Dakar Rally: Stage Two

Helder Rodrigues got one back on fellow Portugese rider Ruben Faria after day two of the 2007 Dakar Rally to take the second stage by just over a minute.

This has moved Rodrigues into overall lead following the 545km trek from Portimao in Portugal to Malaga in southern Spain in a time of 1:02:44.

Esteve Pujol continues to keep the pressure on the top two riders in third place both on stage two and in the overall standings as he finished the stage in 1:04:29.

Mick Extance continues to fly the British flag finishing stage two in 39th. This leaves the 41-year-old in 52nd position overall.

Steve Malone sits just five places behind Ian Myers after finishing 45 places ahead him in stage two. They were sandwiched by Paul Broome in 129th with David Dickinson cpmpleting the stage just one place ahead of Scottish rider Robbie Allan in 163rd.

The last of the British contingent is Colin Askey who finished day two in 217th place and finished in 1:27:29.

Top 20 Results after Stage Two:

1. RODRIGUES (POR) YAMAHA   01:02:44   00:00:00

2. FARIA (POR) YAMAHA   01:03:47   00:01:03

3. ESTEVE PUJOL (ESP) KTM   01:04:29   00:01:45

4. CASTEU (FRA) KTM  01:04:54   00:02:10

5. COMA (ESP) KTM   01:05:10   00:02:26

6. PLANET (FRA) KTM   01:05:13   00:02:29

7. DE AZEVEDO (BRE) KTM  01:05:58   00:03:14

8. FRETIGNE (FRA) YAMAHA   01:06:01  00:03:17

9. SALA (ITA) KTM   01:06:49   00:04:05

10. MARCHINI (FRA) YAMAH  A 01:07:03   00:04:19

11. BETHYS (FRA) HONDA   01:07:11   00:04:27

12. VILADOMS (ESP) KTM   01:07:11   00:04:27

13. NAZARE SANTOS (POR) YAMAHA   01:07:16   00:04:32

14. GONCALVES (POR) HONDA   01:07:28   00:04:44

15. AVENDANO (ESP) SUZUKI   01:07:28   00:04:44

16. ALGAY (FRA) YAMAHA   01:07:29   00:04:45

17. STREET (USA) PAI   01:07:31  00:04:47

18. MATEUS (POR) KTM   01:07:47   00:05:03

19. ULLEVALSETER (NOR) KTM   01:07:54   00:05:10

20. PELZMANN (AUT) KTM   01:08:02   00:05:18

British results after Stage Two:

39 EXTANCE (UK) HONDA   01:10:07   00:07:23

98 MALONE (UK) KTM   01:15:56   00:13:12

129 BROOME (UK) HONDA   01:17:58   00:15:14

143 MYERS (UK) KTM   01:18:45   00:16:01

163 DICKINSON (UK) KTM   01:20:39   00:17:55

164 ALLAN (SCO) HONDA   01:20:44   00:18:00

217 ASKEY (UK) KTM   01:27:29   00:24:45