Dakar: Yamaha day 10 notes

With the Malian authorities unable to guarantee the safety of the rally competitors over the next two stages, originally planned to run from Nema, via Mopti, to the rest day in Bobo Dioulasso, the motorcycle competitors enjoyed a day off today, with men and machines being transported by plane to Bamako in Mali.

Yamaha Motor France's David Frétigné, currently heading the 450 class on his two-wheel-drive Yamaha WR450F 2-Trac, commented: “Now I’m a little concerned about the rest of the rally. I had found a good rhythm and I am worried that these three days off will disrupt it and I will have to be very careful when we restart from Bobo. Fortunately I have already learnt to modify my riding style during this event. At the beginning I started each stage as if it was an enduro special. Now, only really since the last two days, I have been starting in a calmer frame of mind, in the knowledge that I have a dozen hours of riding ahead of me.”

Tomorrow the riders are back on their bikes for a neutralised liaison from Bamako to Bobo Dioulasso, where the rally will return to the planned schedule.

Spaniard Nani Roma currently leads the rally by 3’33 from Richard Sainct, with Alfie Cox in third. Frétigné won the first two special stages of the rally and currently lies 12th place overall.