Dakar 2011, Stage 3, San Miguel-San Salvador de Jujuy
Road section 231 km, Special 521 km

Team BMW Motorrad by speedbrain delivered a strong team result during the first major test of the Dakar 2011.
As the route led through desert-like landscape and canyons with lots of changing altitude, Paulo Goncalves for the first time managed to pressure the leaders.




He and his teammates felt home on the challenging terrain with a mix of sand, stones and corners. The Portuguese headed the standings at the beginning of the two-part 520 kilometer long special test, before losing a bit of ground in the second part due to a crash. This might even have costed him the stage win.
Goncalves´ third place promoted him to fourth in the overall standings.

Ze Helio also enjoyed his time. The Brazilian had to cope with slower riders right after the start. He swallowed loads of dust early on, but then managed to put the hammer down. Ze Helio ended the stage in sixth place. He now sits in fifth position in the overall classification.

Frans Verhoeven meanwhile had a tough day. He found out late yesterday that he would receive a time penalty for speeding. The Dutchman began today´s stage in 24th place. Considering all the other riders Verhoeven had to pass, 19th at the finish is a decent result.

Pedro Bianchi Prata, the fourth rider on the team, endured a bad day. A sting of a bee to his hand ruined his ride. The friendly Portuguese had to make the best of the situation. He´s still lying well in the upper third of the motorcycle field. Team principal Wolfgang Fischer nevertheless expressed satisfaction with Tuesday´s outcome.

Paulo Goncalves: "What a great stage. Just what I like. Unfortunately, I lost a little bit of concentration in a downhill passage while riding the second part of the special. I went down and maybe lost an even better finish, but it´s still been a good day."

Dakar 2011, stage 3
1. Coma (ESP), KTM
2. Depres (FRA), KTM  02:21 Minuten Rückstand
3. Goncalves (PRT), BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 03:36
4. Pain (FRA), Yamaha, 04:34
5. Faria (PRT), KTM, 05:46
6. Ze Helio (BRA),  BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 07:02
7. Viladoms (ESP), Yamaha, 08:22
8. Rodrigues (PRT), Yamaha, 09:18
9.Casteu (FRA), Sherco, 10:01
10. Pedrero Garcia (ESP), KTM, 10:53
19.Verhoeven (NED),  BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 22:20
34. Bianchi Prata (PRT),  BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 38:14

2011 Dakar Overall standings
1.Depres
2.Coma, 00:14 Rückstand
3.Faria, 09:38
4.Goncalves, BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 10:43
5.Ze Helio, BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 16:07
17. Verhoeven, BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 42:05
31. Bianchi Prata, BMW Motorrad by speedbrain, 1:14:38