BMW Motorrad by Speedbrain – News Release
Dakar 2011, Stage 11, Chilecito-San Juan
Road section 164 km, Special 622 km
Thursday?s Dakar rally route took the field through wild canyons east of the Andes. Team BMW Motorrad by speedbrain was attacking in order to move further up in the standings.
Altogether it turned out to be an okay day for the German squad, although Frans Verhoeven wasn?t totally satisfied with his result. The Dutchman?s progress was hampered early on by dust, as he had to enter the stage in 13th position following yesterday?s outcome. Passing other riders proved to be dangerous. The experienced Dakar ace only managed to make up places towards the end of the stage. Verhoeven finished the day in seventh spot, having to deal with temperatures up to 40? C. He?s now back in the Top 20 overall.
A tired Frans Verhoeven: “That was very exhausting today. I really had to concentrate because of the dust in the beginning. It wasn?t fun and I couldn?t make up as much ground as I had anticipated.”
Teammate Pedro Bianchi Prata kept riding a solid pace. He?s now 33th overall.
Dakar 2011, Stage 11
1. Cyril Despres (FRA) KTM
2. Marc Coma (SPA), KTM, 2:11 min behind 3. Francisco Lopez Contardo (CHI), Aprilia, 6:19 4. Helder Rodrigues (POR), Yamaha, 7:44 5. Alain Duclos (FRA), Aprilia, 10:03 6. Quinn Cody (USA), Honda, 10:17 7. Frans Verhoeven (NEL), BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 14:02 8. Jean Azevedo (BRA), KTM, 15:36 9. Juan Pedrero Garcia (SPA), KTM, 15:42 10. Jordi Viladoms (SPA), Yamaha, 17:08
38. Bianchi Prata (PRT), BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 42:14
Overall standings
1. Coma
2. Depres, 15:59 min behind
3. Lopez Contardo, 49:24
20. Verhoeven, 7:04:39
33. Bianchi Prata, 11:21:39
