Team BMW Motorrad by speedbrain had a black day on Friday as the Dakar route took the field from Iquique to Arica. Following yesterday´s brilliant stage with two riders on the podium, things went terribly sour for Paulo Gonvalves and Ze Helio.
The likeable Brazilian crashed 50 kilometers into the stage, breaking his collarbone. The Dakar 2011 is over for him. Thursday winner Goncalves meanwhile suffered from mechanical gremlins. The Portuguese had to deal with electrical problems basically all day. The machine kept stopping until it completely denied service 40 kilometers from the finish line. Later this evening it was still unclear when he would be able to reach the bivouac.
Teammates Frans Verhoeven and Pedro Bianchi Prata had stopped and lent support with tools. But they couldn´t really help solve the technical misery. Hopes for Goncalves to finish the rally high up in the ranks have now disappeared.
The top result for the team was delivered by Frans Verhoeven. The experienced Dutchman rode calm and collected to end the day in tenth place. Verhoeven improved to eighth in the standings.
Dakar 2011, Stage 6
1. Ruben Faria (POR), KTM
2. Helder Rodrigues (POR), Yamaha, 0:50 min behind 3. Cyril Despres (FRA), KTM, 3:54 4. Marc Coma (SPA), KTM, 5:20 5. Stefan Svitko (SVK), KTM, 8:07 6. Francisco Lopez Contardo (CHI), Aprilia, 9:00 7. Ivan Jakes (SVK), Yamaha, 9:32 8. Jordi Viladoms (SPA), Yamaha, 10:27 9. Pal-Anders Ullevalseter (NOR), KTM, 13:25 10. Frans Verhoeven (NEL), BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 17:15
53. Bianchi Prata (PRT), BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 1:56:28
Overall standings
1. Coma
2. Despres, 08:48 min behind
3. Lopez Contardo, 22:12
8. Verhoeven, 1:01:50
37. Bianchi Prata, 5:20:17