KTM Results Desafio Ruta 40 Stage 5

Courtesy of KTM

Stage 5 results
1, Chaleco Lopez, Chile, KTM 2:27.25
2, Kurt Caselli, USA, KTM at 1.07
3, Helder Rodrigues, Portugal, Honda at 2.12
4, Marc Coma, Spain, KTM 2.52
5, David Casteu at 5.08
6, Daniel Guiet, KTM 5.20
7, Paolo Goncalves, Portugal, Speedbrain, 5.25
8, Pablo Quintanilla, KTM, 5.45
9, Javier Pizzolito, Argentina, Honda at 7.14
10, Claudio Rodriguez, Honda at 10.07

Overall after Stage 5
1, Lopez, 16:38.28
2, Helder Rodrigues at 0.1 (plus one minute penalty
3, Caselli, KTM at 0.35
4, Coma, KTM at 3.58
5, Casteu at 5.30
6, Pizzolito at 6.19
7, Goncalves at 15.42
8, C. Rodrigues at 53.51
9, Salvatierra at 59.18
10, Prohens at 1:00.08

KTM’s Coma wins Stage Four of Desafio Ruta 40

Courtesy of KTM

KTM factory rider Marc Coma of Spain displayed his consummate professional skills on Thursday, brushing aside the disappointment of a fuel line problem that dropped cost him around 18 minutes in Stage Three of the Desafio Ruta 40 Rally in Argentina to take a solid victory in Stage Four Coma and his KTM factory teammate Kurt Caselli, who also lost time on Wednesday when he stopped to assist him, finished 1-2 in the stage just 1.5 minutes apart. Chaleco Lopez, their Chilean teammate finished seventh in what was a very closely contested stage. The top five riders were all within five minutes of each other as they battled the track from Belin to Chilecito over a total distance of 586.73 km, 192.32 km of which was timed special.   The result puts Coma back in the reckoning for the overall victory. He is currently fifth but only trails overall leader Helder Rodrigues of Portugal by 3.17 minutes. Among his toughest rivals for the number one spot will be Caselli, currently third overall and just 1.39 behind the leader, and Lopez in fourth overall trailing by just 2.11 with two more stages to go. Coma however is the first to admit that in rally sport nothing is certain until you cross the finish line. Friday’s stage, a massive 781.66 km from Chicelito to San Juan, including a timed special of 455.74, the second longest of the rally, will play a major part in the final outcome. On Saturday riders take a loop track from and to San Juan that includes the final timed special of 146.23 km. KTM Factory Team Manager Alex Doringer said it had been a very good day for his riders. “They really pushed today,” he said. Sadly Desafio Ruta 40 organizers also confirmed at the end of the day that rider No. 35, Nicholas Rojas of Argentina had crashed during the course of the stage and was declared dead at the site by the emergency medical rescue team. The KTM Factory Team extends sincere condolences to the rider’s family and friends for their sad loss. The Desafio Ruta 40 is part of the Dakar Challenge series but also the fourth leg of the FIM World Cross Countries Championship. Coma, the reigning world champion has already won all three earlier legs. Stage 4 results 1, Marc Coma, Spain, KTM 2 hours 56.25 2, Kurt Caselli, USA, KTM at 1.5 3, David Casteu at 3.36 4, Claudio. Rodriguez, Honda at 4.38 5, Helder Rodrigues, Portugal, Honda at 5.25 6, Pablo Rodriguez, 7.16 7, Chaleco Lopez, Chile, KTM at 9.44 8, Felipe Prohens, Chile at 9.55 9, Javier Pizzolito, Argentina, Honda at 12.50 10, Juan Salvatierra, Bolivia, Speedbrain at 14.48 Overall after Stage 4 (of six) 1, Helder Rodrigues, 14:07.52 2, Pizzolito at 1.16 3, Caselli, KTM at 1.39 4, López, KTM at 2.11 5, Coma, KTM at 3.17 6, Casteu at 4.33 7, Goncalves at 12.28 8, Prohens at 44.25 9, C. Rodrigues at 45.55 10, Salvatierra at 49.48

Coma rallies to take Stage 4 of Desafio Ruta Strong ride by American Kurt Caselli Chaleco Lopez up with the overall leaders

Official presentation of the MXGP of Qatar in Doha

Courtesy of Youthstream Media

FUNCHAL (Portugal), 15 January 2013 – Youthstream’s President Mr Giuseppe Luongo has travelled to Qatar to meet up with Mr Nasser Khalifa Al Attya, President of the QMMF, before the celebration of the first FIM Motocross Grand Prix in the Middle East, which will take place at Losail International Circuit during the 1st and 2nd March. On Sunday Mr Giuseppe Luongo and Mr Nasser Khalifa Al Attya hosted a press conference at the QMMF office in Doha where they officially presented the event to the numerous and enthusiastic media from the Gulf region.Mr Giuseppe Luongo and Mr Nasser Khalifa Al Attya expressed their satisfaction about the progress of the construction of the track, which is going as planned, and they both admitted that they are looking forward to the event to happen. The MXPG of Qatar has already generated a lot of interest among the fans and the international media, not only because it is going to be the first MXGP in the Middle East and the first round of the 2013 series, but also because it will be the first ever Grand Prix celebrated at night with the new racing format. Besides, there is also a great interest among the National Media, who did not miss the opportunity to travel to Qatar for the official presentation of the Grand Prix last Sunday and they showed a lot of interest and curiosity about the event. Click here to watch a short clip of Mr Giuseppe Luongo and Mr Nasser Khalifa Al Attya press conference. LINKS Youthstream FIM MXGP Qatar Photo: Mr Giuseppe Luongo and Mr Nasser Khalifa Al Attya at the QMMF office in Doha