Nice surprise for the Stage 7 of the 2013 Dakar held between Calama and Salta: Kurt Caselli, placeholder for KTM's last year champion Marc Coma, takes the stage, and proves again that rookies are up to great races.
Caselli finished the huge 418 km connection and 218 km special stage in first, followed closely by another KTM rider, Chaleco Lopez and Yamaha's Olivier Pain. Honda's riders did a good race, too but they're not posing any threat so far to the leading squad.
Despres had a terrible stage, transmission problems not allowing him to shift in the 5th gear and thus the French had to limit his speed lest he blew up the bike. Caselli and Faria caught up with Cyril Despres but could not do anything to help him, so he urged them to charge on.
Despres came in 13 minutes late and this took him in the fifth overall position. The overall ranking still has Yamaha in positions 1 and 3 with Pain and David Casteu, with Lopez and KTM in the second position. Caselli's Stage 7 win took him up to the 8th overall. Husqvarna by Speedbrain's Botturi is 9th and Honda riders Esquerre, Rogrigues and Pizzolito follow in 10th to 12th positions.
Despres had a terrible stage, transmission problems not allowing him to shift in the 5th gear and thus the French had to limit his speed lest he blew up the bike. Caselli and Faria caught up with Cyril Despres but could not do anything to help him, so he urged them to charge on.
Despres came in 13 minutes late and this took him in the fifth overall position. The overall ranking still has Yamaha in positions 1 and 3 with Pain and David Casteu, with Lopez and KTM in the second position. Caselli's Stage 7 win took him up to the 8th overall. Husqvarna by Speedbrain's Botturi is 9th and Honda riders Esquerre, Rogrigues and Pizzolito follow in 10th to 12th positions.
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