MARC COMA WINS 2014 DAKAR

Over 9,000 kms through Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, Coma was in good form throughout most of the event's opening stages, never finishing a stage lower than ninth, and holding the overall lead since stage 5.

Last year's winner Cyril Despres (Yamaha) made his charge after the mid-race rest day, winning stage 8, and moving into the top ten. However, the lost time caused by a navigational error on stage 5 made any chance of a back-to-back win impossible for the Frenchman.

Coma ended up finishing almost two hours ahead of fellow Spaniard, Jordi Villadoms (KTM), with France's Olivier Pain (Yamaha) completing the podium, followed by Despres and Helder Rodrigues (Honda) from Portugal.

2014 DAKAR - top 15 final placings

1. Marc COMA (ESP) KTM 54:50:53
2. Jordi VILADOMS (ESP) KTM +01:52:27
3. Olivier PAIN (FRA) Yamaha +02:00:03
4. Cyril DESPRES (FRA) Yamaha +02:05:38
5. Helder RODRIGUES (PRT) Honda +02:11:09
6. Kuba PRZYGONSKI (POL) KTM +02:31:46
7. Joan BARREDA BORT (ESP) Honda +02:54:01
8. Daniel GOUET (CHL) Honda +03:10:34
9. Stefan SVITKO (SVK) KTM +03:50:10
10. David CASTEU (FRA) KTM +03:58:09
11. Ivan JAKES (SVK) KTM +04:19:35
12. Riaan VAN NIEKIRK (ZAF) KTM +05:33:38
13. Michael METGE (FRA) Yamaha +05:56:34
14. Juan Carlos SALVATIERRA (BOL) Speedbrain +06:13:42
15. Henk KNUIMAN (NLD) KTM +07:44:38

AUSTRALIANS

Of the Australian entrants, Troy O'Connor was the best-placed finisher, completing his second Dakar in 37th place. Other Australians finishers included Shane Diener (38th) and Allan Roberts (39th).

Australia's best pre-race hope, Ben Grabham, was close to the top ten early, but crashed on stage 4 and was unable to continue. Clayton Jacobsen and Mark Davidson also failed to finish.

37. Troy O'CONNOR KTM +14:47:58
(best result - 36th on Stage 12)
38. Shane DIENER Yamaha +15:33:18
(best result - 19th on Stages 11 and 13)
39. Allan ROBERTS KTM +15:40:49
(best result - 30th on Stage 12)

DNF. Ben GRABHAM KTM
(ret. Stage 4. Best result - 6th on Stage 2)
DNF. Mark DAVIDSON KTM
(ret. Stage 4. Best result - 103rd on Stage 2)
DNF. Clayton JACOBSEN KTM
(ret. Stage 3. Best result - 124th on Stage 2)

No Australians were in the quad bike class this year, which was won by Chile's Ignacio Casale.

Images: Red Bull Content Pool