Coma termina Sertões em terceiro; Paulo Gonçalves é o grande vencedor

KTM factory rider Marc Coma on Saturday wrapped up the Dos Sertoes Rally in Brazil by winning the final Stage 10 just seven seconds ahead of rival and former teammate Cyril Despres. Coma finished third in the overall standings behind winner Paolo Goncalves of Portugal and Despres.

  Coma top three in 8 of 10 stages

Following the largely tactical prologue where riders jockey for favorable starting places, the Spanish rider had a win and three second places in the next four stages. But in the first half of the marathon stage, where riders are not permitted any mechanical assistance over two consecutive stages his wheel took a big impact during Stage 5. At the start of Stage 6 he noticed a crack in the wheel and had to nurse his damaged KTM 450 Rally bike home at a very careful pace. He finished back at 23rd and lost 42 minutes in the process, most of which he managed to make up in the remaining stages. Coma then registered two more stage wins and a second and third place, making him top three in eight of ten stages.

  Fourth overall for Kuba Przygonski

KTM factory teammate Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski of Poland finished fourth in Stage 10 and fourth overall, having moved up one place each day in the second half of the rally. Ruben Faria, the third KTM factory rider had to retire after a wrist injury in the first half of the rally.

 Marc Coma: "There was not much more I could do today but I tried to finish well. It was a short stage with a very quick first part and then another mountain. I didn’t take too many risks but still tried to go as fast as possible That's all we could do. Generally the rally has been a good one. Losing more than 42 minutes then still being able to get on the podium means I should be more than happy. We also had three stage wins. Physically I felt good, we had a good pace and we know we are competitive. We also put in quite a few more miles and that is very important for our preparation. Now e have to continue the work.”

  Championship title chase hots up

Dos Sertoes was also the fifth leg of the FIM World Cross Country Rally Championships in which Coma is the points leader and is bidding to retain his world title. He and Goncalves are the main contenders and with one rally to go, the Pharaoh’s Rally in Egypt (September 28 to October 5, 2013), Coma maintains a slim 8 points lead in the title chase.

  Dos Sertoes Rally Stage 10

1, Marc Coma, Spain, KTM, 01:26.51
2, Cyril Despres, France, Yamaha, 01:26.57
3, Paolo Goncalves, Portugal, Speedbrain, 01:27.46
4, Kuba Przygonski, Poland, KTM, 01:28.55
5, Ricardo Martins, 01:29.29

  Overall After Stage 10

1, Goncalves, 30:27.38
2, Despres, at 25 minutes 00.7
3, Coma, at 36 minutes 24.4
4, Azevedo, at 1 hour 20 minutes 09.4
 5, Przygonski, at 1 hour 31 minutes 36.2