KTM has enjoyed no fewer than 16 consecutive Rally Dakar victories. Even since 2011, when rules changed and engine sizes were reduced to a maximum of 450cc in an effort to bring other manufacturers into the event, KTM have won every single race. With an all-new bike for 2018, KTM once again take to the start well-prepared, well-motivated and hoping to take win number 17 …
Winner of the 2017 Rally Dakar, Sam Sunderland has had a mixed season in this year’s FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship. A title contender right up to the final round in Morocco, Sunderland endured a series of minor injuries and bad luck that eventually ruled him out of the running. Despite this, his pace throughout the year has been hugely impressive, with wins at the opening two rounds in Abu Dhabi and Qatar. Sam heads into the 2018 Dakar as the man to beat.
With 16 consecutive wins at the notoriously tough Rally Dakar the KTM Factory Racing Team is gearing up for another tough battle in January with the sole aim of continuing this unbelievable success-streak.
He’s achieved the goal of a lifetime, but it’s back to work for Sam Sunderland, only this time he will begin the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship as a Dakar winner.
In November 2016 the Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Racing Team opened its doors and gave a few journalists a rare chance to test the KTM 450 RALLY machines …
Following his illustrious 10-year Dakar career, Jordi Viladoms hung up his racing boots at the beginning of 2016 to take on a key role within KTM’s rally team. Becoming the Sport Manager the Spaniard has been busy putting his vast experience to good use with the goal of guiding KTM’s official riders on their quest for more winning glory.
It was a little while ago now, but special opportunities to ride factory bikes are few and far between. We let Jonathan Pearson buckle up and ride some of the best offroad motorcycles on the planet, and at the home of Antoine Meo. Sounds like the perfect day out to us at the KTM BLOG!
The Farioli name is synonymous with Enduro. Since the 1970s the family has been involved with the KTM brand and has been a mainstay in its racing era since the very beginning. Fabio’s father, a former Italian Enduro racer, began importing KTM machines when Fabio was born, and managed the Enduro team from the very start.
With the Dakar heading into its final stages we reflect on the comments made by the Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Racing Team Technical Manager, Stefan Huber, who gave us his inside line right before the race began. It was a busy build up, but with things in full swing and Price leading the KTM campaign at present, it’s interesting to look at his predictions coming into the race.
It’s a new era of Dakar. After 10 years of domination by former KTM-aces Marc Coma, who retired from racing earlier this year, and Cyril Despres, there’s room for a new emerging star and KTM is excited to have yet another strong team for the notoriously tough Rally.
