Coma Wins for 2nd Year
Sealine Rallye Qatar
www.fullnoise.com.au Rallye News
KTM’s three-times Dakar winner Marc Coma of Spain on Friday sealed
victory in the second edition of the Sealine Rally in Qatar, the second round
of the 2013 World Cross Countries Rally Championship.
Coma won the four-stage rally by the narrowest of margins, finishing just 4
seconds ahead of Portugal’s Paolo Goncalves.
The minor podium place went to KTM factory teammate Jakub ‘Kuba’ Przygonski
of Poland and the third member of the KTM trio, Chaleco Lopez of Chile
finished fourth.
The top four riders finished the rally after four very long stages within 4
minutes 29 of each other underlining that this was a race of an entire
different character.
Coma won the Sealine Rally for the second straight year. Run for the first time in 2012, the Sealine
Rally, coming straight on the back of the more established Abu Dhabi Desert
Challenge, was compacted from five to four days. But riders were on their
bikes, trekking across the desert sand for around five hours a day in what was
an all-out scramble for fastest.
Going into the final stage, Coma was very aware that it was going to be a close
finish. He started the day with a 2 minute 4 second advantage over Goncalves.
Then his Portuguese opponent lost some ground after a navigational error and
Coma again had the advantage. Knowing the win was at stake, Coma decided to
take the cautious approach with the navigation and Goncalves was back in
contention behind him at the 190 km mark of the 275 km special.
From then on it was a dash by both riders to the finish and they crossed the
line in unison, with the victory going to Coma by just 4 seconds.
Although he said it was very tough throughout the four days, Coma, making a
return to racing after an injury problem that kept him out of the 2013 Dakar
Rally was still happy at the close.
“The long distance, the navigation, the weather – this race has really gone to a high level." Coma stated. "I lost some time in some loose sand after the passage control, but I saw Paulo after about 190 km and it was exciting all the way to the finish,” he told reporters at the end of the race.
For runner up Goncalves he was happy to once again prove that his
Speedbrain 450 Rally Bike was capable of being more than competitive and is
motivate to come out on top at the next round of the series.
"I am extremely happy about this top result for my Speedbrain team."
Goncalves stated. "It has been a very difficult and close race.
"Marc Coma and I battled tooth and nail, fair and square. Congratulations
to him for this narrow victory.
"We have shown that the Speedbrain 450 Rally bike is capable of winning
and competitive in all types of terrain. The world´s best are riding on the
same level nowadays," he continued.
"To finish this race without major mistakes and without technical problems
is an achievement in itself. It´s a confirmation of our intensive work. I´m
already looking forward to the next race and feel motivated to battle for the
win again."
Coma’s slim victory here means he retains the title in 2013. Together with his
win in the Desert Challenge, it lays the foundation for another solid attack on
the 2013 World Championship title.
Sealine Cross Country Rally 2013 Result Final
Stage:
1. Lopez (CHL, KTM) 2h31m56s
2. Przygonski (POL, KTM) +00:01:50
3. Paulo Goncalves (PRT, Speedbrain) +00:02:42
4. Coma-Camps (ESP, KTM) +00:04:42
5. Salvatierra (BOL, Honda) +00:09:03
Sealine Cross
Country Rally 2013 Final Overall Result:
1. Coma-Camps (ESP, KTM) 14h33m19s
2. Paulo Goncalves (PRT, Speedbrain) +00:00:04
3. Przygonski (POL, KTM) +00:03:16
4. Lopez (CHL, KTM) +00:07:45
5. Salvatierra (BOL, Honda) +01:37:05
Top Image: Coma wins Sealine Rally for the second straight year.
Credit Images: Marian Chytka
