First stage: Victory for Marc Coma

The first stage of Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge has now started the real competition after the prologue yesterday. The section has been cut in the km 130 due to a problem with one of the trucks fuel supply, which has reduced the planned route of 290km.

The rider Marc Coma finished the special in first position and the arrival commented that "went well, although the first day is a bit tricky, we had not rolled over dunes from the Dakar and this makes it slower than usual. The result is good, the goal today was to leave behind to start to place ourselves in a good position and that's what we've done. Now come three days crucial and difficult as it makes a lot of heat and the sand is very soft. "

This is the first time to participate in a race Avià the world with his new KTM 450. Even after the success of the Spaniard Dakar has great confidence in your machine, consider this first round of the World Cross Country will be "a litmus test for the bike. It's a really tough test for the mechanics, but I hope it will go well. This bike is lighter and more agile than the previous one, so it is easier to handle in the dunes. "

After this first phase of true competition on dunes, Marc has an advantage of almost 4 minutes over his nearest rival, the Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues, which is "not a big difference, but it leaves us a little leeway and gives us confidence for the next stages. "