Cyril Despres, his eternal rival at the apex of rally sport, finished third overall.
 
The Spanish rider, onboard a KTM 530 EXC won three out of five stages and sailed home 11 minutes ahead of second placed Andrea Mancini of Italy. KTM factory rider Despres, like Coma a multiple Dakar winner, made a huge push on the last day to win the stage and snap third place on the podium. He missed the second step on the podium by just 15 seconds. Overall it was an excellent result for the Austrian-made sports motorcycles with 10 of the top 20 riders on KTM machines.
 
Despres rides with injured arm
Despres, who won here last year, was hampered in the rally by a deep cut on his forearm, which needed seven stitches. He admitted that it had been painful and that it had been a tough week on the bike. "It has been a hard few five days for me, with my injured arm causing me more than a few problems. And it is clear my performance suffered as a result. This morning however, with Jordi (Viladoms) just a few seconds ahead of me and Mancini not that far ahead in second I decided to bite the bullet and open the gas. For sure my arm hurt but the result was worth the pain
 
Unseasonal rain in Sardinia
The early part of the rally saw less than perfect conditions with unseasonal heavy rain and very heavy tracks that added another dimension of difficulty on the ride that crisscrossed the picturesque Italian island. Even on the penultimate day, clouds were low and so were the temperatures with conditions that even created problems for world class riders like Coma. "I got lost three times but each time I quickly realized my mistake. Riding alone and opening the piste, it was difficult to judge how I was doing compared to the others 
 
Despres also had his difficulties in Stage Four. "I was having a great day and pulled back two or three minutes on marc at the refueling. Then I lost all that at the end when I made a mistake with the road book;" he commented.
 
The Magnificent Seven and Coma's charge Tim Trenker all finish
Despres also went to the rally with a team of amateurs dubbed the Magnificent Seven who came from countries as far afield as Canada and Guatemala. With Cyril's mentoring, the seven KTM riders all completed the entire rally unscathed in what was surely a memorable experience. "If I am satisfied with my final position I am delighted with how it worked out with our amateur team,At the beginning of the week nobody knew each other, but by the end we were all firm friends. The atmosphere was really great and even better all seven made it to the end. The only problem we have now is that they all want to come back and do another rally!
 
Coma also took KTM-UAE rider Tim Trenker under his wing and after tackling very contrasting terrain to the deserts he rides in the UAE, he finished the rally in 43rd.  
 
Final Results Sardinia Rally
1. Marc Coma, Spain, KTM 530 EXC, 15:08'27.77
2. Andrea Mancini, Italy, Husqvarna, 15:19'29.01
3. Cyril Despres, France, KTM 530 EXC, 15:20'57.13
4. Jordi Viladoms, Spain, Husqvarna, 15:20'59.91
5. Helder Rodrigues, Portugal, Yamaha, 15:24'25.67
6. M. Graziani KTM 530 EXC 15:29'01.78 
7. P. Ceci, Beta 15:30'34.22
8. D. Casteu, Sherco 450 15:33'24.05
9. A. Zanotti Aprilia 450 15:43'18.29
10. J. Przygonski, KTM 530 EXC 15:46'29.19

Sardegna Rally Stage 5 - Team KTM Cyril Despres
He counted them all out and he counted them all in.

After crossing the final finish line in 3rd place Cyril Despres waited at the last time control to congratulate the seven members of team KTM Cyril Despres, all of whom made it to the end.
 
Commented Cyril, "It has been a great experience. Nobody knew each other at the beginning of the week but now we are all firm friends. The atmosphere was really good and I am proud of what they achieved. That they all made it to the end is real source of satisfaction. The only problem now is that they all want to come back and do another rally!
 
The best placed ride of the team was Guatemalan rider Francisco Arredondo in 36th position. "I am really happy with how everything went. The team was very professional and efficient and nothing went wrong with the bike. It is rare for amateur riders like us to benefit from such an organization and it made the rally both easier and more enjoyable."
 
Last team member home was South African ‘Enzo' Chiocchi in 58th place (out of 62 finishers). "To be honest I was surprised how tough it was. For a rally raid the terrain was very technical. But even if I found it hard I really enjoyed myself. I didn't put any pressure on myself and just set myself the goal of finishing the five days. That fact that the team were all rooting for me and that I didn't have any technical problems made the goal much more achievable. Now I am going to drink a few beers before heading off to Austria for the Erzberg Rodeo - but only as a spectator!"

Tyres were changed, road books prepared, but everyone's mind was elsewhere. They knew that it was a tough stage and that the navigation was difficult. They also knew that two of their team mates, Don Hatton and Enzo Chiocchi were still ‘out there'. Then finally, at 20h10, the team was complete once more. Suddenly it was all smiles again. Dan and Enzo told tales of fighting their way through thick undergrowth, thinking they had the right track only to realize they were going up a path they had already gone down half an hour previously. Rally-raid had once again worked its magic. Seven very different people from six different countries had become life long friends in the space of a few short days.

Tomorrow, the last day of the 2010 Sardegna Rally Race, a relatively short 230 kilometres and a podium finish on the beach. Fingers crossed they will all be reunited one last time.

Sardegna Rally Stage 3 - Team KTM Cyril Despres
After their night out under the stars at the marathon bivouac all seven members of Team KTM Cyril Despres have arrived safely at the end of stage 3.

Once again the navigation proved difficult and the terrain featured some big climbs but all were delighted with their day.
 
Commented Justin Carter, "I would say that today was the best stage I have ever done on any rally. At one point we rode ride up to the top of a peak and the view was incredible. I managed to resist the temptation to stop and take a photo - this is a race after all.  Then this afternoon I rode completely on my own until 300 metres from the finish. Completely magic.
 
South African Craig Tarlington was equally enthusiastic. "This really is an incredible experience. To get the benefit of all Cyril's knowledge is a real bonus and the terrain is simply amazing. More people should come and do this.  I could say more but I won't or people will think I am exaggerating!
 
Stage 2
Yesterday the seven Team KTM Cyril Despres rides were able to sun themselves for over an hour at the assistance point while their mechanics worked on their machines. Today persistent rain meant they had much less time and they were forced to huddle under their team's awnings while their team carried out running repairs. Commented UK rider Justin Carter, "there were some big climbs and descents. It was much more technical than yesterday. In fact it reminded me a lot of a muddy enduro back home!"
 
Despite the difficult conditions, this evening they are all safely at the marathon bivouac where they will spend a night under canvas, and without assistance, before being reunited with their mechanics tomorrow lunch time. In total tomorrow, 311 km from Teulada to Muravera, with two specials, the first of 113 km and the second of 60 km.
 
Stage 1
There were a few nervous looking faces among the riders in Team KTM Cyril Despres at breakfast this morning before the first stage of the Sardegna Rally Race. And the tension went up a couple of notches as the heavens opened, soaking them to the skin as they waited on the start line.
 
But by the time they had all made it safely to the assistance point at the end of the first 122 kilometres of special it was all smiles again. The sun had come out, they had dried out and the clear air gave them a chance to snatch some brief glimpses of the magnificent scenery. Exclaimed South African Robert Streak, "Man it is beautiful around here, and the tracks are amazing. I took my time and concentrated on the navigation as Cyril advised us and I didn't get lost once."
 
Equally happy at the end of the stage was Guatemalan rally raid regular Francisco Arredondo. "Last year was my first time here and I finished the first stage dead last! Today I was 23rd on the first special and 27th on the second so I am pretty pleased with my day. I am on a 450 EXC here and it proved perfect for the terrain."
 
Commented Cyril Despres, "It was a bit of a baptism by fire today for them as it was a long day with a lot of navigation. But I am delighted to say they all seemed to have got through unscathed. Fingers crossed everything continues to go so smoothly!"