Tunisia Rally Wraps Up - Despres Takes Overall Win****STAGE 8: DJERBA-DJERBA
Result 8th stage
1. C.DEGAVARDO, KTM 2h 52:35
2. C.DESPRES, KTM 2h 53:25 + 00:50
3. A.GRIDER, KTM 2h 58:11 + 05:36
4. Ch.BLAIS, KTM 3h 04:24 + 11:49
5. M.GRAZIANI, KTM 3h 12:31 + 19:56
6. A.NABLI, YAMAHA 3h 21:15 + 28:40
7. H.DELTRIEU, POLARIS 3h 23:11 + 30:36
8. C.DECLERCK, YAMAHA 3h 27:18 + 34:43
9. O.POLLI, KTM 3h 27:52 + 35:17
Final overall standing
1. C.DESPRES, KTM 24h 00:23
2. C.DEGAVARDO, KTM 24h 59:07 + 58:44
3. A.GRIDER, KTM 25h 14:47 + 1h 14:24
4. Ch.BLAIS, KTM 25h 24:11 + 1h 23:48
5. M.GRAZIANI, KTM 26h 10:48 + 2h 10:25
6. Ch.MEILLAT, HONDA 27h 50:20 + 3h 49:57
7. O.POLLI, KTM 28h 24:02 + 4h 23:39Optic 2000: Weekend Tunisia Rally Results
STAGE 5: SABRIA-EL BORMAIn the bike class Cyril Despres had a trouble free run aboard his KTM to win the special from the front and consolidate his overall lead. Behind him the American rookie and Baja 1000 winner Andy Grider posted an impressive second despite still discovering navigation, dunes and his big KTM LC4. His team mate Chris Blais was almost equally impressive finishing fourth to hold on to his 3rd place overall, behind the comfortable leader of the 450 class the Chilean Carlo De Gavardo. In the quads, Christophe Declerck (Yamaha) finished 9th among the bikes to take the overall lead from Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris).Result 5th stage
1. C.DESPRES, KTM 3h 10:47
2. A.GRIDER, KTM 3h 13:12 + 02:25
3. C.DEGAVARDO, KTM 3h 16:53 + 06:06
4. Ch.BLAIS, KTM 3h 19:19 + 08:32
5. M.GRAZIANI, KTM 3h 33:28 + 22:41
6. O.POLLI, KTM 3h 46:52 + 36:05
7. Ch.MEILLAT, HONDA 3h 47:37 + 36:50
8. F.GADIOUX, YAMAHA 4h 17:23 + 1h 06:36
9. C.DECLERCK, YAMAHA 4h 33:24 + 1h 22:37
10. I.ARBELAIZ, KTM 4h 34:27 + 1h 23:40Overall
1. C.DESPRES, KTM 14h 51:56
2. C.DEGAVARDO, KTM 15h 08:28 + 16:32
3. Ch.BLAIS, KTM 15h 16:42 + 24:46
4. A.GRIDER, KTM 15h 59:08 + 1h 07:12
5. M.GRAZIANI, KTM 16h 10:38 + 1h 18:42
6. Ch.MEILLAT, HONDA 17h 15:36 + 2h 23:40
7. O.POLLI, KTM 17h 53:39 + 3h 01:43STAGE 6: EL BORMA - EL BORMAOn crossing the finishing line in Cyril Despres' dust, the American Andy Grider didn't forget to thank his team mate for another navigation lesson in the heart of the El Borma erg. Second on the stage, Grider just lost out to the "little" KTM 450 of Carlo de Gavardo, who rode a faultless special in the wake of the big capacity KTMs. With the impressive crash of the other American Chris Blais (fortunately without serious consequences) the Chilean is almost certain to take the second place behind Despres on the final podium. Fourth on the stage, Christopher Meillat continues to develop his Honda 450 with a certain success. If there were few changes on two wheels, there was plenty of movement in the quads. Seventh on the stage, Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris) got the better of Caillet (Bombardier) and Declerck (Yamaha). Respectively 9th and 10th overall, Deltrieu and Declerck are less than five minutes apart.Result 6th stage
1. C.DEGAVARDO, KTM 2h 36:02
2. A.GRIDER, KTM 2h 36:52 + 00:50
3. C.DESPRES, KTM 2h 38:48 + 02:46
4. Ch.MEILLAT, HONDA 2h 44:00 + 07:58
5. O.POLLI, KTM, 2h 45:45 + 09:43
6. M.GRAZIANI, KTM 2h 46:25 + 10:23
7. H.DELTRIEU, POLARIS 3h 14:32 + 38:30
8. Ch.BLAIS, KTM 3h 15:54 + 39:52Overall
1. C.DESPRES, KTM 17h 30:44
2. C.DEGAVARDO, KTM 17h 44:30 + 13:46
3. Ch.BLAIS, KTM 18h 32:36 + 1h 01:52
4. A.GRIDER, KTM 18h 36:00 + 1h 05:16
5. M.GRAZIANI, KTM 18h 57:03 + 1h 26:19
6. Ch.MEILLAT, HONDA 19h 59:36 + 2h 28:52
7. O.POLLI, KTM 20h 39:24 + 3h 08:40STAGE 7: EL BORMA - DJERBAOn two wheels, while Cyril Despres (KTM) won the stage to reinforce his overall lead, behind him the next three places closed up significantly following Carlo De Gavardo's engine oil probelms. With the Chilean's engine tightening up, the second placed rider overall was forced to stop and "borrow" some cooking oil of a local aboard a camel! In the process Carlo conceded three quarters of an hour and is now menaced by today's secnd placed man Andy Grider, who moves up to third place overall ahead of his friend, compatriot and team mate Chris Blais.Also in difficulties today was the Italian Graziani (KTM 450), who nevertheless managed to hold on to his 5th place overall, and his second place in the 450 class, ahead of the Honda of Christophe Meillat and the 2-wheel drive Yamaha of the impressive novice Francis Gadioux. In the quads, tomorrow's final stage will also be a close run thing between Hubert Deltrieu (Polaris), Christophe Declerck (Yamaha) and Jean-Philippe Caillet (Bombardier). Winner of the day, Declerck once again takes over the lead, a little less than eight minutes ahead of Deltrieu.Result 7th stage
1. C.DESPRES, KTM 3h 36:14
2. A.GRIDER, KTM 3h 40:36 + 04:22
3. Ch.BLAIS, KTM 3h 47:11 + 10:57
4. M.GRAZIANI, KTM 4h 01:14 + 25:00
5. O.POLLI, KTM 4h 16:46 + 40:32
6. Ch.MEILLAT, HONDA 4h 19:36 + 43:22
7. C.DEGAVARDO, KTM 4h 22:02 + 45:48
