KTM’S MARC COMA WINS ABU DHABI DESERT CHALLENGE

After five days powering his KTM 450 Rally bike over tough desert terrain and in extreme summer temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius, KTM’s three-times Dakar Rally winner delivered all the necessary ingredients to lift the trophy. Fast on some days, cautious on others to avoid risks, putting on the pressure when it was necessary: Coma applied just the right formula to set himself up for victory. Then on the final leg he delivered all of the above and whatever else that was necessary to underscore that he is not only a sensational rider but also a wily tactician.

Marc Coma oscillated between winning legs and finishing back in the pack for a good start position the following day. On Day 4 he finished a cautious eleventh in the special but safeguarded his overall lead of 6.5 minutes. He said that barring something dramatic happening, he felt the team had the win in the bag.

The final day was a high-speed dash through the desert complete with camels on the track as riders headed back to the capital and the ceremonial finish adjacent to the marina from where they first started. On the way Coma managed to accrue another three minutes on his opponents to finish in 20 hours 33 minutes 35, some 9 minutes 33 seconds in front of Spanish rider Joan Barreda. Portugal’s Paulo Goncalves was third and KTM riders took the next three places with Ruben Faria fourth, Jordi Villadoms of Spain in fifth and Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski sixth overall. Przgonski’s ORLEN teammate Marek Dabrowski rode his KTM to victory in the Open Class.

Marc Coma: “I am very happy with how things went, right from the first day. Despite today's stage being the last, it was a special stage of 280 km and it was difficult maintaining concentration,” he said. “You have to focus on getting to the end without any problems. I tried to keep my pace up but without taking any unnecessary risks.” He said his biggest challenges had been the heat, the difficult dunes and the high caliber of the other top riders.

The rally was intense and strength sapping but the riders have little time to recover. The next round of the FIM Cross Country Rally World Championship starts in Qatar on April 17, 2012.

Overall Results
1. Marc Coma (E), KTM (450 Rally bike), 20:33.35 hours – won by 9:33 mintues
2. Joan Barreda (E), Husqvarna
3. Paolo Goncalves (P), Husqvarna
4. Ruben Faria (P), KTM
5. Jordi Villadoms (E), KTM
Other KTM
6. Jakub Przygonsik (P), KTM
9. Matthew Fish (AUS), KTM
10. Paolo Ceci (I), KTM
12. Gerard Farres (E), KTM
13. Mohammed Balooshi (UAE), KTM
17. Marek Dabrowski (P), KTM  (won Open Class Trophy)

Results Stage 5
1. Coma
2. Barreda
3. Przygonski
4. Goncalves
5. David Casteu (F), Yamaha
Other KTM
6. Alessandro Botturi (I), KTM
7. Faria
8. Villadoms