The duel for first place in the bike competition, between Ruben Faria (Honda CRF 450) and Marc Coma (KTM LC4 690 Rally), is intense!
Starting day 2 of the Euromilhões PAX Rally with a disadvantage of 1.15, the French KTM rider attacks right away the Portuguese representing Lagos Team. By CP2, Marc Coma was virtual leader, with a difference of 1.38 to Ruben Faria. But the Honda rider didn’t want to give up the leadership and in the last kms of the SS, after pushing hard, he was able to reduce the difference after CP2 and maintained the first place, now only by 15 seconds.
Cyril Despres (KTM LC4 690 Rally), second in day one’s race, finished in third, but was able to reduce the difference to the leader of the competition to 37 seconds.
In the forth position, Hélder Rodrigues (Honda CRF 450) was again very consistent, passing both CPs in forth place, but is losing more and more time to the three leaders, now 4.36 from Ruben Faria.
David Casteau (KTM LC4 690 Rally), Zé Hélio (Yamaha WR 450), Paulo Gonçalves (Honda CRF 450 X) and Pedro Oliveira (Dakarteck Team) also held the positions they conquered on day 1, but like Hélder Rodrigues, are further from the top of the general standings. On the other side, Gerard Farres (KTM LC4 690 Rally) gains 2 places and Teus Visser (KTM 690 Rally) recovers 5 spots, to close the top-10 list.

Standings SS2 (422,00 km):
1st, Ruben Faria (Honda CRF 450), 7.06,37; 2nd, Marc Coma (KTM LC4 690 Rally), +14 s.; 3th, Cyril Despres (KTM LC4 690 Rally), +37 s.; 4th, Hélder Rodrigues (Honda CRF 450), +4.36; 5th, David Casteau (KTM LC4 690 Rally), +11.48; 6th, Zé Hélio (Yamaha WR 450), +12.23; 7th, Paulo Gonçalves (Honda CRF 450 X), +16.37; 8th, Pedro Oliveira (Yamaha WR 450), +20.57; 9th, Gerard Farres (KTM LC4 690 Rally), +23.35; 10th, Teus Visser (KTM 690 Rally), +30.26.

Laurent Lazard Racing News Thursday 11, September, 2008 at 20:32 hs.