RALLYE DE TUNISIE : CHALECO LOPEZ REGARDE LOIN DEVANT

COMMUNIQUÉ APRILIA
6 may 2010
Rally of Tunisia: Lopez looks ahead

The Rally of Tunisia is approaching to the end with its penultimate stage of 202, from which 180 were the selective section. Chaleco runs the stage carefully and finishes fourth. At only 132 before the end of the race, the Chilean rider leads the general classification twenty minutes away from Przygonzki and Coma.

KSAR GHILANE – A loop around Ksar Ghilane, 180 km of selective section that took riders into the dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental in the first part to then give room for fast tracks after the refueling. The stage was physically demanding for riders that get close to the end of the rally, tomorrow in Douz.

Even if the Rally of Tunisia did not go into the large dune complex of the South and El Borma, along Algeria´s border, today´s stage required lots of concentration: The small dunes in Tunisia are very close and often with edges and soft sand, which is an unpredictable obstacle that riders have to manage extremely carefully.

Lopez started second this morning, behind Coma, and has controlled his race, because taking risks is will not be useful at this moment. The advantage he has now assures his result, so he must be cautious because in a race, unpredictable things may happen.

So he kept a steady pace as possible, reached by Przygonski but he maintained the strategy. Lopez arrived at the finish third, marking the fourth time in the special, won by Helder Rodrigues, who was able to start today after all riders, due to yesterday´s problems. 4'41'' is the gap of Lopez from the Portuguese, but what counts most is that the Chilean has lost just three minutes from Coma and Przygonski, the two rivals in the general classification.

Chaleco may well face the final stage with the advantage of twenty minutes on his two pursuers, thinking only about not making mistakes until the finish line.

Tomorrow´s stage, the last one of the Rally of Tunisia 2010 will take the rally caravan to Douz. There will be a special section of 132 km that will end on top of a dune after crossing the incredible white erg of El Fouar, as beautiful as tricky for its soft sand that makes it a real challenge.

Francisco Lopez: "The stage was not long, however, it was difficult. Some sand portions were really challenging. I had the advantage in the standings, so I required running with caution, always focused and also when Przygonski reached me, around 130 km, I let him go. Let's say that I controlled the race and now I have a twenty-minute lead and there are only 130 km of special. My Aprilia today was perfect; I think it is the only 450 that can keep up with the big KTM."