2015 Dakar Rally – Stage 5: Coma Takes First Stage Win

Marc Coma has finally chalked up his first stage win of the 2015 Dakar Rally, gaining back several minutes from the overall leader Joan Barreda.

With 10 minutes still between the two top riders from HRC and KTM, it seems Barreda is content to manage the gap, as he let Coma lead Stage 5 and followed the Spaniards tracks and navigation decisions in the difficult fesh-fesh minefield that is the Atacama Desert.

“I am happy about the stage win but the fact is that Joan enjoys a significant advantage and we will try to trim it,” said Coma. There is still a lot of race left. The second part (of the rally) is longer with the marathon stages and it will be a fight every day. We are going in the right direction and we will keep fighting.”

“I led off today until Marc caught up with me. He kept up a cracking pace and I tried to stay as close to him as possible,” explained Barreda. “After the refuelling he really pushed hard. There was a lot of navigation in this very fast stage, as well as a lot of fesh-fesh and stones. The final part was pretty dangerous. I’m happy to be still out in front. We are taking it step by step.”

While KTM and HRC duke it out in front, Yamaha Racing’s factory team continues to be unimpressive without Cyril Despres. Quotes like this one from Olivier Pain (20th overall) seems to summarize the factory squad’s efforts:

“Not a very interesting special, apart from a run through a canyon at the end, but by then my arms were too tired to enjoy it. The rest of the stage was simply designed to wear out man and machine and in that at least they succeeded.”

Top 10 from Stage 5 – Copiapo to Antofagasta – of the 2015 Dakar Rally:

Overall Top 10 of the 2015 Dakar Rally:

Source: Dakar; Photo: KTM