If Cyril Despres can make it through the final stage of the 2012 Dakar rally without his incident, he'll claim his fourth championship in seven years. Despres was able to gain a 12 minute lead over his title rival Marc Coma today during the penultimate stage of the Dakar rally.
Marc Coma had gearbox problems today and Despres was able to take full advantage.
"I am not the kind of person who derives pleasure from the problems of teammates, and even less when it is Marc Coma who is in trouble," Despres said. "I started with the knife between my teeth, knowing he would do the same thing. I took no risks but tried to gain ground on other riders in turns. At the refuelling station I saw I had clawed back 5 minutes from Marc. I then got lost a couple of times; it was never a big problem but I had to stay focused. Today's stage was psychologically very tough. I always wait until the last day to enjoy things. I have seen so many things happen at the Dakar, and even more today. I want to stay calm and enjoy things a bit more."
Coma knows that his mechanical problems may have cost him his fourth Dakar championship, but the KTM rider is happy to be in second place and hopes to finish the rally tomorrow.
"I started very fast, as fast as I could, because I knew it would be difficult to stay in the lead of the rally," Coma said. "25 km into the stage I had a mechanical problem which forced me to slow down. It was a gearbox problem and I feared I would not be able to continue. So I am happy to be here, in second position, which is quite good. I fought throughout the entire rally and gave it everything I had got at all times. That is the way it is. I am disappointed because I was not able to fight until the end."
Helder Rodrigues, who has been in third place for the majority of the rally, took his first stage victory of 2012 today.
