Marc Coma celebrates his birthday week in style with a rally win and a world title in Morocco.
Four-time Dakar Rally Champion Marc Coma of Spain can now add another FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship to his list of accomplishments after winning the OiLibya Rally of Morocco, the final round of the six-race series, today.
Coma, the 2012 World Champion who rides for the Red Bull KTM Factory Rally team, went into the final round with a slim points lead over 2013 FIM Cross Country Rallies World Champion and Team HRC rider Paolo Goncalves of Portugal. Goncalves made a battle of through the first four stages, but the title was all but conceded to Coma when Goncalves crashed out of the rally in Stage Five yesterday. With a solid overall rally lead over teammate Sam Sunderland and no pressure from Goncalves, Coma cruised to the final finish line in Marrakesh today, finishing seventh in the final stage, 6 minutes and 37 seconds behind stage winner Joan Barreda. Coma won the rally overall a time of 17 hours, 37 minutes and 58 seconds. Coma’s margin of victory over second-placed Sunderland was 5 minutes and 28 seconds. Team HRC’s Helder Rodrigues finished third overall, 12 minutes and 13 seconds behind Coma.
Coma just celebrated his 38th birthday on Wednesday. He was elated with the way the week went.
“We know that the Morocco Rally is one of the toughest on the calendar so we came with tactics not to take any risks for the championship,” Coma said. “But the feeling is amazing and it’s been a special week full of emotions because I had my birthday, then I won the title and today the win in the rally.”
Coma finished the six stage Morocco Rally with a stage score of 3-2-5-1-8-7. He took the overall lead in Stage Two and led through the final three stages.
FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship
OiLibya Rally of Morocco (Round 6 of 6)
Morocco
Results: October 9, 2014 (Stage 6 of 6)
Stage 6
1. Joan Barreda-Hon/1:26:16
2. Sam Sunderland-KTM/+00:02:07
3. Ruben Faria -KTM/+00:05:41
4. Jordi Viladoms-KTM/+00:05:51
5. Chaleco López-KTM/+00:06:29
6. Mathias Walkner-KTM/+00:06:32
7. Marc Coma-KTM/+00:06:37
8. Toby Price-KTM/+00:06:41
9. Helder Rodrigues-KTM/+00:06:45
10. Kuba Przygonski-KTM/+00:12:13
OiLibya Rally of Morocco Final Overall Standings (After 6 of 6 stages)
1. Marc Coma/17:37:58
2. Sam Sunderland/+00:05:28
3. Helder Rodrigues/+00:12:13
4. Joan Barreda/+00:12:54
5. Ruben Faria /+00:15:17
6. Jordi Viladoms/+00:19:30
7. Chaleco López/+00:21:26
8. Toby Price/+01:01:36
9. Alain Duclos/+01:13:59
10. Laia Sanz/+01:42:56
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