Results:
Bikes Days 1
1. LOPEZ Francisco (CHL)    00:32:37
2. COMA Marc (ESP)                     +0:14
3. PIZZOLITO Javier (ARG)          +0:27
4. CODY Quinn Alexis (USA)       +0:30
5. PRZYGONSKI Jakub (POL)    +0:49

Quad Day 1
1. LA FUENTE Sergio (URY)         00:40:13
2. LASKAWIEC Lukasz (POL)             +0:33
3. PATRONELLI Marcos (ARG)           +0:54
4. MAFFEI Tomas (ARG)                      +1:07
5. COPETTI Pablo sebastian (ARG)  +1:23

Cars Day 1
1. NOVITSKIY Leonid (RUS)        00:32:12
2. HOLOWCZYC Krzysztof (POL)       +0:05
3. PETERHANSEL Stephane (FRA)  +0:09
4. DE VILLIERS Giniel (ZAF)               +0:15
5. GORDON Robby (USA)                   +0:49

Trucks Day 1
1. VAN VLIET MARCEL (NLD) 00:37:45
2. DE ROOY Gerard (NLD)           +0:26
3. ECHTER Franz (DEU)               +0:56
4. BIASION Miki (ITA)                      +1:06
5. ARDAVICHUS Artur (KAZ)         +1:16

Argentinean rider Jorge Boero was the victim of a fall
Today at 11:19 am, Argentinean rider Jorge Boero (motorcycle no. 175) was the victim of a fall at km 55 of the special of the first stage between Mar del Plata and Santa Rosa. The rider suffered a cardiac arrest following his fall and was attended five minutes after the accident by the medical staff, who reached the place of the incident by helicopter. Despite their best efforts, the doctors were unable to resuscitate the pilot, who died while he was being taken to hospital.
38-year-old Jorge Boero was taking part in his second Dakar. In 2011, he withdrew from the rally during the sixth stage.

The organisers of the rally offer their heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones.
 

Rally Dakar 2012 meets 189 motorbikes. Number one of Rally Dakar is the 2011 winner Marc Coma (Spain) with KTM. Number two is Cyril Despres (France) with KTM, third Helder Rodrigues (Portugal) with Yamaha.

The cars in Dakar 2012 are all 174. With number 301 is Ginil de Villiers (RSA) with Toyota, followed by 302 Stephen Peterhansel (France) with Mini, 303 is Robby Gordon (USA) with Humer H3. In Mini is also Krzysztof Holowczyc (Poland), Joan Nani Roma with BMW, 306 is Christian Lavielle (FRA) with Mitsubishi Lancer.

Quad:
The quad is representing by 32 vehicles. The most popular are the brothers Petronelli by Argentina with Yamaha Raptor 700. The hegemony of the brothers will be attack by the Czech star Josef Machacek and the Polish man Lukasz Laskawiec both with the same Yamaha Raptor.

Trucks:
In Dakar 2012 76 trucks are on start leading by Eduard Nikolaev Kamaz 4326 after Chagin retirement. Second with 501 number is Ales Loprais by Czech with Tatra T 815-2. Third in the start list is Gerard De Rooij by Netherland with Iveco Tracker. Kamaz Team is representing also by Ayrat Mardeev and Andrey Karginov.

The event starts on January 1st 2012 with the start in Mar del Plata – Argentina, through Chile and final in Lima, Peru on January 15th 2012.