Marc Coma has set his sights on extending his cross-country bike winning streak as he prepares for the 2009 Dakar Rally, which kicks off this weekend.

The Spaniard, who won the epic event back in 2006, has been unbeaten in the following eleven cross-country events and begins this year's rally, to be held in Argentina, as the overwhelming favourite.

Getting through scrutineering without any problems, Coma, along with Repsol KTM team-mates Jordi Viladoms and Gerard Farres, is eager to get started.

“I am dying to start,” he said. “The scrutineering is always a drag for us, even though this year it was a lot shorter, that is because the majority of it was done in France before sending the bikes over. What we want to do is to ride.

“We have been enjoying the delights of a magnificent city, which is what Buenos Aires is; the people, the food, and now we just have to think about the challenge ahead of us.

“Last year the rally was at this very same stage, with the scrutineering passed, but now it looks like the Dakar is another new well-planned solid, adventure and very attractive for us. I think that we will have a good race, one that is very important for everybody.”