Dakar Rally: Despres roars back into title race

France’s KTM’s rider Cyril Despres competes in the Stage 6 of the 2013 Dakar Rally between Arica and Calama, Chile, on January 10, 2013. Despres stormed back into contention for this year’s title as the Frenchman won his first stage of this year’s Dakar Rally here on Monday.

Defending motorbike champion Cyril Despres stormed back into contention for this year’s title as the Frenchman won his first stage of this year’s Dakar Rally here on Monday.

The 38-year-old KTM star started the day over 24 minutes off the pace but finished the stage in second place overall as he came in 4min 03sec ahead of Spanish rider Joan Barreda on a Husqvarna.

While Despres has put himself firmly into the mix for retaining the title – the four-time champion trails team-mate Portugal’s Ruben Faria by 5min 23sec – two of his compatriots fell away completely on the race’s longest stage, 852km from Tucuman including 593km of it timed.

David Casteu – who led overnight going into the stage – hit a cow with his Yamaha during the timed section which resulted in him dislocating his shoulder and another stop on the stage saw him slip from pole position to not having a hope of winning the title.

His compatriot Olivier Pain also had a day to forget as he came off the bike on several occasions and lost about 32 minutes to also lose sight of overall victory.