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Coma takes victory in Desert Challenge Red Bull KTM factory rider Marc Coma of Spain sealed an early victory in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge on Thursday after organizers cancelled the final scheduled stage. A sandstorm had made support for the riders impossible. Coma's win also lays the foundation stone for his bid to secure his seventh world championship title. Coma wrapped up the win thanks to his 11 minutes 55 seconds lead at the end of Wednesday’s Stage Four. It was his eighth win at this event, making him the KTM rider with the most Desert Challenge victories. KTM riders have won the event every year except three since motorcycles were introduced into the program in 1995. Marc Coma: "Today they has to suspend the stage because of the weather. This mean't that we returned to Abu Dhabi on the road. The truth is that the conditions were bad. I am happy and proud to have achieved this eighth victory in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. It was very important to continue in this way, especially after the win in the Dakar. We have picked up a lot of points for the championship and now it's time to rest and think about the next round in Qatar." The rally, the opening round of the 2015 FIM Cross Countries Rally World Championship saw the top four places go to KTM riders. Coma’s teammate Sam Sunderland, the British rider who is based in the UAE was second, KTM support rider Pablo Quintanilla of Chile completed the podium and KTM factory rider Ruben Faria of Portugal was fourth. Eight of the top ten were on KTM with Mohammed Al Balooshi (KTM UAE) sixth, Juan Salvatierra (BOL) seventh, Australian Matt Hart eighth and British rider David McBride tenth. KTM factory riders compete on the KTM 450 RALLY. Austria’s Matthias Walkner, the latest signing to the KTM factory team and one who also delivered an impressive first Dakar Rally in January showed his potential by taking the Stage Four victory. He came in third in Monday’s stage to be fourth overall but then encountered a technical difficulty on Tuesday that put him out of contention. His stage win on Thursday underlined that he is a future podium contender. Coma rode his usual tactical race reflecting the multi Dakar Rally winner’s rich vein of experience. He secured the first stage win, rode into a favourable position for a good start in Stage Two, then rode a compact and close second in the next two stages, each day consolidating his overall lead. It was also a good rally for Sunderland who took second in the first two stages and moved from third overall to second when Coma’s main rival Paolo Goncalves of Portugal experienced technical difficulties in Stage Four. Riders had to contend with extreme temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius, conditions Coma described on Wednesday as ‘like an oven”, a day that other KTM riders Sunderland, Quintanilla, Al Balooshi and Walkner all agreed was very tough riding in the dunes. Coma after the fourth stage: “I rode in a group of five and in the earlier part across the open desert we managed to get a good rhythm going. I then took it easy because of the extreme driving conditions and the heat.” Round Two of the 2015 FIM World Cross Country Rallies Championship Calendar: Sealine Rally Qatar 19-24.4.2015. More at www.abudhabidesertchallenge.com
Please Note: Organizers cancelled the final stage of the 2015 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge when a sand storm made it impossible to provide the necessary support. Results as at the end of Stage Four therefore stand as final results Final Overall Standings (after Stage Four – Stage Five cancelled due to sand storm) 1, Marc Coma, ESP, KTM, 14 hours 49.05
Coma seizes early initiative in Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Red Bull KTM’s multi Dakar Rally winner Marc Coma seized the initiative in the first stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge to lead the field at the end of the opening day. Coma was fastest over the 262.3 km timed special stage, one minute 21 ahead of KTM factory teammate Sam Sunderland. The rally is the first round of the 2015 FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship. Other members of the KTM factory team were also well in contention after the first day in the desert with Ruben Faria in fourth and the team’s latest signing, Matthias Walkner of Austria in sixth. Moh Al Balooshi of KTM UAE was a solid seventh, Pablo Quintanilla of Chile eighth, Armand Monleon of Poland ninth and Juan Salvatierra of Bolivia tenth to give KTM eight of the top ten after Day One. Following a largely ceremonial Super Special on Saturday, riders got down to business on Sunday with their first foray into the Liwa Desert. Coma completed the stage of 404 km of which 262 km was timed special in three hours 12 minutes and 54 seconds to finish with a narrow 1minute 21 margin to Sunderland, the team’s British rider who is based in the UAE and very familiar with the local terrain. Marc Coma: “Today everything went well. We managed to set a good pace and we won ahead of Sam Sunderland, who we know is fast. I didn’t want to risk anything in the first part but then I was able to attack more, especially in the second part of the special.” Speaking before the rally Coma said Abu Dhabi is a race where any advantage is good. “It is a rally with little navigation and where every small detail can be decisive. We have to be very attentive and apply the maximum concentration. The conditions in Abu Dhabi are always very hard and the temperatures are very high,” he added. Sunderland, who has narrowly missed victory the two last years is looking to take the maximum advantage out of riding in the familiar terrain while Austria’s Matthias Walkner, who was impressive in his first Dakar Rally said before the start that he was hoping for a top 10 finish and wanted to keep working on his navigation. The Red Bull KTM Factory riders are competing on the KTM 450 RALLY. Coma has won this event seven times, the highest number of KTM victories for a single rider. KTM riders have won every year except three since 1995 when motorcycles were first including on the program. Some 108 riders are contesting the motorcycle category this year, which is also the 25th edition of the Desert Challenge. Monday’s Stage Two is 511 km of which 279 km is timed special. Please Note: KTM Results Service after each stage; Race Report after final round. Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge More at www.abudhabidesertchallenge.com The 2015 FIM World Cross Country Rallies Championship Calendar:
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KTM Results