The Dakar to-date

As of this morning, with Stage 6 just setting off, KTM’s Marc Coma leads the 2011 Dakar closely followed by teammate Cyril Despres. KTM’s continued dominance even with this year’s 450cc engines isn’t surprising, but the spread of the field just below those two leaders is. There’s also an Aprilia, BMW and Yamaha in the top five overall, while BMW won yesterday’s stage with an Aprilia just two seconds behind. Here’s every high-res photo and comprehensive video material from Dakar’s first five days.

Photos: Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Photofiles

Update: video material from stage 6 added.

What of American Jonah Street? He’s putting in a typically consistent performance aboard his Yamaha WR450, sitting in eighth place overall with stage finishes as high as sixth and as low as twelfth.

Ignatio Chivite aboard his 1978 Bultaco Frontera 370? He’d finished every stage until yesterday, when mention of him ceases. We hope he’s still in the race.

We reached out to Aprilia for more photos of their efforts (while the BMW and Aprilia are present in the gallery below, it's mostly KTM), but their photographers won't be returning images until after the race.

Stage Summaries

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vs_KuqHDtw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrk3cETw8EQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMBHdIrSdtY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6XiBrm4q5NE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moYmgvOiAx8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_175kSIrlM

Daily “Magazines”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEN0HllUzlk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uK5-6WO_nSw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxYzEcqLLr4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7kTj4wb098

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0M3BrQwysw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FnZ2-p_pkTM

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