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Dakar: Second American Stage Win by Miller

TODAY'S ROUTE: JAN 7. 2010 Stage 6: Antofagasta > Iquique
Connection 180 kmSpecial 418 km

Dakar: Second American Stage Win by Miller

ANTOFAGOSTA, Chile — Mark Miller, a Phoenix native who has been racing off-road since 1979 and has scored two victories in the Baja 1000 in Mexico, on Wednesday became the second American driver in a row to win a stage of the Dakar Rally.

Robby Gordon took the victory in Stage 4 Tuesday.

Miller's victory, in a Volkswagen Touareg, led fellow Volkswagen driver Carlos Sainz to the finish of Stage 4. The 2nd-place finish put Sainz into the overall lead in the race, which will consist of 16 stages making up a route of more than 5,600 miles through Argentina and Chile.

Gordon, who won his class and finished 3rd overall in last year's Dakar, drives a Hummer. Gordon finished 4th in Wednesday's Stage 5.

The event, previously known as the Paris-Dakar Rally, was relocated from its Europe-Africa setting last season to South America. It features competition on a variety of surfaces for cars, motorcycles and trucks.

The Dakar Rally was held annually from 1979-2007, but the 2008 event was canceled because of threats of terrorism.

Giniel de Villiers and Dirk Von Zitzewitz were overall winners last year in the first South American event in a Volkswagen Touareg.

Gordon's team is all-American and privateer, representing the General Motors orphan Hummer, while Miller is a works driver for the VW team based in Hanford, Germany.

- InsideLine

Iguique, Chile (AHN) - NASCAR Sprint Cup Series team owner and driver had his first off day of the Dakar Rally when he and his Hummer finished 17th in Stage 6 Thursday. After winning Stage 4 just two days prior, Gordon and his Hummer lost valuable time when they got stuck in the sand and finished 17th in Stage 6. Gordon finished over 49 minutes behind stage winner Stephane Peterhansel and dropped to sixth in the overall standings, nearly two hours behind overall leader Calos Sainz. "Unfortunately, today was a big setback for Team Hummer,'' said Gordon. "We still have a long ways to go before the race is over. We hope to regain some of today's lost time.'' Stage 7 will present the longest and toughest day of the Dakar as it encompasses over 600 kilometers. Gordon had a solid first four stages and was contended for the win, but the last two days he and his team have lost valuable time due to hold-ups in terrain. Stage 7 will be a run back to Antofagasta.

-Buddy Shacklette - AHN Sports Reporter

The Atacama Desert wins today

January 8, 2010 - 2:33am - by Toyo's Ramses Perez
Inquique is the most northern town we will visit this Dakar Rally. The special today consisted of a 418-kilometer journey that is reminiscent of a high African desert special. Robby was ready and eager to start the special as he felt he could gain time on his rivals and climb on the overall classification.

As I drove up the coast seeing beautiful waves splashing on the side of the rocks, I anticipated a great result from Team Hummer. That changed quickly when the split times started coming in. Robby seemed to be down 12 minutes very quickly into the special. The Vanguard Hummer on the other hand was leading the special. For about 180 kilometers the Vanguard Hummer lead the way as its pilot powered through the desert.

19:45 - Car
301 - 53rd stage victory for "Peter"...
Unfortunate contender yesterday, Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel (BMW) passed no less than 11 cars today to get his 20th stage victory in the car category of the Dakar and his 53rd in total all categories included (a record!). He wins stage 6 47" ahead of Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW) and 8’55 ahead of US driver Mark Miller (VW).

19:16 - Quad
251 - Patronelli keeps going...
The first 4 quads have cleared CP4 (km 359) of today’s specials tage and Argentine rider Marcos Patronelli (VW) is still in the lead now 15’53 ahead of Argentinean rider Santamarina (Can-Am) and 16’19 ahead of Polish rider Sonik (Yamaha).

19:12 - Bike
31 - Raid over for the good Italian samaritan...
The hero of stage 5 yesterday who offered his rear wheel to Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM), Italian rider Luca Manca (KTM) was unfortunately not rewarded for this nice gesture. Victime of a really serious fall on km 10 of the special stage today; the Italian rider was immediately evacuated to the Calama hospital.

18:46 - Truck
501 - This is the Kamaz show!...
Already firm leader in the general standings, Russian driver Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) is - once again - demonstrating his fabulous driving and attacking skills. As the first four "monsters" of the raid have just cleared CP2 (km 252) of today’s special stage, the "Tsar" has increased his lead even more and is now respectively 8’25 and 14’16 ahead of his countrymen and team mates Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) and Ilgizar Mardeev (Kamaz).

18:43 - Bike
10 - Dakar over for Goncalves...
Ranking sixth at the start today, Portuguese rider Paulo Goncalves (BMW) had to withdraw from the Dakar after a rough fall left him with a broken collarbone at km 195 of today’s special stage, which led to his immediate evacuation.

18:26 - Car
301 - "Peter" stays in the lead
The first 8 cars have cleared km292 of the day’s special stage and French driver Stéphane Peterhansel (BMW) is still in the lead 2’29 ahead of the standings leader Spain’s Carlos Sainz (VW) and 3’57 ahead of US driver Mark Miller (VW).

18:07 - Car
306 - Al-Attiyah losing his second position in the standings
After clearing CP2 (km 252) of today’s special stage with a 12’21 delay on the stage leaders, Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (VW) is now losing his second place in the standings to his team mate US driver Mark Miller (VW).

17:57 - Car
301 - Gaps remain stable at the top of the race
The first 15 cars have now cleared CP2 (km 252) of today’s special stage and Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel (BMW) is still in the lead with best provisional time 2’13 ahead of Spain’s Carlos Sainz (VW) and 3’35 ahead of US driver Mark Miller (VW).

17:53 - Bike
1 - Coma steals 10’ back to Despres
The first 15 bikes have reached the end of stage 6 and - unsurprisingly - Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) ends the stage with provisional best time 10’34 ahead of Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) and 10’38 ahead of Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha), who ends up third. No worries still for Despres who remains solid leader with a 42’15 lead onto his closest follower in the standings Chile’s own Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia).

17:34 - Quad
251 - A fine duel goes on behind Patronelli
As the first 10 quads have now checked at CP3(km 252) of today’s special stage, Argentine rider Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) is still glued to the leading position with a 10’56 lead on ... Rafal Sonik (Yamaha). Indeed the duel for second place goes on between the Pole and Argentine rider Santamarina (Can-Am), who have switched places again; Sonik now has a 1’47 lead onto Santamarina.

17:32 - Truck
501 - Chagin up for victory nr. 52!
Already the winner of 4 out of 5 stages in this 32nd edition of the Dakar, Russian driver Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) is up for stage victory number 5 and will be equaling Peterhansel as absolute stage victory record holder on a Dakar with 52 victories each. As he cleared km 153 of today’s stage, the "Tsar" had respectively 7’48 and 8’01 leads over his closest followers, team mates and fellow countrymen Firdaus Kabirov and Ilgizar Mardeev.

17:25 - Car
301 - "Peter" in pursuit
The biggest loser of stage 5 in which he lost almost two hours because of a broken transmission axle, Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel (BMW) is pretty intent on finding solace in adding up stage victories in this Dakar. After starting at infernal speed this morning, the driver from Vesoul finally regained part of his delay on the track and achieved best provisional time as he cleared the km 195 marker of today’s special stage. The first 8 cars have now cleared the marker and "Peter" has a 2’19 lead on the leader in the standings Spain’s Carlos Sainz (VW), and a 3’52 lead on US driver Mark Miller (VW).

17:01 - Bike
1 - Marc Coma is unstoppable
After starting seventh in the standings this morning 1h16’ behind the overall standings leader, Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) has decided to launch a big attack today just to remind everyone of the fact that HE is the title holder. Hence at CP4 (km 359) of today’s special stage, Coma is now 6’28 ahead of Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha), who has achieved 2nd position and is now 37" ahead of the present leader in the standings Cyril Despres (KTM).

16:53 - Quad
251 - Patronelli keeps going
Leader of today’s stage 6 since the very first km Argentine rider Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) has just cleared CP2 (km 195) of the day’s special stage 6’37 ahead of Polish rider Rafal Sonik (Yamaha) and 8’36 ahead of his countryman Jorge Miguel Santamarina (Can-Am).

16:51 - Car
351 - Baldwin keeps holding the lead
As the first 20 cars have now cleared km 117 of the day’s special stage, US driver Robert Baldwin (Hummer) still holds best provisional time of the day 1’41 ahead of Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel (BMW) and 2’53 ahead of Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW).

16:37 - Truck
501 - Chagin again... Kamaz always...
The first 6 trucks have now cleared CP1 located at the km 68 marker of today’s special stage and it is the leader in the overall standings Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz) who has the best time - for now - 2’01 ahead of his team mate and fellow countryman Ilgizar Mardeev (Kamaz) and 2’23 ahead of French driver Joseph Adua (Iveco).

16:19 - Bike
1 - 5’ lead for Coma at CP3
After losing more than 90’ in two days title holder Marc Coma (KTM) admitted he would now be riding one day at a time with stage victories as his prime target. It seems that the Spaniard is respecting pretty well his new game plan as he is now giving lessons in riding in today’s stage 6. The first 15 bikes have now cleared CP3 (km 252) of today’s special stage and Coma is still in the lead 4’34 ahead of French rider Cyril Despres (KTM) and 5’34 ahead of Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha).

16:11 - Car
351 - Beware of the Hummer that hides... the Hummer!
As shadow and support driver for Robby Gordon he is driving one of the 3 Hummers of, US driver Robert Baldwin (Hummer) was the surprise of the beginning of this sixth stage when he was timed in the lead at CP1 (km 68) after the first 15 cars checked through. Baldwin was 1’16 ahead of French driver Stéphane Peterhansel (BMW) and 1’35 ahead of another Frenchman Nicolas Misslin and his factory Mitsubishi.

15:46 - Quad
252 - Sonik and Santamarina in the same second!
The first 5 quads have now passed km 153 of today’s special stage and the provisional ranking is as follows: the leader in the overall standings Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) is still in the lead with a present 4’59 lead over Poland’s Rafal Sonik (Yamaha) and Spain’s Juan Manuel Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha), who have booth been clocked in the exact same time... to the second.

15:25 - Car
301 - VW on approach..."Peter" in the lead at CP4...
As the VW drivers just completed stage 6, Spanish driver Carlos Sainz ahead of his two team mates Mark Miller and Nasser Al-Attiyah, Frenchman Stéphane Peterhansel (BMW), who had started 14th this morning, checked in the lead at km393, 1’37 ahead of Spanish driver Carlos Sainz and 4’09 ahead of US driver Mark Miller.

15:19 - Truck
500 - IT’S A GO FOR TRUCKS!
The winner of stage 5 yesterday and title holder Russian driver Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz) started the day’s special stage at 11:05 AM as per schedule. Leaving 15th in the car/truck pack this morning, he was followed one minute later by his countryman and team mate Vladimir Chagin (Kamaz).

15:14 - Quad
251 - Patronelli keeps up the pace...
The first four quads have cleared km 117 of the day’s special stage and the leader in the standings and first quad to start this morning, Argentinean rider Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) is still best provisional time, now 1’30 ahead of Poland’s Sonik (Yamaha) and 2’57 ahead of Spain’s Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha).

15:04 - Bike
1 - Coma widens the gap at CP2...
The first 13 bikes have now cleared CP2 (km195) of today’s special stage and Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) is now checking with a 3’21 lead over the leader in the standings, France’s Cyril Despres (KTM) and a 5’30 lead over Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha), who gets the provisional third fastest time.

15:02
IT’S A GO FOR CARS!
The winner of stage 5 yesterday, US driver Mark Miller (VW) kicked off the day’s special stage at 10:42AM as per schedule. He was followed 2 min later by his team mate and leader in the general standings Spanish driver Carlos Sainz (VW).

14:35 - Bike
1 - Coma takes the lead at km 153
The first 10 bikes have cleared km 153 of today’s special stage and it is now Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) who gets the best time with respective leads by 50" and 3’33 ahead of Frenchmen Cyril Despres (KTM) and Olivier Pain (Yamaha).

14:29 - Quad
251 - Patronelli already in the lead at CP1
After starting 42nd of the pack of bikes this morning, Argentina’s Marcos Patronelli (Yamaha) checked in the lead of today’s special stage at CP1 (km 68). The leader in the quad category had a 50" lead on Polish rider Rafal Sonik (Yamaha) and a 4’00 lead on Spaniard Juan Manuel Gonzalez Corominas (Yamaha).

14:08 - Bike
1 - Strong come back for Coma...
The first 8 bikes have now passed the km 117 marker of today’s special stage and even if the leader in the overall standings Cyril Despres (KTM) is still showing best provisional clock, the Frenchman is now only 54" ahead of Spain’s Marc Coma (KTM)... The third fastest provisional time goes to French rider Olivier Pain (Yamaha) 2’05 from the leader.

13:57 - Bike
42 - Jakes third fastest time at CP1
Slovak rider Ivan Jakes (KTM) has just cleared CP1 (km 68) of today’s special stage with the third fastest provisional time 2’14 behind Cyril Despres, but 6" ahead of title holder, Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM), presently ranking fourth.

13:27 - Bike
2 - Despres logically in the lead at CP1
The first 8 bikes have now cleared CP1 (km 68) of today’s special stage and Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) is in the lead 1’44 ahead of his countryman Olivier Pain (Yamha) and 3’11 ahead of Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha). It is to be noted that several riders followed the wrong trail at km 25 Spanish rider Marc Coma (KTM) included but the latter just got back on the right track.

13:14 - Bike
9 - Hard times in navigation...
After starting first of today’s special stage this morning, Chile’s Lopez Contardo (Aprilia) has gone the wrong way at km 23 of the stage bringing along several contenders for more than 5 km; amongst those who followed him are Frenchmen David Frétigné (Yamaha) and Alain Duclos (KTM), Portuguese riders Paulo Goncalves (BMW) and Ruben Faria (KTM), and Norwegian rider Pal Anders Ullevalseter (KTM). The only biker in the top group not to get trapped following "Chaleco’s" lead was Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) who used this opportunity to get a good headstart on the pack.

12:44 - Bike
9 - READY, STEADY, GO!
Good morning to you all. At the end of stage 5 yesterday, 250 teams - 106 bikes, 17 quads, 82 cars and 45 trucks - were granted permission to start today’s sixth stage. Yesterday’s winner, Chilean rider Francisco Lopez Contardo (Aprilia) strated the day’s special stage at 8:15 AM as per schedule. The rider, nicknamed "Chaleco", was followed 2 minutes later by the leader in the general standings, Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM).

19:56
STAGE 6 : ANTOFAGASTA - IQUIQUE
598 km are on the menu for stage 6 of which 418 km against the clock that will still make contenders suffer with challenges like managing the efforts deployed and many pace changes. Indeed, after facing a first third of the special stage off-track, the contenders will be able to "let their horse(power) loose" on broad and fast tracks before facing an erg of some 50 km towards the end of the stage. Finally the contenders will end the special stage with a vertiginous and spectacular drop of about 3km on a sand slide... an unforgetable finish to get right to the Iquigue bivouac where the finish line has been set without any liaison afterwards.