Interview of “KAMAZ-Master” Manager – Semion Yakoubov

- The one who shows a good time at the 9 th stage will have all chances to make it to the finish first, - he said, - it will put everything into its own places. If any difficulties arise then none of the teams will be able to cope with them…

- How do you estimate the competitors?

- Up to this moment the most prepared are KAMAZ, TATRA and DAF teams… Many teams show their best, for example, the Hollander Stacey; it’s very entertaining struggling with him…

- But at this rally, as you’ve said, not everything depends on driving technique.

- No, navigation problems influence the competition most of all. Nobody has encountered serious damages yet, but nobody has escaped navigation troubles.

Wednesday, 11 January 2006

10/01/06 - Kiffa > Kayes - 283 km - 333 km

MAN of Hans Stacey was the first at the 10 th stage of “Lisbon-Dakar 2006” rally and overcame KAMAZ of Firdaus Kabirov by 1 min 44 sec. Vladimir Tchaguine, who was 23 min 42 sec behind the Hollander, finished the third.

Results of this stage did not make considerable alterations upon overall ranking in the category. Vladimir Tchaguine remained a strong leader leaving behind Firdaus Kabirov for 3 h 18 min 52 sec. The only KAMAZ competitor managed to get to Tchaguine close was Stacey who was losing to him 3 h 30 min 44 sec.

The 10 th stage took place at Mali territory. The major route difficulty was in contrast of plains’ expanse and meandering, narrow, difficult to traverse route stretches winding in local thick vegetation. And of course the difficulty of passing innumerable paths and roads of villages and, besides, excessive danger of riding through inhabited areas.

This 333 km long stage represented a narrow, trenched, furrowed way winding through baobabs.

Tchaguine being three hours ahead of competitors did not take the risk and drove fast, with confidence, skillfully avoiding all obstacles and engaging into fight for superiority on the leg.

The competitors out of three teams – Kabirov, Stacey, de Azevedo – started a serious fight.

Wednesday, 11 January 2006