Dakar2012: Day 11 from Bikes in the Fast Lane

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Dakar2012: Day 11

January
2012

  File under Dakar Race
  Author: Mike Werner
  Location: Normandy, France

The Dakar is entering in its final phase, the last few days, and only seconds separate the two leaders. The rally has entered in Peru, unknown territory for all competitors.

It's day 12 that will be the decider for all categories, motorcycles, cars, quads and trucks. The dunes they will have to cross are equal to none, and are uncharted, so many will get stuck, and many will get lost, even the favorites.

My guess is whoever wins Day 12, which falls on Friday 13th, wins the race.

It has become apparent in this Dakar that the two upcoming competitors for the next years are, again, French and Spanish; Johnny Aubert

and Joan Barreda respectively. They are impressive, and since its their first Dakar, they are doing more than better.

Cyril Despres

: "Another hard day today, but apart from a small, low speed crash I’m pleased with how the stage went. Once again Marc and I had a real tough battle, swapping the lead several times before I finally got in front at the finish of the second special. If it carries on like this, with the two of us taking back two minutes from each other alternate days, it is going to be a very exciting end of rally for the spectators and a very nerve racking one for us!"

Marc Coma

: "Today we had a mixture of several types of terrain. It was fast hard packed earth, sandy and stony. It was predictable that Cyril would gain time on me today but I'm going to try my utmost right until the end. There are three days left to give it everything. It's difficult to define a strategy when Cyril is riding flat out in front. I'll just have to follow him. It won't be flat out, but the pace will again be quick, like it has been since the beginning of the race."

Here are the photos of yesterday. courtesy KTM

and Maragni M.

. Photos can be enlarged by clicking on them after they have all fully loaded