KTM’s Jakub Przygonski moved up to third overall on Stage Five of the Dos Sertoes Rally on Wednesday. Factory teammate Marc Coma of Spain finished back at twenty fifth place after experiencing a rear wheel problem in the second part of the marathon stage where no mechanical assistance is allowed.
‘Kuba’ Przygonski finished third in the stage and made up some time in the process. He was around two minutes behind the stage winner Cyril Despres, the new overall leader and trails him by 22 minutes in the overall rankings.
Coma’s misfortune cost him 42 minutes and dropped him from overall leader down to seventh place and he will have to work hard to try to make up time in the remaining stages of this rally that takes riders more than 4100 km through central Brazil. Coma is now seventh overall, 38 minutes and 56 seconds behind his old teammate and rival Despres.
Coma had noticed some cracks in his rear wheel at the start of the stage and its condition deteriorated as the day wore on. He eventually had to stop to try to try to rectify the situation as far as was possible under the rules of the marathon stage. He then continued to battle all the way to the finish and will now have to work hard to try to make up some of the lost time during Thursday’s Stage Six. Over 746 kilometers, 514 of them timed, it represents the longest stage of the 2013 edition. It starts and finishes in Palmas.
Like the consummate professional that he is, Coma said at the end of the day that he had had to go slow for the entire special. “It was amazing that we made it to the finish. Now I will try to make up some position between now and the end of the rally, but without taking any unnecessary risks. Besides, there is still a lot left in the race,” he added.
Ruben Faria, the third member of the KTM factory team had to retire after a crash on Tuesday.
Stage Five:
Natividad - Palmas 425 kilometers, 355 special
Results (unofficial)
1, Cyril Despres, France, Yamaha 3:52.50
2, Jean Azevedo, Brazil, Honda, 3:53.50
3, Kuba Przygonski, Poland, KTM, 3:54.57
4, Dario Julio, Brazil, Honda, 3:56.44
5, Fausto Mota, Portugal, Yamaha, 3:58.10
6, Paolo Goncalves, Portugal, Speed Brain 3:58.56
7, Michael Metge, France, Yamaha, 4:00.11
8, Ike Klaumann, Brazil, Honda, 4:01.27
25, Marc Coma, Spain, KTM 4:35.58
Overall Standings after Stage 5 (unofficial)
1, Despres 15 hours 35.05
2, Goncalves at 5 minutes 15.1
3, Przygonski at 22:08.2
4, Metge at 27:45.0
5, Dario Julio at 33.51.1
6, Klaumann at 35:53.4
7, Coma at 38:56.6
