February 03, 2006

Dakar 2006

Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart team driver and former world downhill skiing champion Luc Alphand and co-driver Gilles Picard have been crowned champions for the first time at the 28th Dakar. Teammates Joan ’Nani’ Roma and Stéphane Peterhansel finished third and fourth overall. This was the 11th victory for Mitsubishi Ralliart and the sixth successive triumph since the 2000.



Cyril Despres, who finished the rally with four wins, suffered a big crash at km 273 going from Tan Tan to Zouerat. The Frenchman dislocated his shoulder but courageously decided to carry on, managing a few fine specials like the one heading to Nouakchott when he led his teammate David Casteau to a first ever success.



Isidre Esteve Pujol could have been Despres' successor and kept the title within the KTM-Gauloises team, but after a fall during the Nouakchott – Kiffa stage, the Spaniard was forced to quit the race and had to undergo surgery for a ruptured spleen.

Scott Sports SA would like to congratulate all our team riders and drivers on their participation in the world's hardest rally and mourns the loss of Andy Caldecott, a terrific Australian sportsman who died after a terrible crash at km 599 of the stage from Nouakchott to Kiffa in Mauritania.

28th Dakar Rally – Ranking overall SCOTT Drivers & Riders:

Car:
1. Luc Alphand (F)/Gilles Picard (F) Mitsubishi
3. Joan Roma (E)/Henri Magne (AND) Mitsubishi
4. Stéphane Peterhansel (F)/Jean-Paul Cottret (F) Mitsubishi :

Moto:
2. Cyril Despres (F) KTM
3. Giovanni Sala (I) KTM
4. Chris Blais (USA) KTM
10. Janis Vinters (LET) KTM
11. Michel Gau (F) KTM
13. David Fretigné (F) Yamaha
18. Tierry Bethys (F) Honda
28. Olivier Pain (F) Yamaha
67. Patricia Watson- Miller (ALL) KTM
86. Simon Pavey (AUS) BMW
88. Patsy Quick (UK) KTM
89. Clive Town (UK) KTM