Just as KTM-manufactured bikes dominate the early leaderboard of the 2011 Dakar Rally so do their imposing orange tents which are moved from bivouac to bivouac as the desert classic continues.
A little look beneath the show of strength from KTM, however, reveals a divided camp at the Dakar. When Cyril Despres and Marc Coma roll into town it's clear that there can only be one sheriff.
With Cyril and Marc’s posses cohabiting the same space, not only in the bivouac but also on the track, we are in for another red-hot battle between the pair dubbed ‘the best of enemies’.
After the first stage less than a minute separates Cyril and Marc as they find themselves in the top four along with their support riders, Ruben Faria and Juan Pedrero Garcia.
I stepped into The House of Orange to see what the duo with five Dakar titles between them and their support riders think about the 2011 Dakar so far…
Ruben Faria (Team Red Bull KTM) – Race leader after 1 stage
“I managed to keep a good tempo from the beginning to the end. This special stage looked very much like what I am used to seeing in Portugal. I am glad to know that in the end it paid off and I got the day's best time.
“I did better today than many great riders with different driving styles. It's already a good point of reference. I am also very happy to see that my team-mate, Cyril Despres, also made excellent time.”
Cyril Despres (Team Red Bull KTM) – 29s off the lead
“The day started really early this morning. Waking up at 3.00am was a bit of a rough start but the conditions were good. It was not too cold in the liaison but that section was almost the toughest because the special stage was really great fun.
“It was a great warming-up exercise, a winding route, big sliding sections, a mix between skiing and riding. I am in good shape, all is fine.”
“In the beginning of a Dakar, one always wonders, especially now that all the top riders are riding 450cc bikes, is this going to change much? Even if we tested our bikes, a Dakar will always be a Dakar. The race is on now and staying focused is of the essence.”
Marc Coma (KTM MRW Rally Factory Team) – 1m 15s off the lead
“It was a good warm-up stage; not an easy one though, it had a highly technical section and a faster section. What matters is reaching the end of the first stage without trouble. It's always a bit strange to start a new Dakar.
“Obviously, the fact that I was opening the route made me lose time on the others but this is the game of the race. The next few days will tell me how to catch up.”
Juan Pedrero Garcia (KTM MRW Rally Factory Team) – 2m 13s off the lead
“I am very, very happy. It was a great special stage for me; I arrived here without trouble and I am an official pilot. I’m very happy with the bike. We had tested it but in race conditions things are very different.
“I am pretty surprised about my time. I was really motivated at the start; the ground felt like Enduro racing and I grew confident after a while. I now have even more motivation to improve my position.”
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