Dakar : Leg 8 - First news
Huge surprise at CP2 (km 371), Cyril Despres has the fastest time so far. The Frenchman with his badly injured shoulder has a 5`20" lead on team mate Isidre Esteve, 8`56" on Marc Coma, 10`11 on Giovanni Sala and 15`21" on Carlo De Gavardo. Surprisingly the fastest at CP2, it appears that Cyril Despres found the correct way to go while his main rivals (Coma, Esteve, De Gavardo) struggled to find a way-point. Despres was riding alongside his team mate David Casteu. His injured shoulder wasn`t too much of a concern, but the Frenchman was complaining about a right wrist tendinitis.
Casteu fastest at CP2
At 14.02, New update on the bike race... With 14 riders having reached CP2, the new fastest time is for David Casteu. The KTM-Gauloises has a 55" lead on Chris Blais while team mate Cyril Despres is 2`29" adrift. Isidre Esteve was at 7`50" and overall leader Marc Coma had lost 11`25".

Casteu wins special
At 15.15, David Casteu captured his first ever success on a Dakar. The Frenchman clocked the fastest time of the day beating Chris Blais by 2`13". Third was Cyril Despres, 2`17" adrift. Overall leader Marc Coma loses 8` on the day`s winner.

Cars

Alphand fastest at CP1
Taking off second of the special, Luc Alphand (Mitsubishi) has the fastest time so far with a 20" advantage on team mate Stephane Peterhansel. Third is Thierry Magnaldi (SCH) at 3`19", followed by Miller (VW) at 4`52" and Schlesser at 7`05".

Kleinschmidt stopped
Volkswagen`s Jutta Kleinschmidt was seen stopped with 21kms to go before CP1. Kleinschmidt stopped. She eventually made it to the first check point, losing 46`11" on Luc Alphand.

The Mitsus stuck in the sand
At the very tricky dune portion of km 240, both leading Mitsubishi`s of Luc Alphand and Stephane Peterhansel were struggling in the sand.

Sainz heading back to start
Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) who suffered mechanical problems on his rear wheel was heading back to the start of the special, towed by an assistance truck.

Alphand and Roma in trouble
The two Mitsubishis of Luc Alphand and Nani Roma were seen stuck in the sand at km 285. Meanwhile Stephane Peterhansel looks to be storming to a possible second consecutive stage win.


Tags: cyril-despres, isidre-esteve, david-casteu, giovanni-sala, marc-coma,