Red Bull KTM factory rider and three-times Dakar winner Marc Coma rose to the occasion on Thursday during yet another very difficult day to claim his first stage victory in the 2014 Dakar Rally. Coma led in teammate Jordi Viladoms and KTM-supported rider Kuba Przygonski, allowing KTM to scoop the top three places.
“I opened 90 percent of the stage today,” Coma said. “Everything was running well but it was soft sand and very technical and when you’re on the camel grass it is tough.
“At the end of the last part it was very difficult to find the finish line. I got to another river and had to cut back to find the correct one, but in the end it was good.”
Coma, who moved into second behind the leader Barreda on Wednesday by just three minutes has now taken control of the overall lead after winning the stage more than 12 minutes in front of Viladoms. He leads the overall standings by 41 minutes 10 from Barreda.
Barreda had a number of fueling problems during the stage on Thursday, but he remains confident in his position after relinquishing the lead. Teammate Paulo Goncalves was helpless as his 450 Rally caught fire and burnt to the ground during the stage
