QUADS News from stage 12 - updated 17.01.2013: Dakar 2013 - Argentina/Chile stage 12 1st start (GMT-3) : 10:00 AM

Dakar 2013 - Argentina/Chile
stage 12  1st start (GMT-3) : 10:00 AM







15:14 - quad
No worries for Patronelli in the quad category

Argentinean Marcos Patronelli still has a strong grip on the general standings with a lead of 1:52'35" over Ignacio Casale. He has been protecting his lead for several days now, happy to remain in the wake of the quickest riders on the specials.


Rafal Sonik is third, 3:04'20" off the lead. Lucas Bonetto occupies fourth place, 3:h41'32" behind the younger Patronelli brother. Sebastian Palma trails the general standings leader by more than 4 hours and lies in fifth place.



14:15 - quad
253 - Fifth palce confirmed for Sonik

Polish quad rider Rafal Sonik has just crossed the finishing line and picks up fifth place, 18'29" behind the Husseini. He was follwoed by Sarel Van Biljon, 22'34" off the lead, and Sebastian Palma, 29'07" behind the stage winner.



14:05 - quad
265 - Husseini beats Patronelli

The Emrati rider has win the special with a time of 4:36'54", finishing in front of Marcos Patronelli by 1'08", Ignacio Casale by 3'21", Lucas Bonetto by 7'31" and probably Rafal Sonik, given that Lukasz Laskawiec had ground to a halt on the special.




13:12 - quad
Husseini and Patronelli raise the pace

After 276 km, the two men are alone out in the lead in the provisional positions: 33 seconds separate the two quad riders. In third place, 2'05" behind, Chilean Ignacio Casale is marking time.


Lucas Bonetto has lost a lot of time since the last time check point and is now 6'20" from the stage leader, as well as battling to defend his place from Poland's Lukasz Laskawiec.




12:44 - quad
16 seconds separate the top 3 after 222 km!

Sebastian Husseini now leads 10 second ahead of Ignacio Casale and 16 seconds in front of Marcos Patronelli. Fourth placed rider Lucas Bonetto trails further back by 3'35" off the lead.


The next placed riders are Lukasz Laskawiec , Van Biljon, Sonik and Gonzalez, but none of them have yet reached this time check point.



12:05 - quad
254 - Casale has a fragile lead after 169 km

Chilean Ignacio Casale is still in front on the quad special, leading Sebastian Husseini by 52". Marcos Patronelli is still in the leading group, 1'32" behind the Chilean. Lucas Bonetto is fourth, 2'05" behind Casale, and is followed by Lukasz Laskawiec, 2'56" behind the stage leader.



11:15 - quad
252 - Laskawiec lets the lead slip

The Polish rider, leader at the previous time check points, is now second after 140 km, 1'11" behind the leader Ignacio Casale.



0:51 - quad
256 - Bonetto drops back after 140 km

Even though the lead in the race is not yet clear at this point, it is already evident that Lucas Bonetto has slowed on this portion. The Argentinean has dropped down to fourth place, behind Patronelli, Husseini and Casale. The Chilean is currently in the lead, 1'15" ahead of the Emirati, 1'25” ahead of Patronelli and 1'56” ahead of Bonetto.



10:47 - quad
252 - Best time for Laskawiec after 91 km

The Polish rider has put in the best time after 91 km, with an advantage of 19 seconds over Ignacio Casale who himself had taken the lead from Sebastian Husseini (50" behind Laskawiec) and Lucas Bonetto (58" behind the stage leader).



10:03 - quad
254 - Casale steals the lead from Bonetto

Chilean Ignacio Casale, inspired by the return to his homeland, has taken the ascendancy over Lucas Bonetto by 7 seconds. Argentinean Luciano Gagliardi has slipped into fourth place between Husseini and Patronelli, 1'15” behind the stage leader.



09:42 - quad
256 - Two Hondas lead after 91 km

For the moment, Lucas Bonetto and Sebastian Husseini are leading the quad special. Exactly 1 minute separates the two Honda riders, followed by Marcos Patronelli (1'50" behind Bonetto) and Paul Smith, in fourth, 1'58" behind the provisional leader.



08:50 - quad
Now it's the quads' turn

The first quad, ridden by Paul Smith, started the special at 10.36 AM local time. In their starting order, Gaston Gonzalez and Marcos Patronelli will be his main pursuers.



04:01 - quad
Paul Smith leads out the quads

The surprise winner of yesterday's stage, Paul Smith is the leader of the quad pack on the day's link stage. This morning, 26 quads remain on the list of starters.


He will be followed out by Gaston Gonzales and Marcos Patronelli, leader of the general standings.





15:45
Fiambala-Copiapo: the return to Chile

After a 392-km road section, the competitors on the Dakar 2013 will tackle a 319-km timed section. The rally will cross the Andes Mountains from the east to the west this time, via the Paso San Francisco, before dropping down into the Atacama Desert to taste all the types of difficulties that can be faced in the rally-raid discipline.


For the large portions of dunes located in the middle of the special, the riders and crews must climb these “monuments” and avoid getting stuck in hollows that are just as big. On the tracks, the stage will be no easy task, since the rocks and stones, though scattered, could even bring the quickest competitors to a sudden halt.


The participants who managed to reach Copiapó without making mistakes will have scored precious points in the final battle. Following the neutralisation of their special yesterday, the car and truck crews will probably have to tame their frustration, whilst the bikers, still closely grouped behind Cyril Despres, will have to battle to make the difference.


The leading quad riders are relatively safe in terms of position, even if this stage is likely to count among the more decisive on the rally.





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