Stage 5 Copiapo to Antofagasta notes

!Stage 5 - Copiapo to Antofagasta
Wednesday, January 6

* Liaison : 90 km
* Speciale : 483 km
* Liaison : 97 km
* Total : 670 km

Breaking news per ASO Dakar website:
Times given in G.M.T. -3

21:23 - Car
Stage 5 summary

Pending validation by the race marshalls, US driver Mark Miller (VW) gets his first stage victory on the Dakar finishing 2'10 ahead of his team mate Spain's Carlos Sainz (VW) and 4'27 ahead of Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW), in a fifth stage marked by the misfortunes of Stephane Peterhansel (BMW), who was still leader when he left Copiapo this morning. Indeed, after breaking his rear axle at km 135, the Frenchman lost almost 2h15 and - most probably - any chance of winning the raid this year for the 10th time. In the overall standings "Peter" is now 2h04'49 behind the new leader, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz. "El Matador" is also respectively 4'37 and 9'39 ahead of his team mates Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) and Mark Miller (VW). In the Open category, no surprise, as it is again US driver Robby Gordon who wins the stage. Finally in the production category, French driver Nicolas Gibon (Toyota) gets his second consecutive victory and reaches the top of this category's standings.

21:18 - Bike
Stage 5 summary

Pending validation by the race marshalls, Chilean rider Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia) has won his second stage on home turf on the Dakar, his first stage victory of the year. With a time of 5h52'40, the man whose nickname is "Chaleco" arrived 1'30 ahead of Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) and 13'13 ahead of his countryman David Fretigne (Yamaha)... More importantly, this fifth stage was marked by the misfortunes of Frenchman David Casteu who had to withdraw after a bad fall and of Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM). Victim of a blown rear tire at km 376, the title holder lost almost 40' today... In the overall standings, the coast is now clear for final victory for Despres who now has a 37'37 lead on Chile's Lopez Contardo and a 44'01 lead over Portugal's Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha)... As for Marc Coma, he is now 7th 1h16'55 behind the leader.

21:14 - Quad
Stage 5 summary

Pending validation by the race marshalls, Argentinean rider Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) has won his very first stage in the 2010 Dakar. With a time of 7h39'49, the younger of the Patronelli brothers arrived 29'41 ahead of his countryman Jorge Miguel Santamarina (Can-Am) and 32'54 ahead of Spaniard Juan Manuel Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha)... By a way of consequence, in the overall standings Marcos Patronelli widens the gap at the top with now 1h00'36 lead on Santamarina and 1h07'13 lead on Gonzalez Corominas.

21:11 - Truck
Stage 5 summary

Pending validation by the race marshalls title holder Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) is the winner of his first stage victory in the 2010 edition of the Dakar; it is also his 30th in his Dakar career. With a time of 5h48'50 the Russian arrived 19" ahead of his team mate and countryman Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) and 37'48 ahead of Frenchman Joseph Adua (Iveco)... However, no reason for the "Tsar" Chagin to be worried; he remains solidly glued to the top of the standings with still a very nice 26'08 lead on his faithful lieutenant Kabirov, and - more importantly - a 3h07'26 (!) lead over the man in third position, Dutchman Marcel Van Vliet (Ginaf).

20:40 - Quad
251 - After Alejandro... Marcos!

After the victory of the oldest of the Patronelli brothers (Yamaha), it is on to the younger brother and leader in the overall standings, Marcos to win today's stage. With a time of 7h39'49, the Argentine rider arrived with a 29'41 lead over his countryman Jorge Miguel Santamarina (Can-Am) and a 32'54 lead over Spaniard Juan Manuel Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha).... By a way of consequence in the general standings Marcos Patronelli is now more than one hour ahead of his closest contender.

19:59 - Truck
500 - Close call for Kabirov

The two first trucks have just finished the fifth special stage of this 32nd edition of the Dakar and it is the title holder who wins today's stage. Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) gets here his first stage victory in 2010, the 30th of his Dakar career. With a time of 5h48'50, the Russian driver beat his team mate and countryman and the leader in the overall standings, Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) by just 19''.

19:07 - Truck
500 - Kabirov sustains the effort

The first 5 trucks have now cleared km 339 of today's special stage and Russia's Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) is still ahead with now a 1'41 lead over his 'boss' and the leader in the standings Russian driver Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) and with a 27'48 lead over French driver Joseph Adua (Iveco).

19:01 - Car
305 - A first for Miller

The first 6 cars have now completed the fifth special stage and US driver Mark Miller (VW) wins the day's special stage - his first stage victory in the Dakar - respectively 2'10 and 4'27 ahead of his team mates Spain's Carlos Sainz (VW) and Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW). In the overall standings, "El Matador" Sainz benefits from the misfortune of Peterhansel (BMW) and takes the lead.

18:41 - Quad
251 - Patronelli builds up the gap at the front of the race

Already a solid leader in the general standings this morning, Argentine rider Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) is now widening the gap at the top of his category. Indeed, now that the first 5 quads have cleared km 339 of today's special stage, the youngest of the Patronelli brothers has a 19'09 lead on Spanish rider Juan Manuel Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha) and a 26'29 lead on Uruguay's Luis Henderson (Honda).

18:18 - Truck
500 - Kamaz here... Kamaz there...

As the first 8 trucks have now cleared km 244 of today's special stage, Russian driver Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) is still provisional holder of the best time of the day 1'33 ahead of the leader in the standings, his fellow countryman and team mate Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) and 20'29 ahead of Frenchman Joseph Adua (Iveco).

18:15 - Bike
1 - Coma lost 39'35 today!

After starting first this morning and experiencing mechanical problems at km 376 of today's special stage, title holder Marc Coma (KTM) just finished the day's special stage 39'35 behind the day's winner "Chaleco" Lopez Contardo (Aprilia). More importantly the Spaniard loses another 38'05 against the leader in the general standings French rider Cyril Despres, who arrived second today.

17:54 - Bike
12 - Provisional third fastest time for Fretigne...

French rider David Fretigne (Yamaha) just crossed the finish line of this fifth special stage and was provisionally timed with the third fastest clock 13'13 behind today's winner, Chile's "Chaleco" Lopez Contardo (Aprilia).

17:50 - Car
303 - Sainz is coming back strong...

Certainly informed of the misfortune of the leader in the standings French driver Stephane Peterhansel, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (VW) has turned the pace up a notch on the last 100 km of the day's special stage. Hence, as the first 8 cars have now cleared km 339 of today's special stage, if US driver Mark Miller (VW) was still in the lead, he only had a short 18" lead over "El Matador". The provisional third fastest time goes to another American: Robby Gordon and his Hummer.

17:47 - Car
301 - "Peter" loses another 25'!

After having had to stop and repair for almost an hour at km 135, the leader in the overall standings Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) has had to stop off the trail again at km 215 and has lost another 25' before he was able to get back in the race.

17:45 - Bike
3 - Raid over for Casteu...

First leader in the overall standings of this 32nd edition of the Dakar, French rider David Casteu (Sherco) was forced to withdraw today after a pretty rough fall at km 395 of the day's special stage. The medics immediately evacuated him back to the bivouac due to a leg injury.

17:43 - Bike
9 - "Chaleco" a prophet in his own country!

For the first 100% Chilean stage in this 32nd Dakar edition local kid Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia) did not let go of a stage victory... With a time of 5h52'40, "Chaleco" really made the most of the mishaps of Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM), and of the way the leader in the general standings Cyril Despres was managing his race and gets his second stage victory in a Dakar finishing 01'30 ahead of Despres.

17:06 - Quad
270 - Henderson still in the lead

The first 6 quads have now passed km 244 of today's special stage and Uruguayan rider Luis Henderson (Honda) is still in the lead with the best time 14" ahead of the leader in the general standings Argentine rider Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) and 5'39 ahead of Sebastian Halpern (Yamaha).

17:02 - Bike
1 - Coma back in the race

After stopping for some 40' at km 376, Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) just started again and is back in the race.

17:01 - Truck
500 - Kabirov flies away...

As the first 9 trucks have cleared km 187 of the day's special stage, Russian driver Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) now has a 3'40 lead on the leader in the overall standings, his countryman and team mate Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) and a 16'40 lead on Frenchman Joseph Adua (Iveco).

16:43 - Car
305 - Miller in control and in the lead...

The first 9 cars have now passed km 244 of today's special stage and it is still US driver Mark Miller (VW) who has the best time with leads of respectively 1'18 and 5'40 on his team mates Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (VW) and Brazilian driver Mauricio Jose Nevès (VW).

16:19 - Bike
1 - Coma stops as well!!

Leader of the special stage at CP3 with almost 6' lead, Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) is now losing the benefits of today's great attack. The title holder has now stopped at km 376 of today's special stage and has been working on his bike for about 10 minutes.

16:17 - Quad
270 - Henderson takes the lead on km 187

The first 10 quads have now passed km 187 of the day's special stage and it is now Uruguayan rider Luis Henderson (Honda) who checks in the lead two short seconds ahead of the leader in the general standings Argentinean rider Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha), and 3'31 ahead of Sebastian Halpern (Yamaha).

16:06 - Bike
1 - Coma continues his race against time...

As the first 5 bikes have now passed CP3 (km 339) of the day's special stage, it is still Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) who gets the best provisional time. This is all the more important that the title holder now has a 5'59 lead over French rider Cyril Despres (KTM) and a 7'01 on Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia).

16:04 - Car
301 - "Peter" is back in the race!...

After a mechanical problem at km 135 of the day's special stage, the leader in the overall standings Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) is just back in the race after having spent about 50 min on a mechanical intervention by the side of the trail.

15:52 - Truck
500 - Kabirov is growing the gap...

The first 7 trucks have now passed CP1 (km 123) of today's special stage and it is still Russia's Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) who has the lead 2'05 ahead of his countryman and team mate Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) and 9'27 ahead of Frenchman Joseph Adua (Iveco).

15:34 - Car
304 - Miller bursts out in the lead

As the first 15 cars have now reached and passed km 138 of the day's special stage, US driver Mark Miller (VW) was still first and fastest of the stage with respectively 1'07 and 1'38 leads over his team mates Spanish driver Carlos Sainz and South-African driver Giniel de Villiers.

15:20 - Car
301 - Peterhansel stopped at km 135!

Leader in the general standings at the start of stage 5 this morning, Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel has been stranded for about 15 min now at km 135.5 of today's special stage!

15:10 - Car
305 - The Volkswagen show at CP1!

As the first 6 cars pass CP1 located at km 123 of today's special stage, 4 Race Touaregs occupy the four top positions: US driver Miller is 55" ahead of South-Africa's De Villiers, 58" ahead of Spanish driver Sainz and 4'18 ahead of Qatari driver Al-Attiyah. The leader in the overall standings Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) is ranking fifth 4'20 behind the leading man.

14:56 - Bike
1 - Coma is holding on!...

The first 6 bikes have now passed km 244 of the day's special stage and are now half-way through the stage. Marc Coma still is provisional best time. Better still the Spaniard has taken some time back on Cyril Despres as the French rider is now 1'09 behind the leader. The local kid "Chaleco" Lopez Contardo (Aprilia), is provisional third but 4'17 behind the stage leader.

14:54 - Truck
500 - Kabirov in the lead at km 53

The first 10 trucks have now passed the km 53 marker of the day's special stage and title holder Russian driver Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) is in the lead 38" ahead of his leader Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) and 2'25 ahead of Dutchman Wulfert Van Ginkel (Ginaf).

14:46 - Quad
251 - Marcos Patronelli in the lead at CP2

The first 10 quads just passed CP2 (km 138) of today's special stage and it is now the leader in the overall standings Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) who is in the lead, 2'03 ahead of Uruguay's Luis Henderson (Honda) and 3'52 ahead of Spaniard Juan Manuel Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha). It is also to be noted that the 32nd Dakar of Czech rider Martin Plechaty (Yamaha), leader at CP1 ends here; he had to be evacuated back to the bivouac after a rough fall at km 127.

14:25 - Bike
2 - Despres is coming back on Coma...

The first 12 bikes have now passed km 187 of the day's special stage and Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) is still in the lead but just 43" ahead of Frenchman and leader in the overall standings Cyril Despres (KTM). The thrid provisional time goes to Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia), who is still 2'20 behind the stage leader.

14:23 - Car
303 - Volkswagen in attack mode...

The first 5 cars have now passed the km 53 marker of the day's special stage and Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (VW) is in front with respectively a 30" and a 36" lead over his team mates Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) and US driver Mark Miller (VW). The leader in the overall standings Stephane Peterhansel (BMW) is ranking fourth 53" behind the stage leader.

14:20 - Quad
268 - Plechaty in the lead at CP1

The first 5 quads have now passed CP1 (km 123) of the day's special stage and Czech rider Martin Plechaty (Yamaha), who started third this morning, has the best provisional time so far 3'36 ahead of the leader in the standings, Argentine rider Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) and 4'29 ahead of Spain's Juan Manuel Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha).

14:14 - Truck
501 - IT's A GO FOR THE TRUCKS

Russia's Vladimir Chagin (KAMAZ) has won all the stages of the 2010 Dakar so far. Consequently, he also leads the general standings of the rally in the truck category. He started today's special stage at 9.37 as foreseen in the 14th position, with the cars. The "Czar" was followed 5' later by his loyal teammate Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz).

13:22 - Car
302 - IT'S A GO FOR CARS!

Winner of yesterday's stage four for one tiny little second, US driver Robby Gordon (Hummer) started the day's special stage at 9:15AM as per schedule. He was followed two minutes later by the leader in the overall standings, Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel (BMW).

13:17 - Bike
2 - Coma's response to Despres...

The first 7 bikes have now passed CP2 located at km 138 of today's special stage and Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) has been clocked in the lead 1'29 ahead of Chile's own Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez Contardo (Aprilia) and 1'31 ahead of the leader in the general standings Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM).

13:15 - Bike
2 - Despres in the lead at CP1

The first 5 bikes just passed CP1 located at the km 123 marker of the day's special stage and French rider and leader in the overall standings Cyril Despres (KTM) is the best provisional time 46" ahead of Spain's Marc Coma (KTM), forced to open the road after starting first this morning and 1'57 ahead of Chile's Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia).

11:37
READY, STEADY, GO!

Good morning to you all. The winner of stage four yesterday, Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) started the day's special stage at 07:15 AM as per schedule. The title holder was followed two minutes later by Frenchman Francais David Casteu (Sherco).

22:00
STAGE 5 : COPIAPO -- ANTOFAGASTA

668 km are on the menu of stage 5, of which 483 km against the clock, i.e. the second longest special stage of this 32nd edition of the Dakar. On the agenda are the foothills of the Atacama Desert that will offer contenders a varied route alternating between fast sections and boulder sections with e.g. the crossing of two very "rocky" off-road sections and the discovery of the Chilean fesh-fesh - a particularly soft terrain that feels almost like flour. Riders and drivers are in for a long day and their main aim will be to spare themselves and their machines in this first "truly long" endurance-focused special stage of the 32nd Dakar.

-source: aso