Motor Sport Dakar RallyNani Roma leads the overall standings in the Dakar Rally for the first time after making his experience count on the first desert stage of the event.

The Mitsubishi driver, who won the event on a bike in 2004 before switching to four wheels, was only sixth on stage three yesterday but moved to the top of the leaderboard. "I am very surprised and happy to be leading" said Roma.

The competitors made the trip from Europe by boat overnight before beginning the first African stage in Nador, travelling south for 417 miles to the Moroccan town of Er Rachidia.

Former world rally champion Carlos Sainz had held the overall lead after two stage wins in Europe but his inexperience on the African sand hindered him.

The Spaniard, on his first Dakar Rally, was a creditable fourth place but slipped to fourth overall for Volkswagen.

Frenchman Jean-Louis Schlesser, driving a Ford-powered buggy, took the stage honours yesterday, beating fellow former winner Hiroshi Masuoka, in a Mitsubishi, by 19 seconds.

Masouka's time yesterday lifted him into second place overall, just six seconds behind team-mate Roma.

Volkswagen's Bruno Saby lies third despite only managing eighth on stage three.

Reigning champion Stephane Peterhansel, who is looking for a third consecutive Dakar Rally win, lifted his performance to clock the third fastest time and move into sixth overall for Mitsubishi.

In the bike class, Cyril Despres is well placed to defend the crown he won last year after moving into the overall lead.

Despres was third but moved to the top of the leaderboard after previous leader Isidre Esteve Pujol conceded 11 minutes to slide to ninth.

Andy Caldecott won the stage from Andy Grider but despite his triumph, the Australian is outside the top three in fourth. Despres' nearest challenger is Marc Coma, over a minute behind, while Jose Manuel Pellicer is third.