2012 Dakar Rally Video

Red Bull KTM 450 Rally rider Cyril Despres took the 27th stage win of his career Tuesday following a strong performance in Stage Three of the 2012 Dakar Rally.

Three-time Dakar winner Despres won the stage, which ran from San Rafael to San Juan (180-mile connection, 167 timed), by 8:37 over Sherco's Frans Verhoeven and 8:39 over Husqvarna's Paulo Gonclaves.

Despres' rival, also a three-time Dakar winner, Marc Coma, finished seventh in the stage, over 13 minutes behind. The MRW Red Bull AMV KTM 450 Rally rider made an error while navigating, and followed the section designated for the cars and truck, putting him of track for 2.5 miles.

With his Stage Three win, Despres moved into the overall lead, followed 10:12 behind by Coma, and 17:16 behind by Yamaha's David Casteu, who overcame a huge bug bite to the right eye to keep competing during Monday's Stage Two.

Attached above are video highlights of Stage Three in 2012 Dakar.