All posts tagged yamaha wr450f

Veteran Dakar rider takes Marathon title

By Alison

Franco Picco Dakar 2010

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.”

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

By Alison

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.