The Dakar Rally entered Bolivia today, the 28th country to be visited by the famous rally since it started in 1979.
The battle of the Spaniards continued with Joan Barreda Bort (Honda) winning the stage by just four minutes from countryman and three-time rally winner Marc Coma (KTM) who retains the overall lead.
Stage 7 was again cut short by heavy rains from 401km to 104km with lots of mud on the high altitude course.
Coma’s water carrier, Jordi Viladoms was third and jumps to third overall while Sherco rider Alain Duclos lost 20 minutes today through a navigation error and dropped back to fourth.
Five-time winner Cyril Despres (Yamaha) was third today, just five minutes behind Bort, and moves up one to 10th position, but still more than two hours behind the leaders.
Of the three remaining Aussies, Shane Diener (Yamaha) had his best finish yet with a 28th in the stage for 55th overall. KTM riders Troy O’Connor was 41st and lies in 43rd overall while Allan Roberts was 43rd and is now 46th.
Only 83 of the 196 motorcycle competitors remain in the rally.
Cyril Despres