Coma wins in Morocco; Despres takes title

From KTM Racing

KTM factory rider Marc Coma snatched overall victory in the final stage of the 2009 Morocco Rally on Friday, a race that also settled another two world championship titles for KTM, the brand's most successful season ever in international offf road competition.

Coma powered his way to glory on him KTM 690 Rally after overall leader, KTM's Cyril Despres picked up a penalty on a controlled zone. But Despres still came away with his second World Championship title in his pocket while Lionel Laine of France also secured the quad division and the World Championship title for KTM after a great season.

Coma was making a comeback to the rally circuit after a serious accident in June in Sardinia while Despres also started while in the recovery phase of a back injury. Going into the final stage it looked very much like the French-born Despres had both the world title and the victory in his pocket, but riding hard in the dust of Jordi Viladoms he missed a speed control by just 10 meters, handing the rally podium to Coma.

Meanwhile, Coma (Spain) won three stage victories and was heading for overall second place before the penalty by Despres moved him up the order. While expressing his pleasure of a successful return to racing he also said he was "sorry for Cyril", his long-time rival.

Despres had the satisfaction of leaving the rally knowing he had won it on the ground, even if the sanction cost him the ultimate race prize.

"I was following Jordi Viladoms in the dust; I did not realize how fast I was going as I entered the controlled speed zone," he said. "Being world champion for the second time is a source of satisfaction. I came here with a serious back injury and the sole intention of securing the world championship title. As it turned out I felt much better on the bike than I had anticipated. That combined with some tactical decisions that paid dividends allowed me to preserve the lead from the third stage."

Coma said he had tried in the fastest parts of the final stage to "look after the mechanics and not be too hard on the tires," he said. "Everything went well and I managed to clinch another stage victory, which shows that as the stages have gone by we have gained more and more confidence. Physically I'm really well and I'm very pleased about how the race went."

Results
1. Marc Coma, Spain, KTM
2. Pal Anders Ullevalseter, Norway, KTM
3. Cyril Despres, Andorra, KTM