19 april, 2024
Marc Coma inledde året med att vinna Dakar-rallyt för tredje gången och igår vann hann Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge för femte gången. Tävlingen är den första i "FIM Cross Country Rally World Championship", det vill säga Rally VM för motorcyklar där Coma nu tar ledningen.
– Det känns väldigt stort att få vinna här en femte gång. Vi vet alla att öknen är speciell med växlande förutsättningar och krävande körning i sanddyner och mjuk sand, kommenterade Coma efteråt (under resultatlistan följer en intervju på engelska).
RESULTAT
1. Marc Coma, Spanien, KTM, 18 timmar 28 minuter
2. Helder Rodrigues, Portugal, Yamaha, +5:21 minuter
3. Jakub Przygonski, Polen, KTM +12:43 minuter
4. Frans Verhoeven, Nederländerna, Husqvarna, +17:01 minuter
5. Pål Anders Ullevalseter, Norge, KTM +18:47 minuter
You have just won your fifth Desert Challenge. Share some thoughts with us about what it is like to be back on the bike and racing in the dunes.
This is a good rally. It's a short one but it's really difficult because all the guys are in the dunes together. And the dunes are also very difficult. They are high dunes and the sand is soft and warm. These are really extreme conditions and you know this is my fifth victory here so it's special. I am very happy.
How do you prepare for this short rally when you compare it to the much longer Dakar?
It's completely different. Especially because now its two months after the Dakar and our condition is not at the best point. We know that the first days are difficult but then after that you have the rhythm and you can play a bit. You begin to understand the dunes. In any case the rally is only five days long and you have to be smart with the tactics because you can lose the race with only very small details
Is there any additional pressure for you racing the world championships after winning your third Dakar:
Yes, there is. It's very important that we are going in the right direction and we have to continue like this. I am happy because after winning the Dakar and now winning again, well that's good. We have to continue like that. But we must never forget that there is only one way to get to this point and that's by working, working and working.
