Motorsport: Masuoka surges ahead in Dakar

TWO-TIME defending champion Hiroshi Masuoka of Japan surged into the lead in the Dakar Rally after winning the sixth stage, a 351km special from Ouarzazate to Tan-Tan in Morocco.

Masuoka leapt ahead of fellow Mitsubishi driver Stephane Peterhansel of France, who suffered a puncture during the stage.

The Japanese driver clocked 3hr 9min 40sec to come in 2min 57sec ahead of South African Giniel De Villiers in a Nissan, with Scotland’s 1995 world rally champion Colin McRae third at 5min 41sec.

Peterhansel’s lead was eaten away by a five-minute penalty on Monday when teammate Andrea Mayer pushed his car near the end of the fifth stage and was compounded by a puncture which put him 6min 40sec behind the Japanese driver.

De Villiers is third overall at 17min 50sec.

Nani Roma won the motorbike category, crossing the line 2min 25sec ahead of fellow Spaniard and KTM rider Isidre Esteve Pujol with Australian newcomer Andy Caldecott third fastest on a KTM at 3min 41sec.

Esteve Pujol holds the overall lead at 1min 54sec ahead of Roma.

Defending champion Richard Sainct of France continued to struggle and finished six minutes behind Roma. He lies eighth overall 14min 31sec off Esteve Pujol.

Today’s seventh stage finishes in Atar, Mauritania following a 701km special.