Marc Coma stage 9 report

Stage 9. Marc Coma lost a minute and is still leading

AMV driver still leads to 8 minutes and 14 seconds ahead of Frenchman Cyril Despres.

The ninth stage of the rally, comprising 235 km of timed special and a very short liaison of 35 kms, has seen the American rider Jonah Street (Yamaha) claimed their first win followed by Frans Verhoeven (BMW) and David Casteu (Sherco), second and third respectively.

Marc Coma (KTM) was ninth while two places ahead of his faithful rider Cyril Despres (KTM) who was seventh. In the overall, Marc Coma still has a difference of 8 minutes and 14 seconds, thus, still leads despite losing a minute apart with his pursuer French. Joan Pedrero was twelfth and he is seventh in overall. A great performance, confirming day by day, the AMV pilot is underway in this edition of the Dakar 2011.

MARC COMA Pilot AMV: "The stage of 235 km is not what it seems. It might seem an easy step for some, but was in fact quite the opposite. The huge mountains of sand had their traps and in fact the top riders we have been harmed by following a track incorrectly, which have used the drivers that came back. The pilotage should be different from the last stages, as the dense sand, characteristic of the stage, was very demanding. Tomorrow we will start further back, which it is good for us."

-source: marc coma