Attiyah became the first Arab driver for 15 years to win the UAE Desert Challenge Friday while French rider Cyril Despres scored his fifth bikes title triumph in the spectacular event. Having dominated the 2,197-km six-day rally from start to finish in his prototype BMW X3, Al-Attiyah, partnered by top Swedish lady co-driver Tina Thorner, also clinched the drivers' title in the FIA World Cup for Cross Country Rallies. He reached the finish in Dubai this afternoon holding a 4 hrs 27 mins winning margin over the UAE's irrepressible Yahya Alhelei, who covered himself in glory by taking second place in a standard production class Nissan Patrol. Finishing third in the event, which was sponsored by Nakheel and Nissan, was Russian driver Vladimir Chagin in one of the impressive Kamaz trucks. The top six was completed by Poland's Krzysztof Holowczyc, in a Nissan Navara T1, UAE-based Joseph Rosso in a Nissan Pathfinder and Emirati driver Abdulla Alheraiz in a Nissan Patrol. Given a clear path to victory when his KTM teammate, Marc Coma, plunged from contention 24 hours earlier with clutch failure, Despres won the open bikes title by 14mins 14 secs from Chilean rider Francisco Lopez. UAE-based British rider James West finished third, ahead of Frenchman Alain Duclos, Spain's Jordi Viladoms and Solvenian Miran Stanovnik. Leading the 450cc class overnight, UAE-based Irish rider Dave McBride saw his titles hopes shattered by a blown engine on the final day, and victory went to South African rider Sean Gaugain. He won by more than 44 minutes from Australian Alan Roberts, with Portugal's Helder Rodrigues takikng third place ahead of another Aussie rider, Simon Pavey. UAE-based British rider Sean Linton and Emirati rider Khalid Al-Falasi comleted the top six. The quads title went to Frenchman Lionel Laine. UAE's Mohammed Al-Shamsi took second place and French riderEric Vergnes third. __
