Al-Attiyah grabs overall lead
Source: Agencies |
January 5, 2010, Tuesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
QATARI driver Nasser Al-Attiyah won the second stage of the Dakar Rally on Sunday in Argentina, a victory which also gave him the overall lead ahead of Volkswagen teammate Carlos Sainz of Spain and France's Stephane Peterhansel in a BMW.
In the motorbikes category, David Fretigne on a Yamaha was the stage winner, but David Casteau's second-place finish was enough to give him the overall lead. Marc Coma finished third in the stage from Cordoba to La Rioja in north central Argentina.
"Everything is going great," Al-Attiyah said. "Not being happy with today's stage would be hard to do. The conditions were pretty difficult. There was rain, fog - a bit of everything. But it was a good experience because we made no mistake at all."
German driver Mirco Schultis and Swiss partner Ulrich Leardi withdrew from the rally after their 4x4 veered off the course in the first stage on Saturday and rammed into a group of spectators, causing fatal injuries to 28-year-old Sonia Natalia Gallardo.
The spectators were reportedly standing in an unauthorized area when the crash took place.
The grueling race was moved to Argentina and Chile last year due to safety concerns and the possibility of a terrorist attack in Africa.
Al-Attiyah holds a 1-minute, 19-second lead over Sainz in the overall standings with Peterhansel 2:30 behind. French driver Guerlain Chicherit in a BMW was second in the stage, ahead of Volkswagen's Mauricio Neves. Sainz was fourth.
BMW driver Nani Roma, winner of the first stage, rolled his car early in the second stage and lost about 15 minutes to leave him in eighth place in the overall standings.
"In the beginning of the stage, I mistook a curve," Roma explained. "The car slipped. I tried to keep it on the trail but I somersaulted twice. I ended up on my wheels in a small gulch. I was able to get out of it so I am very happy to be here in one piece."
In the bike category, Fretigne finished 43 seconds ahead of Casteu's Sherco and 1:08 in front of Coma's KTM. Casteu's lead in the overall standings was 2:10 ahead of Cyril Despres on a KTM and 2:14 ahead of Fretigne's Yahama.
The third stage goes from La Rioja to Fiambala.
In the motorbikes category, David Fretigne on a Yamaha was the stage winner, but David Casteau's second-place finish was enough to give him the overall lead. Marc Coma finished third in the stage from Cordoba to La Rioja in north central Argentina.
"Everything is going great," Al-Attiyah said. "Not being happy with today's stage would be hard to do. The conditions were pretty difficult. There was rain, fog - a bit of everything. But it was a good experience because we made no mistake at all."
German driver Mirco Schultis and Swiss partner Ulrich Leardi withdrew from the rally after their 4x4 veered off the course in the first stage on Saturday and rammed into a group of spectators, causing fatal injuries to 28-year-old Sonia Natalia Gallardo.
The spectators were reportedly standing in an unauthorized area when the crash took place.
The grueling race was moved to Argentina and Chile last year due to safety concerns and the possibility of a terrorist attack in Africa.
Al-Attiyah holds a 1-minute, 19-second lead over Sainz in the overall standings with Peterhansel 2:30 behind. French driver Guerlain Chicherit in a BMW was second in the stage, ahead of Volkswagen's Mauricio Neves. Sainz was fourth.
BMW driver Nani Roma, winner of the first stage, rolled his car early in the second stage and lost about 15 minutes to leave him in eighth place in the overall standings.
"In the beginning of the stage, I mistook a curve," Roma explained. "The car slipped. I tried to keep it on the trail but I somersaulted twice. I ended up on my wheels in a small gulch. I was able to get out of it so I am very happy to be here in one piece."
In the bike category, Fretigne finished 43 seconds ahead of Casteu's Sherco and 1:08 in front of Coma's KTM. Casteu's lead in the overall standings was 2:10 ahead of Cyril Despres on a KTM and 2:14 ahead of Fretigne's Yahama.
The third stage goes from La Rioja to Fiambala.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
