It’s an unbelievable spectacle, this Snow Speed Hill Race in Pichl, in the Styria region of Austria: 170 competitors tear up the ski piste at Reiteralm on motorcycles and snowmobiles. Winter sports holidaymakers are rubbing their eyes in disbelief at this crazy carry-on as they sip their après-ski drinks. It was just a pity that this time one of the favorites was forced to be a spectator.
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.
Just like its previous 13 Dakar Rally wins, the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team’s new-look KTM 450 RALLY bike is all about going for the victory. Meanwhile what has been revealed at the team’s photo shoot is, as always, very promising.
Since the final Grand Prix of the year in Teutschenthal offroad tester Matthias Walkner can even call himself world champion as the newly crowned 2012 MX3 Champion.
