© Edmunds J. KTM factory Spanish rider Isidre Esteve underwent surgery today in Barcelona, Spain to stabilize a spinal injury sustained during a high speed crash last weekend.

© Gaulises Racing. 2007 Dakar winner Cyril Despres first impressions: “It is really fantastic to win this, my second Dakar – the emotion I feel is incredible.

© Gauloises Racing. 132 bikes, 109 car teams and 69 trucks reached the capital city of Senegal and finished the 29th edition of the Dakar.

© J. van Oers. Cyril Despres, who started out today tailing Coma by almost an hour, inherits the uncomfortable position of general rankings leader by default, in tandem with setting the best time of the day on the special.

© Gauloises Racing. Change of décor today with the rally entering into Mali and the African bush.

© Gauloises Racing. Yesterday it was the turn of Latvian rider Janis Vinter, today it was another privateer who won the special, with Helder Rodrigues finishing just 44 seconds ahead of Dakar leader Marc Coma.

© Repsol Media Service. After enjoying Saturdays rest day in Atar, the riders have been back into action with a further typical Mauritanian stage in which they have faced all kinds of difficult terrain.

© Repsol Media Service. Mixed fortunes for Repsol riders and drivers today at the Lisbon Dakar Rally.

© Gauloises Racing. Dakars second stage in Mauritania – reduced by one-third of its length due to bad weather conditions preventing helicopters from flying and providing for the safety of the track – gave a good overview of the challenges that await pilots in the next few days.

© Repsol Media Service. Marc Coma is keeps setting the pace in the 2007 Dakar Rally.

© Gauloises Racing. KTM Gauloises rider Isidre Esteve has won the fifth stage of the Lisboa Dakar rally between Ourzazate and Tan-Tan ahead of Spaniard rider Marc Coma, the last stage before entering Mauritanian soil.

© KTM. There can be perhaps no better confirmation of KTM’s status as the world’s leading producer of off-road machines than a quick look at the starting list for Dakar 2007 — the ultimate rally and the ultimate adventure.

© Repsol Media Service. UAE Desert Challenge leader took a comfortable victory today despite the complicated route.