Coma conquers Sertoes Rally

From KTM Racing

KTM's Spanish rider Marc Coma was in fine form on the final day to take overall victory in this year's Sertões International Rally.

Coma, a KTM factory rider and multiple winner of the notorious Dakar Rally took his first Sertões title with an overall winning margin of 17 minutes 25.50 seconds.

Coma coasted home in comfort in the final of the 10 stages to finish eighth and seal the overall win after traveling from Sobral to Fortaleza. He won three stages and apart from the final day was always among the top three in the daily reckoning.

Brazilian Felipe Zanol came second and Poland's KTM rider Kuba Przygonski was overall third.

"The rally was quite long," Coma said. "Now is the time to enjoy the victory. Sertões has very particular characteristics not found anywhere else in the world. The first stages were very difficult for me because I use a slightly larger bike for the demands of this type of rally."

Coma said it was a shame that his close rival Ze Helio (five-time winner of the Sertões Rally) had problems that took him out of contention for the final title when he failed to finish Stage Three after he hit a rock and punctured an oil intercooler.

"I had to ride very concentrated, not making mistakes and always with the goal of finishing the special among the top three. It was particularly important for me to win here because it is the title that was missing from my collection," the Spanish rider concluded.

Coma competed on the KTM 690 EXC, the farewell rally for him on this bike.

Results
1. Marc Coma, France, KTM
2. Felipe Zanol, Brazil, Honda
3. Kuba Przygonski, Poland, KTM
4. David Casteu, France, Sherco
5. Dario Lopez de Souza, Brazil, Honda
6. Jacek Czachor, Poland, KTM