Despres wins bike section of Dakar fifth stage

French KTM rider Cyril Despres on Thursday won the motorbike section of the fifth stage of the Dakar Rally, ahead of Spanish rival Marc Coma, to consolidate his overall lead in the gruelling race.

Despres clocked 2hr 28min 33sec around the 184km stage, 1min 41sec ahead of fellow KTM rider Coma, with Spain's Juan Barreda Bort, on a Husqvarna, more than 11min back in third.

Despres now has a 9min 51sec lead over Coma in the overall standings.

Dakar Rally overall results

Cars:

1. Stephane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret (FRA/Mini) 11hr 58min 03sec
2. Krzysztof Holowczyc/Jean-Marc Fortin (POL/BEL/Mini) at 4:18
3. Nani Roma/Michel Perin (ESP/FRA/Mini) 10:39
4. Robby Gordon/Johnny Campbell (USA/Hummer) 13:32
5. Giniel de Villiers/Dirk Von Zitzewitz (RSA/GER/Toyota) 21:01

Motorcycling:

1. Cyril Despres (FRA/KTM) 14hr 19min 00sec.
2. Marc Coma (ESP/KTM) at 9:51
3. Helder Rodrigues (POR/Yamaha) 47:56
4. Francisco Lopez Contardo (CHI/Aprilia) 49:00
5. Paulo Goncalvez (POR/Husqvarna) 54:47