Er Rachidia to Ouarzazate
Connection: 96 km - Special: 405 km - Connection: 178 km
Total: 679 km
General:
05:35 - STAGE 4: ER RACHIDIA - OUARZAZATE
679 km, including 405 km against the clock, are on the menu for the fourth
stage. The route is a first test of the competitors' resistance, with some
very fast sections, but also some fords as well as the first real dunes. It
is a firebrand's paradise which could favour experienced competitors, in
particular Stephane Peterhansel... It should be noted that the bikers will
have a private bivouac at Ouarzazate. They will have to deal with their
machines by themselves if there are problems since assistance vehicles will
be forbidden.
09:50 - START OF LIVE COVERAGE
Welcome to all. The winner of yesterday's special stage, Spaniard Marc Coma,
has got proceedings underway for the day's special at 07.20 GMT this
morning, as scheduled.
Bike:
10:22 - Duclos crashes
No. 7, ALAIN DUCLOS - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
At 07.56 GMT, the Alain Duclos's warning beacon was triggered after a fall
during the first 10 km of the special stage. Under the supervision of the
medical team, the rider has been taken back to Er-Rachidia.
10:26 - End of the road for Buratti
No. 167, LORENZO BURATTI - HONDA, SUPER PRODUCTION
Italian biker Lorenzo Buratti, due to a problem with his brakes caused by a
pierced hose at the start of the day's special stage, will not be
participating in the special and is now looking for a means of getting to
Ouarzazate.
10:51 - Coma leads after 90 km
After the first 90 km of the special stage, Spaniard Marc Coma is leading,
5'10 ahead of countryman Isidre Esteve Pujol and 5'11 in front of American
Jonah Street. Setting off in 21st position this morning, Frenchman Cyril
Despres has already climbed back up to 4th position, 7'23 behind the leader.
Car:
11:05 - The cars have started
No. 301, DE VILLIERS/VON ZITZEWITZ - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Yesterday's winner of the special, South African Giniel De Villiers, has
kicked off proceedings for the day's special stage in the car category, at
09.06 GMT as scheduled.
Bike:
11:08 - Palante falls
No. 122, ERIC PALANTE - HONDA, SUPER PRODUCTION
At 08.05 GMT, Belgian Eric Palante was victim to an accident during the
first kilometre. Under the supervision of the medical team, the rider has
been taken back to the bivouac in Er-Rachidia for an examination.
11:40 - Crash for Fedorov
No. 234, PAVEL FEDOROV - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION
Russian rider Pavel Fedorov has had a fall, but without serious injury,
after 71 km and has broken his bike.
Car:
12:00 - Al Attiyah in the lead after 90 km
No. 309, NASSER AL ATTIYAH NASSER - BMW, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 20 cars have passed the 90 km mark, Qatari Nasser
Al-Attiyah is the virtual leader of the special stage, 1" in front of Carlos
Sousa and 6" ahead of Stephane Peterhansel
Bike:
12:15 - Coma leads at CP1
No. 1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 40 bikes have gone through CP1, Spaniard Marc Coma is the
virtual leader of the special stage, 9'34 in front of countryman Isidre
Esteve Pujol and 13'15 ahead of Frenchman David Casteu.
12:43 - Coma leads at CP2
No. 1, MARC COMA - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 5 bikes have gone through CP2, Spaniard Marc Coma is the
virtual leader of the special stage, 9'37 ahead of countryman Isidre Esteve
Pujol and 19'41 in front of American Chris Blais.
12:46 - Mechanical problems for De Baar
No. 57, PASCAL DE BAAR - HONDA, MARATHON
Dutchman Pascal De Baar has stopped after CP1, following mechanical
problems.
12:48 - Ramel breaks down
No. 39, GREGORY RAMEL - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
French biker Grégory Ramel has broken down after 142 km of the special stage
and does not look like restarting.
Car:
12:53 - Zoetaert repairs...
No. 444, ZOETAERT/CLAEYS - BUGGY AUDI, SUPER PRODUCTION
Due to a twisted steering tiller after 75 km of the special stage, the
Belgian team of Werner Zoetaert and Stefaan Claeys are busy with repairs but
are looking to get going again quickly.
Bike:
12:55 - It's all over for Barros
N°230, SYLVIO BARROS - KTM, MARATHON
Having suffered a fall on the special stage, the Brazilian rider Sylvio
Barros has decided to throw in the towel due to his many injuries, which are
not serious however, and is now waiting for the broom car.
12:57 - Despres 3rd at CP2
No. 2, CYRIL DESPRES - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Frenchman Cyril Despres has passed CP2 in 3rd position, 16'47 behind
provisional leader Marc Coma.
Truck:
13:36 - Stacey in the lead after 53 km
No. 501, HANS STACEY -- MAN Now that the first 7 trucks have completed 53 km,
Dutchman Hans Stacey is the virtual leader of the special stage, 2'24 in
front of countryman Gerard De Rooy and 3'51 ahead of Russian' Vladimir
Chagin.
Car:
13:38 - Schlesser in the lead after 216 km
No. 310, SCHLESSER/DEBRON - BUGGY SCHLESSER, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 18 cars have completed 216 km, Frenchman Jean-Louis
Schlesser is the virtual leader of this special stage, 2'37 ahead of
countryman Stéphane Peterhansel and 3'18 ahead of Portugal's Carlos Sousa.
13:40 - Engine failure for Wade
No. 408, WADE/DEMAZURE - NISSAN, SUPER PRODUCTION
Having suffered engine failure after 73 km of the special stage, the
Franco-Senegalese team of Syndiely Wade and Pierre Henri Demazure are
currently awaiting assistance, to carry out repairs and get started again.
General:
13:42 - 483 vehicles started out on the special stage
On closure of checks at the start of this 4th special, 229 bikes, 173 cars
and 81 trucks took starter's orders for the special stage this morning. 9
bikes, 5 cars and 3 trucks did not start.
Bike:
13:46 - Coma is the provisional winner
After arrival of the first 5 bikes at the finishing line of this 4th special
stage, Spaniard Marc Coma leads, 12'16 ahead of countryman Isidre Esteve
Pujol and 18'56 ahead of Cyril Despres.
Car:
13:48 - Schlesser leads at CP2
No. 310, SCHLESSER/DEBRON - BUGGY SCHLESSER, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 8 cars have passed through CP2, Frenchman Jean-Louis
Schlesser is the virtual leader of the special stage, 42" ahead of
countryman Stephane Peterhansel and 5'45 in front of Portugal's Carlos
Sousa.
14:21 - The misery continues for Kleinschmidt
No. 307, KLEINSCHMIDT/THORNER - BMW, SUPER PRODUCTION
After electrical problems and a small fire during the previous special
stages, German Jutta Kleinschmidt is currently stuck at CP2, following a
clutch problem, after having arrived in 10th position at this same CP.
Truck:
14:23 - Trucks Stacey leads after 159 km
No. 501, HANS STACEY -- MAN
Now that the first 8 trucks have completed 159 km, Dutchman Hans Stacey is
still the virtual leader of the special stage, 3'06 ahead of Russian
Vladimir Chagin and 6'27 in front of Gerard De Rooy.
Bike:
14:25 - Broken engine for Frostad
No. 206, GJERMOND FROSTAD - YAMAHA, SUPER PRODUCTION
Norwegian rider Gjermond Frostad has suffered a broken engine after 353 km
of the special stage and, unable to repair it, is now waiting for the broom
car.
Car:
15:15 - Schlesser is the provisional winner
No. 310, SCHLESSER/DEBRON - BUGGY SCHLESSER, SUPER PRODUCTION
Now that the first 8 cars have finished this 4th special stage, Frenchman
Jean-Louis Schlesser is virtual leader in the scratch times, 7'58" ahead of
Spaniard Carlos Sainz and 8'05 in front of Spaniard Nani Roma.
Truck:
15:17 - Trucks Stacey leads at CP1
No. 501, HANS STACEY -- MAN
Now that the first 4 trucks have gone through CP1, Dutchman Hans Stacey is
the virtual leader of the special stage, 3'26 ahead of Russian Vladimir
Chagin and 12'03 in front of Frenchman Philippe Jacquot.
Car:
15:35 - Broken U-joint for Van Den Broeck
No. 360, VAN DEN BROECK/FERYN - TOYOTA SUPER PRODUCTION
The Belgian team of Michel Van den Broeck and Pascal Feryn has suffered a
broken U-joint after 296 km of the special stage and are trying to repair
it.
16:16 - Clutch problem for Peterhansel
No. 302, STEPHANE PETERHANSEL - MITSUBISHI, SUPER PRODUCTION
Placed in 2nd position at CP2, 45" behind the leader, Stephane Peterhansel
suffered a burned out clutch on the last section of the special stage. He
eventually arrived in 10th position at the end of the special, 25'14" behind
the provisional winner Jean-Louis Schlesser. Peterhansel is now 9th in the
provisional general rankings, 24'01 behind leader Carlos Sainz
Bike:
16:21 - SOUTH AFRICAN ELMER SYMONS IN FATAL ACCIDENT
No. 107, ELMER SYMONS
The organisers of the Dakar were this morning informed of the death of South
African Elmer Symons, rider number 107, during the 4th stage. At the age of 29, Elmer Symons was taking part in his first Dakar as a
competitor having participated in two others as part of an assistance team.
The rally organisers waited for the arrival at the bivouac of his brother
Kingsley Symons, who was providing assistance for him, in order to express
their support and sadness.
Truck:
16:36 - Truck Mechanical problem for Stacey
No. 501, HANS STACEY -- MAN
Leader of the special stage after 277 km, Dutchman Hans Stacey is currently
halted due to mechanical problems and is carrying out repairs before setting
off again.
Car:
17:23 - Major detour for the Barbier's
No. 383, BARBIER/BARBIER - MITSUBISHI, PRODUCTION
Following a navigation error after 265 km of the special stage, French
couple Christian and Odile Barbier took a detour of 47 kilometres before
turning back to rejoin the ideal route at km 283 and set off again on the
normal course of this timed section.
Bike:
18:13 - Sousa scores second best time of the special.
No. 313, SOUSA/SCHULZ - VOLKSWAGEN, SUPER PRODUCTION
With a time of 4'07'46", Portugal's Carlos Sousa has taken 2nd place in this
4th special, 7'52" behind the day's winner Jean-Louis Schlesser, and 6" in
front of Spaniard Carlos Sainz, now in 3rd.
Truck:
17:41 - Best provisional time for Chagin
No. 500, CHAGIN/YAKUBOV/SAVOSTIN - KAMAZ
Now that the first 2 trucks have completed the special stage, Vladimir
Chagin is the virtual winner of the special with a time of 4'56'13", 12'55"
ahead of Dutchman Hans Stacey.
Bike:
19:26 - Stage 4 summary
Pending validation, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) won the 4th special scratch
time stage, 12'16" ahead of countryman Isidre Esteve Pujol (KTM) and 18'56"
in front of Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM). The title-holder also took over
the lead in the general rankings, 11'50" ahead of Spaniard Esteve. In the
450 cc category, Frenchman David Frétigné (Yamaha) was victorious, with the
8th-placed scratch time. In the Marathon category, Letton Janis Vinters
(KTM) triumphed with the 9th-placed scratch time. Finally, as regards the
quads, Spaniard Juan Manuel Gonzalez (KTM) tasted victory.
Car:
19:30 - Stage 4 summary
Pending validation, Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser (buggy) won the 4th
special scratch time stage as well as the 2-wheel drive category, 7'52"
ahead of Portugal's Carlos Sousa (VW) and 7'58" in front of Spaniard Carlos
Sainz (VW), who strengthened his position at the head of the general
rankings, with a lead of 1'55" over his South African team-mate Giniel De
Villiers (VW). In the Open category, Eric Vigouroux (Chevrolet) triumphed
with the 13th-placed scratch time. Finally, in the Production category,
Frenchman Jean-Jacques Ratet (Toyota) was victorious with the 35th-placed
scratch time.
Truck:
19:33 - Stage 4 summary
Pending validation, Russian Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) won the 4th special
scratch time stage, 12'55" ahead of Dutchman Hans Stacey (Man) and 29'06" in
front of Russian Ilgizar Mardeev (Kamaz). Chagin thus strengthens his
position at the head of the general rankings and now boasts a lead of 24'04"
over Stacey and 54'48" over Gerard De Rooy (Ginaf).
Bike:
19:40 - Street and Erland waiting for the broom car
No. 25, JONAH STREET - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
N° 156, MARK ERLAND - KTM, SUPER PRODUCTION
Australian Mark Erland has had to stop and is now providing company for
American Jonah Street who has suffered an engine failure after 290 km of the
special stage. The two riders are now waiting for the broom car.
General:
19:42 - 306 vehicles have made it through the special stage
At 18.30 GMT, 188 bikes, 98 cars and 20 trucks had completed this fourth
special stage and were heading for or had already arrived at the bivouac in
Foum-Zguid for the bikers and in Ouarzazate for the cars and trucks, the
finishing points of this 4th stage.
-credit: dakar.com
