Pending validation by the race stewards, Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit (BMW) picked up his 1st stage victory on the Dakar by winning the 11th stage of the 32nd edition. With a time of 2.34:51, the free-ride skiing world champion beat the stage’s local boy, Argentinean Orlando Terranova (Mitsubishi), by 30" and South African Giniel De Villiers (VW) by 39". More importantly, the 11th stage was marked by the duel for the lead in the general standings between the two Volkswagen team-mates, Nasser Al-Attiyah and Carlos Sainz. Due to a slow puncture, the Spaniard lost 5’38 to the Qatari today. As a result, in the general standings and only 3 stages from the finish in Buenos Aires, “El Matador” Sainz is of course still out in front, but now only 4’28 ahead of Al-Attiyah! The position is more comfortable for American Mark Miller (VW), who is 3rd 23’50 behind the race leader and who continues to ensure (for the moment!) a 1-2-3 for the Wolfsburg-based constructor. In the Open category, unsurprisingly American Robby Gordon (Hummer) claimed his 10th triumph out of 11 specials, with the 7th best time of the day. Finally, in the Production category, Japan’s Jun Mitsuhashi won his 7th special on the 32nd edition, 5’17 ahead of Spaniard Xavier Foj (Toyota) and 12’37 in front of French novice Jean-François Vautier (Toyota). In the general standings for this category following the 11th special, which moreover witnessed the withdrawal of the title holder, Frenchman Nicolas Gibon (Toyota), Mitsuhashi now boasts a lead of 6.13:07 over Spanish driver Foj.
Bike
Pending validation by the race stewards, Dutchman Frans Verhoeven (BMW) gave the Munich-based brand its first triumph on the Dakar since 2001. With a time of 2.44:50, Verhoeven, who picked up the 3rd victory of his career on the event, beat American Jonah Street (KTM) by 3" and Franco-Malian Alain Duclos (KTM) by 1’25. In the general standings, there is no change however, as Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) serenely contemplates the other riders from a lead that stands at 1.20:54 over Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM). The Norwegian was the biggest winner of the 11th special stage, because he opened up a gap over his rivals for the runner-up spot and now boasts a lead of 7’01 over Chilean Francisco “Chaleco” Lopez Contardo (Aprilia) and 9’41 over Portugal’s Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha).
Truck
Pending validation by the race stewards, the two times winner of the event, Russian Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz), picked up his 3rd victory in the Dakar 2010 and the 32nd of his career on the event. With a time of 3.02:53, the title holder beat his countryman and team-mate Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) by 32" and Frenchman Joseph Adua (Iveco) by 4’45. Chagin is safe in the general standings however, since the “Tsar” still boasts a lead of 1.12:23 over his faithful lieutenant, Kabirov and a massive 9.21:02 over Dutchman Marcel Van Vliet (Ginaf).
Quad
Pending validation by the race stewards, Argentinean Sebastian Halpern (Yamaha) won his 2nd special of the 32nd Dakar. With a time of 3.18:33, Halpern beat his son countryman Alejandro Patronelli (Yamaha) by 4’31, and leader of the general standings, Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) by 5’47. There was no change in the general standings however, where Marcos Patronelli is now way, way ahead with a lead that stands at 2.23:05 over his “big brother” Alejandro, and 4.16:46 over Spaniard Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha).
