ETAPE DU JOUR
Press Release of the stage
No alibi for Libya !
The 2008 Rallye de Tunisie is definitely showing its full potential as the competitors enter the second stage which takes them to Libya where they will prove themselves in four difficult legs. Over 300 kms between Matmata and Techine, a stone throw from the border, has given us a first selection since Marseilles. Indeed, gaps between competitors are getting wider due mainly to navigation errors on bikes and numerous punctures for the cars.
Yesterday’s leader, the Russian Novitskiy (Mitsubishi),unfortunately bust three tyres, one after the other thus letting the Frenchman Christian Lavieille (Proto Dessoude) get into fist position, after winning this second Special. Followed closely by Eric Vigouroux in a most impressive Chevrolet.
In the Bike category, the Corsican Michel Marchini (Yamaha 450), who left in pole position this morning, achieved his second victory ahead of his protégé, Olivier Pain (Yahama 450) and followed by the Portuguese Pedro Biancci Prata (Yahama 450).
Hernandez gets lost… The Spaniard was among the first to loose direction between kilometre 74 and 144, on this second stage of the Rallye De Tunise 2008. A good few minutes lost in the middle of nowhere but a showful “Caramba” upon arrival.
No Ico for Pisano …. No Luck for the young hopeful, Frenchman Mickael Pisano, hitting a rather big stone on km 186,95 on the second Special of the Rallye de Tunise 2008. Not only tearing off his front mud guard but loosing his Ico, rendering his navigation impossible, after losing himself over 10 times, he finally resorted to follow fellow biker Potuguese Bianchi Prata.
Pedro’s Flag ... He can be proud of himself, the Portuguese Pedro Bianchi Prata, has his colours flying high, indeed he is doing well on his national Portuguese day,
No juice for Polli. …After a battery breakdown only 25 km after starting the Special the Italian biker Polli was showing all his angst in words and gestures, as many of his fellow Italians would do, on the finish line, indeed this incident lost him a lot of precious minutes.
Vigouroux on a thread… Second on the special, second on the general classification the proto Chevrolet piloted by Eric Vigouroux, finished with hardly a thread left on his rear tyres. A quick change upon arrival, and the French pilot was on his way.
A lot of pressure for Holowczyc….He had 1.8 pressure in all his tyres on departure, he had 3.8 upon arrival, the polish Krzysztof Holowzcyc (Nissan Pickup) did not puncture, kept his course and finished confortably.