
5. Stefan Svitko, Slovakia, KTM, at 8:07

Standings after Stage Six
1. Marc Coma, Spain, KTM, 22:40:20
2. Cyril Despres, Andorra, KTM, at 8:48
3. Francisco (Chaleco) Lopez, Chile, Aprilia, 22:12
4. Helder Rodrigues, Portugal, Yamaha, at 27:35
5. Ruben Faria, Portugal, KTM at 29:54