Dakar Rally - Stage 6 results
Dakar Rally Media - Jan 7, 2011

At the end of 6, it is Coma, Despres, Francisco Lopez Contardo, Helder Rodrigues, and Faria.

Since his first appearance on the Dakar, Ruben Faria has won a special each time he has taken part. After losing out on victory on the first stage due to a penalty, Cyril Despres's water carrier won today's special, ahead of his countryman Helder Rodrigues.

Everyone is aware of the historical reputation of Portugal's sturdy navigators of yore, who contributed to discovering the Americas some 500 years ago. Their distant descendents, Ruben Faria and Helder Rodrigues reacquainted themselves with this conquering attitude on the approach to Arica, the day after the stage won by Paulo Gonçalves.

However, it was not patriotic feeling that drove Faria to triumph today, but his sense of duty. Taking starter's orders for the special this morning in 7th place, the partner of Cyril Despres strove to catch up with his team leader as soon as possible to carry out his role of guardian angel. Beforehand, though, Faria had to catch and overtake his countryman but also rival, Helder Rodrigues. However, the Yamaha rider had also decided to pull out all the stops, picking up the best provisional times until the midway point of the stage. It was on the second part of the route that the Despres-Faria duo started to make progress. The situation was uncomfortable for the title holder, who felt worrying vibrations coming from the engine of his KTM, but the results continued to go in Faria's favour. On the finishing line, he picked up the best time with a lead of 50” over Helder Rodrigues.

Faria had this to say after the Stage finish: “It was a very tough stage, very long and bumpy. I started at my own pace, so until the refuelling stop I probably lost some time. After that I accelerated. 200 km from the finish, I overtook Despres, Coma, Rodrigues and Chaleco. I stayed with them, so I think I should have won. As Cyril's water carrier, I always ride sensibly, but there are times when I can take advantage of the situation. I started 7th this morning and that helped me. I think Cyril will be happy for me.”

In the battle for the top of the general standings, the minute regained by Despres brings him to within 8'48” of Marc Coma. The leader at the rest day now has a reduced advantage, in light of the dense programme of sand that awaits the bikers after Arica. The issue of the other places on the podium is also far from settled, because “Chaleco” Lopez, still 3rd, lost a significant amount of his lead over his pursuers. Helder Rodrigues (4th) is only 5 minutes behind, and Faria is almost as threatening, a little more than 7 minutes behind. Such concerns are now very far off for David Casteu, who lost more than five hours to his rivals in the previous day's stage. Now his only hope is to put his Sherco in the limelight by grabbing stage victories.