Hector Rodrigues gave Yamaha another stage win in the Dakar Rally today, matching his victory back in stage two when the race was still being run in his homeland of Portugal.
Rodrigues topped overall leader Marc Coma by 44 seconds, the Repsol KTM-mounted Spaniard still well clear in the overall standings and leading Gauloises KTM’s Cyril Despres by 54 minutes and 43 seconds after 10 stages.
Despres finished third in today’s 248-mile stage, beating yesterday’s stage winner Janis Vinters and David Casteu to the finish. American Chris Blais finished today’s stage in seventh place with Thierry Bethys sandwiching himself between Casteu and Blais in sixth place.
Blais, however, is still fourth overall and he was able to put a bit more time between himself and fifth-placed Pal Anders Ullevalseter, the Dutchman finishign 10th in today’s stage.
American’s Casey McCoy and Steve Laroza finished 28th and 113th, respectively, today.
