KTM-supported rider Cyril Despres on Thursday finished the longest ride of the Dakar 2010 in eighth position at the close of Stage 12, trimming his substantial overall lead by just over 17 minutes on a day that favoured the smaller 450 cc machines and demanded absolute concentration for nearly 800 km.

In order to preserve his position at the front of the pack and so close to the end of the rally, it was the French-born rider's task to ride a steady, but solid race and arrive in San Rafael in good shape.
 
Meanwhile, KTM's Marc Coma, who was fourth on Thursday in Stage 12, was handed an unexpected bonus on Thursday morning when it was announced that race stewards awarded credits to riders who were mislead by incorrect markings on Wednesday's track. The credits vaulted him into first place and sealed his fourth stage victory for this Dakar. The new results for Stage 11 put Coma 5'13" ahead of Frenchman David Fretegne with Frans Verhoeven of the Netherlands in third. The adjustment did not affect the overall leader Despres but meant that the second overall, Norwegian KTM rider Pal Ullevalseter shared the second placed ranking with Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez of Chile. 

Picture: Cyril Despres during stage 12

Credit: J. van Oers