Limitation to 450cc: KTM withdraws from the Dakar Rally
As one would expect following the decision of ASO to limit the displacement of motorcycles to 450 cc to "revive the interest" of the event (read Site of June 3, 2009), KTM decided to withdraw purely. and simply the Dakar Rally!
As one would expect following the decision of ASO to limit the displacement of motorcycles to 450 cc to "revive the interest" of the event (read), KTM decided to withdraw altogether from the Dakar Rally!
"After eight consecutive victories, we have decided to immediately draw the consequences by withdrawing from the Dakar, whether with an official team or with a team supported by KTM", announces the Austrian manufacturer who will take the opportunity to "concentrate its efforts on the World Rally Championship and other important rallies ".
"This change in the rules of the game by the organizer, intended to put an end to the domination of KTM, comes without any prior warning and hits the KTM factory hard," laments the manufacturer. While admitting that "each sport requires rule changes to adapt to new developments and maintain the interest" of the public, KTM denounces the "lack of loyalty" of the organizer and mainly points to the very short period of time left to the teams: "six months before the start, when not only the official team but also dozens of private teams are in full preparation"…
The financial consequences of this decision are "enormous", regrets KTM which was preparing to produce in June the 690 of its official team and the fifty "customer" motorcycles, not to mention the contracts of the "finalized" pilots and the members of the team. already "committed".
“Maybe we will see KTM again soon on African soil, back to the roots,” concludes Winfried Kerschhaggl, KTM sporting director. But as far as the "Dakar" in South America is concerned, it is now "old history!"
Related articles
-
Dakar – The Dakar 2010 is limited to 450cc to revive its interest – KTM occasions
The Dakar 2010 is limited to 450cc to revive its interest The organizers of the rally-raid Dakar presented this morning the route of the 2010 edition…
-
Dakar – More than half of Dakar motorcycle riders on KTM – KTM occasions
More than half of Dakar motorcycle riders on KTM Despite its official withdrawal from the Dakar due to the limitation of motorcycles to 450 cm3 (read MNC…
-
Dakar – Four Sherco at the start of the Dakar 2012 – Occasions SHERCO
Four Sherco at the start of the Dakar 2012 Besides the Austrians, Japanese and other Italians, the Dakar 2012 has four French women in its ranks. And we…
-
Dakar – Julien Toniutti at the 2019 Dakar motorcycle: from road rally to rally-raid! –
Julien Toniutti at the Dakar motorcycle 2019: from road rally to rally-raid ! First quality required for a motorcycle rally driver on the road:…
-
Fuel “Royal Rally 400” – Himalayan in Dakar style
Fuel Custom Builts Royal Rally 400 Royal Enfield Himalayan in Dakar style The clothing manufacturer Fuel Motorcycles has put an extremely delicious…
-
Fantic celebrates 50 years with the Caballero Rally 500 and electric E-Cab The new Caballero Rally 500 is the third variation of this historic name…
-
Dakar – Rally-Raid: Honda presents its Dakar team at Mugello – HONDA occasions
Rally-Raid: Honda presents its Dakar team at Mugello The 2013 MotoGP Italian Grand Prix served as a framework for Honda to present its official…
-
All-terrain – Motorcycle rally-raid: Honda back on the Dakar – Used HONDA
Motorcycle rally-raid: Honda back on the Dakar Honda will officially participate in the 2013 Dakar rally, which will cross South America from January 5….
-
Horizons – New Yamaha Tenere 700 Rally Edition in tribute to the XTs of the Dakar – Used YAMAHA
New Yamaha Tenere 700 Rally Edition in tribute to the Dakar XTs To accentuate the rally heritage of the Tenere 700, Yamaha unveils a Rally Edition…
-
News – News Intermot Cologne 2015: Aprilia Caponord 1200 goes to the Rally – Occasions APRILIA
New Intermot Cologne 2015: Aprilia Caponord 1200 goes to the rally Aprilia will unveil next week on the Intermot stand of its parent company Piaggio a…