Dakar rally standings stage 5

Congrats Lopez!

Winner of the stage - motorcycles:
Chilean motorcycle rider Francisco Contardo Lopez makes a beautiful crossing over the finishing line in Chile! Being home with crazy motorsports fans and all! Reaches the finish of the fifth stage, Copiapo-Antofagasta, at 5h52'40", and beats Casteu by 1 minute, 30 seconds. Third to finish todays stage, after what felt like ages was Fretigne a little over 13 minutes later.

Top 3 overall:
Cyril Despres (FRA) 16:38:26
Francisco Contardo Lopez (CHL)+00:37:37
Helder Rodrigues (POR)+00:44:01

Norweigan motorcyclist,  Pål Anders Ullevålseter, seemed to have had a good day today on the course, still we know he has so much more potential and quite haven´t had the chance of proving so. Until today. He was rider number five on the 402 kilometer mark. And then we knew - he´s back, back where he belongs, right up in the top! Big congratulation to Norweigan rider Ullevålseter on the stage 4th position - and 4th in the total - great news!

Swedish motorcyclist Thomas Berglund who has been doing really, really well the last couple of stages, will probably not be completely satisfied with the days stage, preliminary finishing 18th,  knowing he can do it so much better. We will find out tonight on his daily news what went down. Still, he is among the top riders, and we know what he can accomplish! Time will come Thomas!

Up ahead!
Annie Seel who had difficulties on yesterdays stage with an injured thumb, seemed to be doing alright today. Eventhough she is probably in pain out there. Annie and Netherland Mirjam Pol has been taking turns on the lead of the Ladies cup, on this stage. At the moment Pol in the lead, passing the 244 kilometer mark by 4 minutes and 30 seconds. Get back on that on special Ladies Cup review!
 
Cars
What´s going down here...as always intrigueing in the grueling Dakar rally!
American Mark Miller in the lead at the 402 kilometer mark, followed by Carlo Sainz and yesterdays winner: Mr Robby Gordon.

Chicherit and Tina Thörner are fighting in the pist - 8th fastest car so far, up till the 339 kilometer mark, about 9 minutes behind Mr Miller!

Australian Bruce Garland, in the Isuzu D-max, passed the 244 kilometer mark as number 25, hopefully followed by the Swedes also in the Isuzu: Pelle and Olle in Team Tubus racing!