Spain’s Marc Coma defends Dakar title

DEFENDING champion from Spain Marc Coma has won his fifth Dakar Rally motorbike title.

The win puts him level with Frenchmen Cyril Neveu and Cyril Despres and one behind their compatriot Stephane Peterhansel for the number of titles won in the gruelling event.

Despite its name, this year the race finished in Baradero, north of Buenos Aires in Argentina, on Saturday (January 17).

Coma, riding a KTM, finished ahead of Paulo Goncalves (Honda) and Toby Price (KTM).

Winning the last stage was Ivan Jakes, with Coma coming in fifth, which was enough to take the title. He won his first Dakar in 2006, then again in 2009, 2011, 2014 and now this year.

Another Spaniard, Laia Sanz, 29, finished ninth overall, the best place ever for a female rider.