The KTM 450 Rally is KTM’s response to changes which initially threatened to stall its 10-year dominance of the Dakar rally. While Aprilia proved in the last edition that it knows how to build a competitive 450cc bike with its Aprilia RXV 4.5, KTM’s first reaction was to drop out. Rather than having a little tantrum though, the company luckily came to its senses and started to develop its own 450cc model. After all, it’s one of those companies you’d expect would be able to innovate and adapt.

Which means we can now see Cyril Despres putting the new KTM 450 Rally through some teaser paces in this video. What’s more, KTM has been intelligent about the way it’s going to develop its new bike, concentrating not just on its offroad characteristics but also what it needs from a touring point of view to get it through the tough Dakar.

KTM is therefore probably looking at a chassis option of a steel trellis frame similar to the 690 Enduro as it would be better able to fit additional equipment. In this video Cyril Despres tries out the new KTM 450 Rally on his private track in the Pyrenees before it debuts in October at the Rally de Maroc. We might get to see it at the 2010 EICMA, too.

Source | Bikes in the Fast Lane via HFL

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After rumours that the legendary Dakar race would go back to African soil, the 2011 Dakar will take place again in Argentina and Chile. Registrations for the race opened on May 15th and a Dakar world publicity tour has just been completed. The race will take place from January 2nd to 15th with a rest day on the 8th.

The 2011 Dakar promises to be the same enduring spectacle it always is, and the route for the third edition is being described as:

After two editions in South America, the Dakar continues its exploration in 2011 of a continent which has impressive potential for new discovery. Heading towards the north of Argentina and Chile, the route skims the frontiers of neighbouring countries and takes competitors through ever more varied country. It’s a cascade of colour.

For more details on the 2011 Dakar, see the Dakar website.

Source | Motorbiker.org

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I actually had a friend who completed the Budapest-Bamako rally this year, but I haven’t asked him yet how it went for him (he did it with four wheels and not two, though). The rally is a bit like the “poor man’s rally”, unlike the more professional Dakar, although it still takes place in the historic homeland of rallies: Africa. The guy in the video above is very well equipped, and we get to see some of the beautiful landscape. Enjoy other videos after the jump.

Continue reading: Budapest Bamako rally videos

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You may recall that veteran Dakar rider, Franco Picco, participated in this year’s 2010 Dakar, 25 years after his first time in the endurance race. And at the age of 54, Picco is still capable of inspiring, having won the Marathon category at Dakar, and gaining a very respectable 23rd place overall.

Picco rode a Yamaha WR450F, which was helped along by a Rally Raid JVO Racing kit, and he maintains that he managed to reach up to 156 km/hr. With the following advice for everyone: “The chain that I used was the original one, without even touching it.”

Not in his wildest dreams did Picco think he would arrive 23rd overall, although he admits to expecting a much easier race. It wasn’t until the last day, the fastest, that he relaxed a little. Last year, Picco was a mechanic and the infamous Dakar seemed easier. He says:

“I though that if I went slow and steady I would arrive at the end, but it’s actually not as easy as you’d think. I tried to go slowly, not risking anything, but in some spots it’s too dangerous and you have to step on the gas to get yourself out of difficult situations.”

Continue reading: Veteran Dakar rider takes Marathon title

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Here are some pics of the Aprilia RXV 4.5 in action live at the 2010 Dakar. In a successful result, Aprilia came in third overall with Francisco Lopez as the rider, after winning three first places throughout the various stages. Aprilia also put in an appearance with Italian riders Paolo Ceci and Alex Zanotti, who came first and second in the 450 Super Production class, and 14th and 18th overall.

Lopez has said he never could have believed it possible, after having a dream for many years that he would find himself on the Dakar podium. He also came first in the stage in Chile, his own country, and experienced particular difficulty in Stage Seven, on breaking the chain on his bike. We’re all too familiar with the highs and lows of the gruelling Dakar, but it’s been nice to see the Aprilia up there with the KTM bikes. Check it out in the pictures, and see the video on Despres’ victory after the jump.

Aprilia RXV 4.5 in action at Dakar

Continue reading: Aprilia RXV 4.5 in action at Dakar

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The Dakar 2010 has already provided us with some news but nothing quite as bizarre as this. Swedish rider Annie Steel on a KTM, on swapping from one part of the track to another, managed to save herself from falling down a grave, but not her bike. It ended up down the pit of a tomb, and had to be helicoptered out. The rescue video is after the jump.

Source | Hell for Leather via Motosblog.fr

Continue reading: Funny motorcycle Friday: Dakar bike in grave

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Over the shortened route for the Stage 9 of Dakar 2010, Marc Coma won the stage with his KTM. The stage was about 170 km long due to severe fog in some areas, and it also marks the last stage in the Acatama desert.

Francisco Lopez‘ new Aprilia RXV 4.5 continues to do well at third overall and coming in third for this stage after Cyril Despres with his KTM. The brand also took out fourth spot, before Yamaha came in fifth with rider David Fretigné. Despres is in first place overall before Stage 10 starts.

Stage Nine:
1° #1 Marc Coma (SPA) KTM;
2° #2 Cyril Despres (FRA) KTM;
3° #9 Francisco Lopez (CHI) Aprilia;
4° #4 Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR) KTM;
5° #12 David Fretigné (FRA) Yamaha;

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The Aprilia RXV 4.5 has just won its first 2010 Dakar stage, with rider Francisco Lopez on board. The whacky but cool bike is a new entry for Aprilia, with the change to 450 cc models making it competitive this year. It has some nifty features in addition to the Dakar-needed help like the additional fuel tank and navigation equipment.

Lopez won the fifth stage in Aprilia’s first ever Dakar victory, crossing the Acatama desert in five hours and 52 minutes. Marc Coma experienced problems with the rear wheel of his bike, meaning he fell to 19th place. After the jump is a video with some great footage of the fifth stage, and the Aprilia win, as well as the placings for this stage. The sixth stage sees the riders cross the Andes, completing 670 km.

Continue reading: Aprilia RXV 4.5 first Dakar victory

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The first round of Dakar 2010 has concluded with a surprising first place to David Casteu with his Sherco, after 652 km of racing. Second place went to Cyril Despres and third place to favourite Marc Coma, both riding KTM bikes. Closing the top six were Jordi Viladoms (KTM), Francisco Lopez, with his Aprilia RXV 4.5, and David Fretigne on a Yamaha.

One participant in the legendary race is veteran Franco Picco, riding a Yamaha WR450F, marking 25 years from his first Dakar rally. The 54-year-old first appeared back in 1985 with a Yamaha TT600, winning overall third place.

Picco’s start has been marked with a sinister gesture though, when he found his bike sabotaged with someone having poured sugar in the engine. Luckily, it hasn’t created any permanent damage and he has been able to continue.

Continue reading: Sugar in your engine: Dakar goes ahead for Franco Picco and Yamaha WR450F

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KTM has apparently listed some riders in next year’s Dakar race, despite previous reports that KTM had quit Dakar. The decision has come after a re-scheduling of the 450cc limit. The Dakar site reports:

Further to the numerous discussions that have taken place with the different actors of the motorcycles’ competition… the goal of a maximum cubic capacity of 450 cc is maintained. Nevertheless, so that the competitors can have more time, a new schedule has been set up.

For the Dakar 2010, the ASO Elite pilots must ride with a restrictor reducing the power of their bike, if its cubic capacity is over 450 cc. Or they may use a bike of a cubic capacity under or equal to 450 cc. The other pilots are free to choose their bike with no restriction.

Continue reading: KTM returns to Dakar after 450cc restriction postponed

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Here are some great shots from the Dakar Rally 2009 in South America, after the first round and all the excitement of the victories, with Marc Coma winning his second Dakar in his career, though the race was overshadowed by the tragedy of the death of Pascal Terry.

The ex-African marathon doesn’t seem to have lost anything in its fascination and risk in the move to another continent, with some impressive Dakar galleries and pics seen below. The photos re-count the mystique of far-away lands, difficult tracks and a world that can be understood only by living it.

The photos below capture moments of pain and risk, with Thibault Lormand in a crash as a fellow competitor on four wheels passes (he was subsequently rescued from that situation, though his race concluded there). Along with the death of Terry as a brutal reminder of the dangers faced in this race, some fine-tuning in the organisation of driver and rider safety in Dakar needs to be done.

Continue reading: Postcards from Dakar: gallery

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From the Motociclismo we get some juicy news with these shots of the Dakar Rally Raid BMW 450 X.

The images come from the ToolEnduro site, a French magazine from the sector, reporting that the shots were taken outside a dealership. Built after about 200 hours of work, the BMW 450 X Rally Raid version will be ridden by Hugo Payen and will be the only BMW participating in the 2009 Dakar.

Dakar will be held in South America this year, with departure and finish at Buenos Aires, along a course that takes in Argentina and Chile.

Source | Motociclismo

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