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On Monday, the rest day at Bobo
Dioulasso, Fabrizio Meoni confidently assured, “I’m waiting for the
Mauritanian stage.” Meoni knew, on that day he would be able to
present his skills. A farewell performance? After all Meoni said,
too: “Maybe this is my last Dakar rally. I’m 47-years-old and I
think it is normal that I’m thinking about quitting. One has to
accept his limits. I’ll probably never race more cautious in the
future either. But I don’t want to take such a risk. One has to be
modest enough to recognize his age. I’m not immortal.”
Today Fabrizio Meoni was able to show
just how great he can perform. And he was content with himself.
Arriving at the bivouac in Nauakchott the pleasant Italian
exclaimed, “Today was the first day that everything went the way I
wanted. I didn’t make any mistake and my motorcycle was running very
well. It was a great race. Maybe I have a chance to win again
tomorrow.”
Richard Sainct managed to gain some time, but it looks like Nani
Roma isn’t about to give up his leadership. The Spaniard arrived in
3rd position. After arrival at the bivouac he kept to himself
looking for rest. Jordi Arcarons, his team manager, knew exactly
why, “The race is not over yet. Just imagine some little repairs
need to be made then the 7 minutes lead on Richard will quickly melt
away. Isidre is riding too far in the back; he can’t help Nani
quickly enough. Tomorrow Nani needs to ride very careful, very
relaxed. Tomorrow’s stage is the last one that counts. Hopefully,
he’ll safely get to Dakar.”
At this time of the race everyone within the large KTM-team is
content with the long Spaniard winning the rally. Fabrizio Meoni
states, “Nani has tried it so many times now. He really deserves it.
And with the time gap he has got he can surely reach Dakar in the
top position. That is his opportunity now.”
Gilles Salvador, manager of the
team Gauloises KTM France, judges just as fair. “I want it for Nani
and Spain. It is a race and there is only one winner. Next year it
is maybe Richard again or maybe Cyril to lead the pack. The KTM
teams and the individual riders are fighting passionately in the
race. But when they reach the finish they all get along great!”
The fight for the 3rd position is still loaded with suspense: Cyril
Despres against Alfie Cox – youthful ambitions against long lasting
experience. Only 43 seconds separate the two. “43 seconds,” states
Alfie, “that really isn’t all that much. Tomorrow I will start ahead
of Cyril. So I really need to pace forward and push for power.” Lee
Palmer, his mechanic, is working to prepare his KTM 660 Rally really
well. “I’m going to prepare the bike so that Alfie will be able to
fly!” And hopefully he will safely land in Dakar.
Team Gauloises KTM France was able to defend its leading position in
the team standings (98 points). It still leads ahead of Team Repsol
KTM Spain (118). Team Gauloises KTM International (166) claims the
3rd position and Team Red Bull KTM USA (440) is in 4th position.
After all these strenuous stages, the 16th stage from Nouakchott to
Dakar is a route for pleasure. Time is taken on 191 km out of the
647 km of the stage. The track isn’t all that bad either.
The route to Dakar could become a
show run. The A.S.O. is expecting thousands of Senegalese people
along the track cheering for the “survivors” of the 26th edition of
the Dakar rally.
Stage Results
1 MEONI KTM 6h 55' 46" - 00' 00"
2 SAINCT KTM 6h 56' 32" - 00' 46"
3 ROMA KTM 6h 59' 05" - 03' 19"
4 COX KTM 7h 02' 34" - 06' 48"
5 DESPRES KTM 7h 04' 09" - 08' 23"
6 ESTEVE PUJOL KTM 7h 10' 49" - 15' 03"
7 ULLEVALSETER KTM 7h 12' 33" - 16' 47"
8 FRETIGNE YAMAHA 7h 14' 00" - 18' 14"
9 FLICK KTM 7h 33' 12" - 37' 26"
10 DE GAVARDO KTM 7h 34' 15" - 38' 29"
Overall Standings
1 ROMA KTM 53h 15' 29" - 00' 00"
2 SAINCT KTM 53h 22' 36" - 07' 07"
3 DESPRES KTM 54h 01' 58" - 46' 29"
4 COX KTM 54h 02' 41" - 47' 12"
5 ULLEVALSETER KTM 55h 11' 44" - 1h 56' 15"
6 MEONI KTM 56h 19' 07" - 3h 03' 38"
7 FRETIGNE YAMAHA 56h 37' 50" - 3h 22' 21"
8 DE GAVARDO KTM 57h 16' 43" - 4h 01' 14"
9 FLICK KTM 57h 25' 35" - 4h 10' 06"
10 CZACHOR KTM 58h 28' 57" - 5h 13' 28" |
