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Coma hit with big time penalty

Antofagasta - Spanish KTM rider Marc Coma, a top challenger for the Dakar Rally title, was Saturday handed a six-hour penalty by organisers for an illegal tyre change during the previous day's seventh stage.

Noting "the stop he made behind a house and the images we have thanks to Google which show exactly where he stopped and for how long, coupled with today's high definition images of the tyre .. these images are clear, the tyre did not do 200km," said course director Marc Ducrocq.

"The decision has therefore been taken by the organisers to hand him a six-hour penalty."

The penalty effectively leaves fellow KTM rider Cyril Despres almost certain to claim the title as he was already just over an hour clear of his Spanish rival, having just edged him by 29sec on the day.

Third-placed Helder Rodrigues of Portugal on a Yamaha is 1:20.08 adrift - 14 minutes more than Coma had been - and Norwegian KTM racer Pal Ullevalseter is five minutes further back.

Saturday is a rest day before the 9 000km adventure resumes Sunday with a 472km special stage from Antofagasta to Copiapo.

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