Today’s 11th stage of the 2013 Dakar Rally proved to be another impressive one for Yamaha Netherlands Verhoeven Team rider Frans Verhoeven. The day’s action took the riders through more sand dunes, then on to pass the eastern slopes of the Andes mountains. The Dutchman was on top form on his YZ450F based machine, attacking the hugely varied conditions of the 191km stage (shortened from an original 220km by organisers) from La Rioja to Fiambalá, finishing in 11th to jump an impressive five places up the overall standings and break solidly into the top ten, from 13th to eighth.
Fellow Yamaha rider Olivier Pain also made today count and gained valuable ground. The French rider moved up two places in the overall standings from ninth to seventh. Yamaha Racing France rider Pain wrapped up today’s stage in 14th after a solid ride. Michael Metge continues to bring up the rear, just inside the top 20 in 19th position.
“Right from the beginning it was very difficult today,” commented Frans Verhoeven. “There were waterholes, broken edges, it was a real mess. It was difficult to ride but also difficult to navigate. At one point I thought I was on the right track, but soon I found out it was completely wrong. Overall some very tricky circumstances! I rode with Alain Duclos along the way; together we tried to find a waypoint at kilometer 47. It was well really hidden, I’m sure a lot of riders went in the wrong direction there. There were ten guys in front of me and I saw ten tracks going different ways. I moved on by myself and entered the riverbeds. We had rain on the way to the special and the special itself was wet as well. There was a lot of mud and water in normally dry riverbeds. The water had broken the edges, which made it even more difficult. The Dakar is not over yet. It began with some hard stages and it will be difficult until the end. I’ll try to make the best of it.”
2013 Dakar Rally Stage 11 Results:
La Rioja to Fiambala total distance 483 km, timed special 221 km (reduced to 191 km)
1. Kurt Caselli, USA (KTM) 2:55:01
2. Paulo Goncalves, PRT (Husq) 2:59:46
3. Cyril Despres, FRA (KTM) 3:01:25
4. Joan Pedrero, ESP (KTM) 3:05:19
5. Chaleco Lopez, CHL (KTM) 3:05:52
6. Joan Barreda, ESP (Husq) 3:06:10
7. Alessandro Botturi, ITA (Husq) 3:06:32
8. Ivan Jakes, SVK (KTM) 3:06:37
9. Alain Duclos, FRA (Sherco) 3:07:22
10. Ruben Faria, PRT (KTM) 3:13:04
11. Frans Verhoeven, NED (Yamaha) 3:16:17
14. Olivier Pain, FRA (Yamaha) 3:21:35
27. Michael Metge, FRA (Yamaha) 3:41:46
2013 Dakar Rally Overall Standings after Stage 11:
1. Cyril Despres (KTM) 33:48:29
2. Ruben Faria (KTM) 34:01:45
3. Chaleco Lopez (KTM) 34:06:37
4. Ivan Jakes (KTM) 34:12:02
5. Alessandro Botturi (Husq) 34:18:01
6. Joan Pedrero (KTM) 34:32:41
7. Oliver Pain (Yamaha) 34:55:41
8. Frans Verhoeven (Yamaha) 35:03:06
9. Helder Rodrigues (Honda) 35:04:53
10. Javier Pizzolito (Honda) 35:11:42
19. Michael Metge (Yamaha) 36:31:52
