Dakar: Despres completes hat-trick

Frenchman Cyril Despres took his third Dakar crown in the motorcycle category on a KTM.

Despite Despres finishing over five minutes behind Portuguese rider Ruben Faria on the final stage, he comfortably wrapped up the overall win.

Norwegian Pal Ullevalster took second place overall, more than an hour behind Despres, after finishing second on the final stage, while Chilean Francisco 'Cheleco' Lopez was third.

"All victories are nice but this one is particularly beautiful," said Despres.

"It is a victory for hard work, of expertise and of an incredible team. Of course there is a lot of emotion.

"We have had three tough years, three years of injuries, training and hard times."

Despres won his first Dakar Rally in 2005, before adding to it in 2007 - both times when the Dakar was still staged in Africa.