Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2009

Spaniard Coma chases third win; Frenchman Despres out for win number six

This month's Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will witness the renewed rivalry of two of the greatest riders in the history of the FIM Cross-Country Rally World Championship.

According to FIA Vice President, President of the Automobile & Touring Club of the UAE (ATCUAE) and Chairman of the Organising Committee, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the Frenchman, Cyril Despres and Spaniard, Marc Coma are currently the finest two enduro riders on the planet. He confirmed the pair will lock horns across the sands of the UAE capital's Western Region at the end of the month.

The opening round of the prestigious FIM series has moved to March 20-27 and has the crucial backing of the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) as title sponsor, and will showcase the emirate's capabilities as a major international events and tourism destination.

ADTA's Deputy Director General Tourism Operations Ahmed Hussein said the participation of motor sport greats, such as Despres and Coma, demonstrates the event's world-class appeal.

"We are fully committed to building Abu Dhabi's profile as a world-recognised capital of motor sport and international events. This month's Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and November's Formula 1 Grand Prix will see us hosting many world-class drivers."

Both Andorra-based Despres and his 33-year-old Catalunyan rival fought a cat-and-mouse game of team tactics and brave riding in January's Dakar Rally across South America. The pair arrives in Abu Dhabi with little to choose between them.

Coma clinched his second Dakar victory in Buenos Aires, but Despres may feel that substantial early delays when the event crossed the Patagonian wastelands cost him his chance of pressurising Coma into a mistake. Some believe that a second place was a terrific achievement for the Frenchman under the circumstances.

The win was sweet revenge for Coma, after being beaten by 35-year-old Despres in last November's Desert Challenge, the last time the pair met in Middle East competition. The triumph was Cyril's fifth in the event's history which prevented Coma from completing his hat-trick of Desert Challenge titles and his third successive win.

Clutch and transmission problems thwarted Coma in the Rub Al Khali last time, but the KTM Repsol rider is determined to follow up his Dakar success with Abu Dhabi glory. Despres also has a KTM 690 factory bike and admits that the Desert Challenge is one of his favourite FIM events.

"The Dakar Rally has moved to South America and the format has completely changed," said the Frenchman. "But the newly-named Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is a real desert rally and to win it for the fifth time last November was a special feeling for me. It is a unique event. The desert in Abu Dhabi is like nowhere else."

Despres pressed home his advantage early last November and beat Coma by 90 seconds on the first selective section from Al Dafra to Liwa. Enduro riding requires patience and stamina and Despres realised the importance of putting in an early spurt to pressurise his rival. The contest was eventually settled in his favour on the fourth desert leg through the Rub Al Khali. Despres clinched the stage win, but Coma stopped with clutch woes.

"I have unfinished business in Abu Dhabi," admits Coma. "Dakar was a great result for me. The event was far more difficult than anyone predicted and I don't expect the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge to be any different. It may be slightly cooler than the temperatures we faced in early November, but I am sure that the dunes will be as challenging as always."

"The return of Marc and Cyril heightens the excitement," said Sulayem. "Their duels for supremacy on events like the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the Dakar are what make this sport so special. I expect they will enjoy a terrific battle again at the end of this month."

This year's Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge will be based at the Abu Dhabi International Marine Sports Club (ADIMSC) for the first time and gets underway from the landmark Emirates Palace hotel (on Sunday March 22 2009).

The 2009 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge has the backing of key players, including the event's title sponsor, Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA), Nissan, ADNOC, Beach Rotana - Abu Dhabi, etisalat, Explorer, Hertz, Lambda Electronics, Oasis Water, TAG Heuer, and the Rally HQ host, ADIMSC.

www.uaedesertchallenge.com


- Neil Perkins, also photo -