Cycle News Staff | January 16, 2013
Photography By: M. Maragni/KTM Images
Red Bull KTM’s Kurt Caselli captured his second stage win of this year’s Dakar Rally today, the Dakar rookie taking charge in the 118-mile special stage and holding off the rest of the motorcycle field in the sand dunes of Argentina to arrive in Fiambala with the stage 11 victory.
Caselli ended up besting Husqvarna Rallye Team By Speedbrain’s Paulo Goncalves by four minutes and 45 seconds after completing today’s stage in two hours and 55 minutes.
Caselli’s Red Bull KTM teammate Cyril Despres ended up third in today’s stage, the Frenchman finishing some six and a half minutes behind the Californian. AMV Red Bull KTM’s Juan Pedrero finished fourth today with Francisco “Chaleco” Lopez rounding out the top five.
In the overall standings, Despres now leads his teammate Ruben Faria by over 13 minutes with Lopez third overall – 18 minutes and eight seconds behind the defending race champion and four-time Dakar winner after 11 stages.
Caselli is listed in 19th overall after the 11th stage, but not all the riders have made it to the finish yet so he may drop down the standings. Caselli’s fellow Californian Johnny Campbell has yet to finish today’s stage.
