Al-Attiyah disqualified from Dakar Rally

January 8, 2009 - Nasser Al-Attiyah has been disqualified for missing hidden waypoints on today's stage of the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally. The Qatari was leading after yesterday's stage to Mendoza, but complained of overheating and a possible cracked cylinder head to his BMW engineers last night. Only 5 kms into the stage that was shortened from 394 to 178 kilometres, Al Attiyah soon found the water temperature rocketing to 130 degrees with the first dunes approaching.

Al-Attiyah in the lead at the finishing line

17:05 - Car Summary of stage 6
Pending validation of results by the race stewards, Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW) looks to have won the 6th special, 5.07 in front of the Volkswagen of Giniel de Villiers. The South African came home ahead of his two VW team-mates, American Mark Miller, 3rd 5.27 behind the provisional winner, and Spaniard Carlos Sainz, 4th 8.37 behind the Qatari. In 5th, with a gap of 13.14 from Al-Attiyah, lies Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel, the leading Mitsubishi driver. As a result, in the general standings, the Qatari leads, 7.31 ahead of South African De Villiers and 15.10 in front of “El Matador” Sainz. In the Open category, Robby Gordon (Hummer) is in the lead, whereas in the Production category, Frenchman Nicolas Gibon (Toyota) leads the category.

17:02 - Bike Summary of stage 6
Pending validation of results by the race stewards, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) has won the 6th special, his first stage victory this year and his 17th on the Dakar, 2.09 ahead of general standings leader, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM), and 5.15 in front of another Spaniard Jordi Viladoms (KTM). As a result, in the general standings, Spain’s Marc Coma (KTM) is still in the lead, 40.29 in front of American Jonah Street (KTM), who still leads the marathon category, and 47.30 ahead of Frenchman David Frétigné (Yamaha), who is leading in the 450cc category.

17:01 - Truck Summary of stage 6
Pending validation of results by the race stewards, the “Tsar of the Dakar”, Russian Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) has won the 6th special, picking up his 45th stage victory on the Dakar and his 2nd this year, 20 seconds ahead of his team-mate and countryman Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) and 25.53 in front of Dutchman Gerard De Rooy (Ginaf). As a result, in the general standings, it is now Kabirov who has taken the lead, 9.32 ahead of Chagin and 25.20 in front of Gerard De Rooy.

17:00 - Quad Summary of stage 6
Pending validation of results by the race stewards, Czech rider Josef Machacek (Yamaha) has won the 6th stage, picking up his 2nd stage victory on the Dakar in the process, 10.04 ahead of Spaniard Joan Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha) and 15.14 in front of Frenchman Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris). As a result, in the general standings, Gonzalez (Yamaha) leads the race, 32.09 ahead of Czech rider Machacek and 1:20.25 in front of former leader Christophe Declerck.

16:44 - Truck 501 - 45th stage victory for Chagin!
The first three trucks have finished the day’s special and Russian Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) is the provisional winner, recording his 2nd victory this year, as well as his 45th on the Dakar. Today, the “Tsar” beat his team-mate and countryman by 20 seconds and Dutchman Gerard De Rooy (Ginaf) by 25.53.

16:06 - Truck 501 - Chagin provisionally leads at CP1
With the first 8 trucks through CP1, Russian Russe Vladimr Chagin(Kamaz) is still in the lead, 1.21 ahead of his countryman and team-mate Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz), and 11.10 ahead of Belgian François Verbist (MAN). The leader of the general standings, Dutchman Gerard De Rooy (Ginaf) is 25.27 behind the leader.

15:17 New proof that the Argentines are playing the game…
After the terrible 5th stage yesterday, a good number of competitors abandoned their vehicles during the special stage... But not the Argentine spectators, who were once again plentiful at the start of the day’s special…

14:46 - Truck 501 - Chagin leads after 38 km
The first 4 trucks have completed 38 km of the day’s special and Russian Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) is in the lead, 1.39 ahead of his team-mate Kabirov

13:48 - Car 302 - Al-Attiyah in the lead at the finishing line
Now that the first 6 cars have finished the day’s special stage, Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW) looks to have won the stage, in front of the three Volkswagens of Mark Miller, Giniel De Villiers and Carlos Sainz, respectively 2nd, 3rd, and 4th, at 5.07, 5.27 and 8.37 behind the Qatari... However, it remains to be confirmed whether Al-Attiyah passed through all the hidden way points on the day’s special stage.

13:46 - Car 303 - It’s all over for Alphand...
After Gilles Picard encountered slight health problems after 12 km of the day’s special, Frenchman Luc Alphand (Mitsubishi) has been forced to abandon the race. Indeed, as a precautionary measure, the co-pilot was evacuated to the bivouac at Mendoza, where fortunately the doctors reported nothing serious.

13:42 - Truck The truck race is underway...
The winner of the 5th stage yesterday, Russia’s Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz), kicked off proceedings for the day’s truck special stage at 13.37 local time. He was followed 2 minutes later by his team-mate and countryman Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) and 4 minutes later by the leader of the general standings, Dutchman Gerard De Rooy (Ginaf).

13:01 - Quad 250 - Machacek wins the 6th stage
Now that the first 3 quads have finished this 6th special stage, Czech rider Josef Machacek (Yamaha) is the provisional winner and has picked up his 2nd victory of the rally, 10.04 ahead of Spaniard Joan Manuel Gonzalez (Yamaha) and 15.14 in front of Frenchman Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris).

12:38 - Car 302 - Al-Attiyah first through CP1, but...
Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW) was the first to arrive at CP1, after 86 km of the day’s special, and boasts a lead of 21.35 over South African Giniel De Villiers (VW). However, the Qatari may not have gone through all the hidden way points on the first part of the special...

Miller provisionally leads after 38 km

12:09 - Car 308 - Miller provisionally leads after 38 km
Now that the first 5 cars have completed 38 km of the day’s special, American Mark Miller (VW) is in the lead, 36 seconds ahead of South African Giniel De Villiers (VW) and 1.03 in front of German Dieter Depping (VW).

11:51 - Quad 250 - Machacek leads at CP1
With the first 5 quads already through CP1, Czech rider Josef Machacek (Yamaha) leads the day’s special stage, 3.04 ahead of Frenchman Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris) and 4.36 in front of Argentina’s Marcos Patronelli (Can-Am).

11:36 - Bike 1 - 1st special stage victory for Despres
Now that the first 10 bikes have finished the day’s special stage, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) has provisionally picked up his first stage victory on the 31st edition, and his 17th on the Dakar, 2.09 and 5.15 ahead of Spaniards Marc Coma (KTM) and Jordi Viladoms respectively.

11:26 - Quad 273 - Patronelli provisionally leads after 38 km
Now that the first 10 quads have completed 38 km of the day’s special, the stage’s local boy, Argentine Marcos Patronelli (Can-Am), is in the lead, but only one second in front of Frenchman Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris) and 1.09 ahead of Czech Josef Machacek (Yamaha).

11:11 - Car 305 - The car race is underway...
The winner of the 5th stage in the car category, South African Giniel De Villiers (VW) kicked off proceedings in the day’s special at 11.08 local time, and was followed 2 minutes later by his German team-mate Dieter Depping (VW). The leader of the general standings, Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (BMW), will be starting in 4th position, 8 minutes after De Villiers.

10:37 - Bike 1 - Despres provisionally leads at CP1
Now that the first 9 bikes have made it through CP1, after 86 km of the day’s special, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) is in the lead, 1.27 ahead of Spain’s Marc Coma (KTM) and 3.09 ahead of another Spaniard, Jordi Viladoms (KTM).

10:10 - Bike 9 - Viladoms 3rd after 38 km
Spaniard Jordi Viladoms (KTM) is in 3rd position after 38 km of the day’s special stage, 1.27 behind stage leader Despres (KTM), but 29 seconds ahead of Chilean rider Lopez (KTM).

09:53 - Bike 1 - Despres leads after 38 km
Now that the first 10 bikes have completed 38 km of the day’s special, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) is in the lead, 35 seconds in front of Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) and 1.49 ahead of Chilean Francisco Lopez (KTM).

09:09 - Bike 26 - 6th special stage finally underway
The winner of the 5th stage yesterday, American Jonah Street (KTM), kicked off proceedings for the day’s special stage, at 09.05 local time, in accordance with the new schedule defined by the organizers. He was followed 2 minutes later by Dutchman Frans Verhoeven (KTM). Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM), leader of the general standings, will start in 9th position, 16 minutes after Street.

08:46 Start of the 6th special stage postponed again
Again due to the difficulty of the 5th stage, the organizers have once more decided to postpone the start of the day’s special stage. The first bike to start, ridden by American Jonah Street (KTM), will kick off proceedings for the 6th special stage at 09.05...

07:31 READY, STEADY, (DON’T) GO!
Hello and welcome. THERE HAS BEEN A ROUTE MODIFICATION FOR THIS 6TH STAGE. Due to the difficulty of the 5th stage, the organizers have decided to postpone the departure of the day’s special by two hours. As a result, the special stage will start at 08.35. Furthermore, the distance of the day’s timed section has been reduced and will only measure 178 km, since an impassable river ford has forced the route to be shortened… Lastly, yesterday’s stage has been neutralized. As a result, a total of 385 competitors have been authorized to start this 6th stage.

06:00 Stage 6: San Rafael - Mendoza
624.53 km are on the agenda of Stage 6, including 394.93 against the clock. And - again - sad will welcome the contenders at the start of the day’s special stage, before the route turns faster towards the end of the stage. It will therefore be a great opportunity for the most experienced of all competitors to stand out on navigation and so take some significant lead before the vehicles’ top speeds can take over. One thing is sure: Carlos Sainz (VW) will certainly work hard to compensate yesterday’s mistake whilst in the bike category, Spain’s Marc Coma (KTM) will make sure to keep an eye on the progress made by US rider Jonah Street (KTM).