INDIA in F1

Category: Dakar Rally

  • Kids in India see that there is a path to the Dakar, says Harith Noah #Dakar2020

    Kids in India see that there is a path to the Dakar, says Harith Noah #Dakar2020

    Jeddah, 28 Dec 2019: As the Dakar Rally travels to Saudi Arabia INDIAinF1 features TVS’ Harith Noah, who will be taking part in Dakar2020. Harith Noah Koithaveettil, born on January 29, 1993, will be making his debut in Dakar 2020, thanks to his team TVS and sponsors Sherco and Mountain Dew. In preparation for Dakar 2020, Noah took part in the 2018 Morocco Rally and 2019 Baja Spain. He will be the second Indian in fray in the Moto section along with first Indian to finish Dakar, CS Santosh, who will be making his sixth Dakar. The event will be held from Jan 5 to 17, 2020.

    Harith Noah in action for a superb win that got him the National Supercross title in his come-back year at Pune on 4 Dec, 2017. INDIAinF1 file photo

    Year after year, India is opening more and more to the Dakar. It all started in 2015 when Santosh CS became the first Indian to start and finish the race. Since then two major Indian brands, Hero and TVS got involved in the rally. Santosh was the pioneer, Aravind Prabhakar followed in his footsteps and now Harith Noah will be the latest to discover the Dakar.

    The young man is from Kerala, but born in Germany, he conquered multiple national titles in motocross and supercross  and has been fully focused on cross-country rallies for the last two years. His path to the Dakar was a long one. It started on his 16th birthday when he was given a motorbike. A weekend later, he was racing and although he finished last of that first race, his passion grew.

    His first encounter with the Dakar came thanks to the video tapes his dad would bring back from his business trips all over the world. He was 5 years old then and far from imagining that he would be on the start line of the 2020 Dakar. Part of the Sherco TVS factory team, Noah who now spends most of his time training in France, will be riding alongside references such as Michael Metge, Johnny Aubert and Lorenzo Santolino. After listening to the precious tips of his elders, the former student and bachelor in sports science knows that at 26, he has time and that only finishing will be his goal for the first year.

    “I got my first bike in 2009 and on the next weekend I was racing in the paddy fields by my house in Kerala. I fell in love with it immediately. Two years later, I became National Supercross champion in the privateer class. My focus was really on supercross, not the Dakar and then TVS got involved. My first big rally was in Morocco in 2018 but sadly I injured the anterior cruciate ligament of my knee. I managed to finish but was ruled out for quite some time. After surgery I was able to come back for the Baja Spain this season. It was really unfortunate that Aravind (Prabhakar) couldn’t come back on the Dakar after breaking his leg while training. I know that in India, we don’t have the skill level of the top factory riders. I’m well aware of that. I’m not looking for a result, just to finish. Fitness-wise, I feel really good and I’m confident in my capacities. I know it will take time to be good. Michael (Metge) tells me that to do good, I have to be patient and gain experience. Of course the Dakar has gotten bigger in India thanks to Santosh and the fact that Hero and TVS are present. It’s opened the eyes of a lot of riders. The kids see that there’s a path to the Dakar. I also expect to see a lot of Indian fans in Saudi Arabia because there’s a big community there.”

  • Bikes: The KTM saga, more to come or end? Dakar 2020 will answer

    Bikes: The KTM saga, more to come or end? Dakar 2020 will answer

    • Victorious in the past 18 editions, KTM returns with a trio made up of former winners: Toby Price (2019, 2016), Matthias Walkner (2018) and Sam Sunderland (2017), ready to extend the winning streak.
    • However, the dramas of the last editions allow their rivals to position themselves with gusto, be it Barreda, Brabec and Benavides at Honda or Van Beveren, De Soultrait and Caimi with Yamaha.
    • The vast majority of the 147 riders entered will not be in the battle for a podium result and they will above else try to finish the first Dakar in Saudi Arabia. The 40 entered in the “Original by Motul’’ category will have the added difficulty of having to maintain their bikes themselves.
    Credit : @ASO/CharlyLopez

    Paris, 26 Dec 2019: The history of sport is made up of cycles that mark eras: the domination of football giants Real Madrid in the 1950’s, McLaren in Formula 1 in the mid-80’s, the Williams sisters in tennis at the dawn of the 21st  Century and Mohamed Ali in the squared circle in the 60’s and 70’s, all eventually came to an end. In rally-raid, KTM’s grip on the most prestigious events began in 2001 and continues without a hitch to this day, much to the chagrin of increasingly successful rivals who are often halted in their conquest by strokes of fate. The scenario of the most recent edition is a textbook case, Toby Price having for the most part ridden his Dakar in discretion and suffering before going on to win in the final weekend. The day before the finish, he was even closely followed for the title by Husqvarna’s Pablo Quintanilla, whose hopes were dashed by a fracture a hundred kilometres from the end. And when the dust settled it was an unexpected KTM sweep of the podium. The Australian was followed by the two preceding victors Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland! Logically, the three champions in question, who were hampered by injury during the season, will arrive in Jeddah as the favourites. Sunderland has been the most consistent of the three after taking his first world title this year. But the status quo could certainly change during the adventure in the Saudi desert.

    Andrea Mayer during the 2020 Dakar press conference on May 15 at Arab World Institute, Paris, France – Photo Frederic Le Floc’h / DPPI

    Pitted against the Austrian armada, the competition has never yielded to fatalism. Last January, the Honda riders posed the biggest threat, with Joan Barreda in the lead in the early days of the rally, before Ricky Brabec took over, but both eventually dropped out, leaving their Argentinean team mate, Kevin Benavides to represent the team at the sharp end of the order, and an eventual 5th place result. At Yamaha, Adrien Van Beveren was an example of consistency and regularity, before he retired from the rally with a blown engine. His team-mate, Xavier de Soultrait, who finished 7th in the general classification, will be back to take the fight to KTM, as will Franco Caimi, who was the highest placed finisher in the squad in the recent Rallye du Maroc (9th).

    The final round of the World Cup doesn’t necessarily have an absolute predictive value, but a quick comparative review of the winners can provide real encouragement to KTM’s opposition. In fact, in four of the last five editions, the winners of the Rallye du Maroc went on to win the Dakar three months later. This is what makes American Andrew Short, who was one of the revelations in the 2019 Dakar (6th), a new title contender with his Husqvarna team-mate “Quintafondo”, who finished just behind him in Morocco. The Sherco and Hero teams are also podium contenders that will rely on their top-level recruits capable of giving the leaders something to think about, respectively Johnny Aubert (6th in 2018) and Paulo Gonçalves (2nd in 2015).

  • India’s ace rider Harith Noah, to make his Dakar Rally debut

    India’s ace rider Harith Noah, to make his Dakar Rally debut

    Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team announces Squad for Dakar Rally 2020

    Goa, 18 October 2019: Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team, today announced its four-rider squad for Dakar Rally 2020 scheduled to take place between January 5th and 17th, 2020 in Saudi Arabia, at TVS MotoSoul 2019, Goa. The team includes seasoned racer Michael Metge (France), Enduro Champion Lorenzo Santolino (Spain), and Johnny Aubert (France), and India’s ace rider Harith Noah who is set to make his debut at the Dakar Rally. The Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team, has had an impressive year with strong performances at all international events in 2019 including Merzouga Rally, Desert Storm, Baja Aragon, and aims for a strong finish at Dakar 2020.

    Dakar 2020 is the 42nd edition of the annual international Rally-Raid which will be taking place in the dunes of Saudi Arabia. It will be a journey through unknown landscapes, unexpected challenges, untold stories and unbelievable memories, commencing at Jeddah passing through Riyadh and culminating at Al Qiddiya. This is Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team’s sixth consecutive year of participation in the Rally.

    Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team, lead rider Michael Metge is gearing for his seventh outing at this gruelling Rally this year, and Lorenzo Santolino will make his second appearance at Dakar Rally. The team also welcomes Johnny Aubert, who finished sixth in Dakar 2018 bringing with him 35 years of racing experience. The fourth rider, Harith Noah is one of the brightest talent from India and has shown tremendous performance in the international rallies.

    Indian rider and Dakar 2019 finisher Aravind KP, who has been part of the TVS Racing team since 2006, sustained a leg injury during his practice session earlier in the year due to which he will not be participating in Dakar Rally 2020. KP successfully completed the 2019 edition of Dakar making him the only Indian to finish the gruesome rally at 37th position.

    About Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team

    In 2015, TVS Racing became the first Indian factory team to take part in the Dakar Rally by forging a partnership with Sherco. Both the teams connect over their passion for bikes and since then has emerged as a global brand in motorsports. Together they provide international quality training to racers and technicians and their expertise on racing technology has made them unstoppable. Throughout the year, the team participates in Rallies like Rally of Morocco, PanAfrica Rally, Baja Aragon, Merzouga Rally, and Dakar Rally. The team recently won Baja Aragon Rally 2019 held in Spain.

    About TVS Racing

    Since the past 37 years TVS Racing has been actively participating on and off-road racing events such as road racing, Super-cross and Motocross, Dirt Tracks, Rally etc. TVS Racing is the only factory team in India to have any woman racer as a part of their team. In early 2015, TVS Racing became the first Indian factory team to take part in the Dakar Rally, which is the longest and toughest Rally in the world. TVS Racing won 15 championships across all forms of two-wheeler motorsport events Supercross, Rallies and Road racing last year.

    File photo of Harith Noah in action in the National Supercross Championship as he won the title in Dec, 2017. Image by God Speed Racing
  • Invaluable rally-raid experience for Fernando Alonso at Lichtenburg 400

    Invaluable rally-raid experience for Fernando Alonso at Lichtenburg 400

    Fernando Alonso during the Lichetenburg Rally-Raid last Saturday. A Toyota Gazoo Racing image

    Lichtenburg (South Africa), 16 Sept 2019: Fernando Alonso and Marc Coma completed an eventful but invaluable learning experience at the Lichtenburg 400 in South Africa on September 13-14 with Toyota Gazoo Racing. Following successful training sessions in Namibia and Poland, the Spanish duo entered round five of the South African Cross Country Series, their first rally raid competition together in the Toyota Hilux.

    The crew completed a 300-kilometre Shakedown on the varied terrain of the competition route as part of their training on September 12. This gave the pair additional seat time in the Hilux while allowing Marc to familiarise himself with the event roadbook and onboard navigation systems used during the competition.

    During the Prologue on September 13, which determines the starting order on race day, Fernando and Marc started the 55-kilometre route from 10th position on the road. Despite the dust kicked up by the leading pack, the crew showed strong pace over the early part of the route, eventually catching up and passing one of the competitors ahead to get themselves into clearer air. Fernando and Marc posted the third-fastest time overall just 32 seconds off pole, bested only by Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa’s Henk Lategan and Giniel de Villiers also in the Hilux.

    Starting from third position on race day, the crew experienced a soft rollover at the 27-kilometre mark. The windscreen of the Hilux was broken and the pair lost time to remove the glass before continuing. Despite the challenges, Fernando and Marc continued to the end of the 190-kilometre loop and posted competitive split times throughout the remainder of the first loop while wearing goggles to assist visibility in the dust. At the midday service, the Toyota Gazoo Racing team raced to replace the windscreen and completed minor bodywork repairs on the Hilux in the limited time available. Together with the event organisers, it was decided that the crew will start the second loop ahead of the field in clear air to gain quality mileage.

    A bird strike five kilometres into the second loop resulted in a second broken windscreen for the crew. Fernando and Marc again demonstrated their resolve to complete the final 190-kilometre loop while taking turns to hold the broken windscreen in place between driving and navigating. They continued to post competitive split times and was classified 16th overall.

    In total, Fernando and Marc clocked up another 728 kilometres of training mileage during the Lichtenburg 400 which saw them traverse cornfields, undulating veld and dry river crossings. Even more invaluable than the mileage for the new Spanish pairing transitioning into a different discipline of motorsport are the lessons learnt and experience earned in the white heat of rally raid competition.

    Lichtenburg 400 was won by Giniel and navigator Dennis Murphy while Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa teammates Henk and navigator Brett Cummings finished second, enough to win the 2019 South African Cross Country Series title with one round remaining.

    The next challenge for Fernando and Marc as part of their intensive training programme will be the Rally of Morocco which takes place near the city of Fes, Morocco on October 3-9. Last year’s rally was won by reigning Dakar Rally champion Nasser Al-Attiyah and navigator Mathieu Baumel, their second consecutive Rally of Morocco victory with Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa in the Hilux.

    Seen as a precursor to the Dakar Rally, the route of the 2019 edition of the Rally of Morocco will feature a cloverleaf layout with five competitive stages all starting and ending near Fes. Competitors will navigate a total distance of 2,500 kilometres, of which 1,868 kilometres will be timed special stages, featuring a mixture of rough gravel tracks, sand dune crossings and tricky navigation.

    Glyn Hall, Team Principal: “We certainly proved this weekend that Fernando has the speed and Marc has the ability to co-drive in the Hilux. Despite the ups and downs, this weekend was an invaluable experience for the crew. We are fast-tracking one of the best racing drivers the world has ever seen into a discipline he has never experienced before. With just five months to prepare for one of the toughest races in motorsport, we have an incredible task ahead of us. In the Prologue, we saw that Fernando can keep up with the best drivers in South Africa, who are as good as they come in the world. Competing at this level in terms of speed, and with such a steep learning curve, we expected little setbacks along the way. This is exactly the kind of experience they need to have so it doesn’t come as a surprise if it happens during the big race. The determination shown by Fernand and Marc today is nothing short of impressive. The crew got back in the car and completed the first loop without a windscreen in the dust, and again in the second loop while holding the window up for most of the stage.”

    Fernando Alonso: “Every time we go in the car we learn something and we get more and more familiar with the Hilux. Unfortunately, today was a little bit of a nightmare for us. In the morning, we rolled over a little bit and broke the windscreen which affected our visibility so we had to removed it. We drove the rest of the loop with goggles on, in the dust behind all the cars. For the second loop the organisers allowed us to start in front, to have a clear view. After a few kilometres, we hit a bird and the windscreen broke again. Then it was nearly 200 kilometres with one hand on the windscreen and the other on the steering wheel. It wasn’t the best day for us, but we were able to get more kilometres in the Hilux and it’s good to experience these things before we get to more important races.”

    Marc Coma: “Today was a pretty tough day for us after a really good day yesterday. We started the race smooth but rolled the car at one point but we managed to finish the loop. Then we started the second loop with a new windscreen to get more experience in the Hilux. After just a few kilometres, we hit a bird and it broke the windscreen. The wind and dust started to come inside the car, making it very difficult to drive to the end. It really wasn’t easy to hold the windscreen in place while navigating at the same time. With Fernando, we managed the situation together and got to the end of the race. Even with all the challenges we faced today, we still managed to get a lot of valuable kilometres under our belt and we know that all of this is part of the experience we are gaining.”

  • Dakar veteran Marc Coma joins Fernando Alonso at Toyota Gazoo Racing

    Marc Coma, five-time Dakar Rally winner in the motorbike class and six-time FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Champion, has teamed up with Fernando Alonso as his navigator at TOYOTA GAZOO Racing as the pair continues with an intensive rally raid training programme in the Toyota Hilux.

    An experienced rally raid campaigner, Marc, 42, first competed in the Dakar Rally in 2002 when the event was still held in Africa. With nearly two decades in the sport, most recently as Sporting Director of the Dakar Rally, Marc is perfectly positioned to work closely with Fernando, two-time Le Mans 24 Hours winner, reigning FIA World Endurance Championship title holder, two-time Formula 1 World Champion, and winner of the 24 Hours of Daytona, as both motorsport veterans push their own limits and transition into a new motorsport discipline—Fernando in rally raid and Marc on four wheels.

    Following a series of successful trainings in Namibia and Poland, the multiple world championship winning Spanish duo demonstrated their determination and skills, advancing quickly through the team’s planned targets. As a result, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing decided to enter Fernando and Marc in the Lichtenburg 400, round five of the South African Cross Country Series, taking place in South Africa on September 13-14. Originally scheduled as a non-competitive outing, the crew will test their mettle in a rally raid competition environment for the first time.

    The Lichtenburg 400 route will comprise of an array of terrains including cornfields, undulating veld, dry river crossings, both technical and open sections. The start/finish is situated at the Lichtenburg Showgrounds from where the route will head south towards the town of Coligny before turning east towards Koster and finally turning north back to the showgrounds.

    Glyn Hall, Team Principal: “We are delighted to pair Marc with Fernando. Their combined winning motorsport experience is really impressive and we can clearly see the exciting progress they are making in the Hilux in such a short time. We always knew the training programme would be intensive, but Fernando and Marc have really demonstrated their ability to work together as a team, so much that they managed to double the planned mileage during last week’s test in Poland. In fact, we were so impressed by the crew’s performance during the shakedown yesterday, on sections of the Lichtenburg 400 course, we decided to enter them in Saturday’s competition. This will be the first time Fernando and Marc will take part in a rally raid competition so it’ll be a valuable opportunity for them to learn how to deal with the dust from other competitors.”

    Fernando Alonso: “Working with Marc has been fantastic. I’ve been able to learn so much from him about rally raid thanks to his wealth of knowledge and experience. In this type of motorsport, when you have to drive hundreds of kilometres every day, it’s very important to feel comfortable with the person in the car with you. Marc and I are getting along very well and we are working effectively as a unit. I’m looking forward to training in a competition environment for the first time which will be very different to our private tests, so it’ll be a good challenge and learning experience for me in the Hilux.”

    Marc Coma: “I’m really happy and proud to be part of this team and to be able to share my rally raid experience with Fernando. Even though I’ve been in this sport for a long time, this is still a new challenge for me. I never imagined that I would be in the navigator seat preparing for rally raid in a Hilux. Still, this new challenge really excites me because I’m confident I can bring something to TOYOTA GAZOO Racing and I want to push my own limits to give my best. Fernando and I are working really well together and I can see that he is really methodical in his approach to rally raid. He is also adapting really well to driving the Hilux and we are seeing improvements not just day by day, but run after run.”

  • Sherco TVS Rally Factory team fields KP Aravind, Abdul Wahid for Afriquia Merzouga Rally

    Sherco TVS Rally Factory team fields KP Aravind, Abdul Wahid for Afriquia Merzouga Rally

    Dkar 2019 file photo of KP Aravind (16jan19 stage9) who became the second Indian to complete the Dakar rally. A TVS Racing image

    Casablanca (Morocco), 25 March 2019: Aravind KP, fresh from his Dakar exploits, will be taking part in the 10th edition 10 of the Afriquia Merzouga Rally along with another Indian Abdul Wahid for the Sherco TVS Rally Factory team. The other Indian outfit Hero Motosports Team Rally entered Spaniard field Oriole Mena and Joaquim Rodrigues of Portugal.

    You can read the exploits of Aravind KP in the TVS blog here.

    The event was presented at a press conference in Casablanca, Morocco on March 21. This provided an opportunity to arouse envy among the competitors, before setting off on a very discerning race in the heart of the dunes of Merzouga.

    The Afriquia Merzouga Rally is increasingly becoming a must-do event for rally-raid die-hards. Held from 31 March to 5 April, the race – under the high patronage of His Majesty King Mohammed VI for the third time – offers a precious experience for all those who dream of toughening up for a future participation in the Dakar. Tagged with the “Dakar Series” label, the Moroccan rally allows for being selected for the marquee event while the winner will get a free entry.

    It promises to be a very competitive rally, especially as for this 10th edition, the five stages will take place in the region’s most iconic areas, which is ideal for perfecting a competitor’s knowledge of the dunes and navigation ability. For the competitors, the rally is also an opportunity to enjoy their passion in a grandiose setting and friendly atmosphere, in the purest Moroccan tradition.

    This year again, the Afriquia Merzouga Rally will ensure that the environmental impact is almost zero, as noted last year in an impact study. The organisers have been sensitive to this aspect for the past several years through concrete actions such as oil recovery – in partnership with Afriquia – and the dematerialization of official documents. In addition, several social actions are carried out for several weeks with the local population.

    Edo Mossi (Afriquia Merzouga Rally Sporting Director): “This is the 10th year of the rally and the 4th under the aegis of A.S.O. with the Dakar Series label. All rally organisers know how hard it is to offer rally-routes that remain so challenging every year. We decided to return to the stages that had stood out in the past, all the sectors that had stirred so many emotions. This is a “Best Of” edition, of what we do best in the region. The rally-route promises to be exciting and will certainly enhance the attractiveness of the competition. ”

    David Castera (Dakar Director): “The Afriquia Merzouga Rally is one of the best preparations for all competitors who dream of participating on the Dakar. The five stages of this 10th edition offer an ideal opportunity to improve racing skills and also improve navigation skills. Participants who take up the challenge will inevitably catch the rally-raid bug. We wish them good luck and hope to see them soon on the Dakar!”

  • The feeling of finishing Dakar is yet to sink in: Aravind KP

    The feeling of finishing Dakar is yet to sink in: Aravind KP

    A proud Aravind with Indian flag as his team celebrates. A TVS Racing image

    Bengaluru 18 Jan 2019: Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team’s Aravind KP has successfully completed the 2019 edition of Dakar making him the only Indian to finish the gruesome rally at 37th position. This is KP’s third appearance at Dakar and this successful attempt to finish the rally has brought glory to the team and the country. This edition of Dakar has been touted as one of the toughest in the history of the rally and only 55% of the bikes completed the gruesome rally this year. The 11-day rally saw riders battle with fesh fesh, sand dunes, beach and rocks with complex navigation at every stage.

    After a steady start in the early stages, Aravind KP picked up his pace in the second half of the rally and climbed up the rankings. Despite a few crashes during the intermediate stages, he fought hard and got to the finish line. KP faced a tricky situation in the penultimate stage of Dakar, when his bike broke down in the sand dunes. He sought help from some spectators and reached the finish line defying all odds.

    Commenting on his achievement, Aravind KP says, “The feeling of finishing Dakar is yet to sink in fully as I have been dreaming and waiting for this moment for 3 years now. It’s difficult to express my feelings at the moment but I am overjoyed to be at the finish line. With multiple injuries in the run up to Dakar, I always knew I had to push myself beyond the comfort zone to finish the rally. The route this year was extremely challenging but I was ready to fight it out and finish one stage at a time. I would like to thank my team especially my mechanic Prakasham for ensuring my motorcycle was in the best shape at the beginning of every stage. I am also grateful to my mentors at TVS Racing & Sherco for believing in my dream and supporting me all along. Dreams do come true if you truly believe in them. I hope my achievement inspires young Indian riders to chase their Dakar dreams and work hard to put India on the world motorsport map.“

    KP’s teammates – Michael Metge and Adrien Metge finished the rally at the 25th and 22nd positions respectively. Michael had a good start at the rally but had a setback on the second day due to fuel outage. He picked up pace in the next stages and broke into top 15 in the third stage. His grit became intense with each passing stage and he won the ninth stage against all lead riders. Adrien Metge strived hard and picked up pace in the first two stages but an unfortunate fall in third stage left him with a sore wrist. His bike fell in the seventh stage and the navigation system got damaged but he continued his journey to finish the rally. Lorenzo Santolino, rookie at Dakar was the fastest rider of the team this year and broke into top 10 in the third stage. Unfortunately, he had to exit the rally in the sixth stage due to a heavy crash.

    Selvaraj, Team Manager, TVS Racing said, “I would like to congratulate all the racers and the team for their outstanding performance at the rally this year. With each passing day at the rally, the level of difficulty shot up manifold and so did our determination. Aravind KP is a talented rider and has a razor sharp focus on his goal and that’s precisely the reason why we chose him to represent us at Dakar. At TVS Racing, we spend a lot of time with the racers to identify their potential and strive to give them every opportunity to prove their mettle. We believe success doesn’t come to anyone overnight, it is an ongoing journey and one might have to overcome many obstacles before achieving glory. It is a red letter day in the history of TVS Racing and we are honoured to be a part of this success story.”

     

  • Toby Price wins second Dakar; Nasser Al-Attiyah bags his third in car section

    Toby Price wins second Dakar; Nasser Al-Attiyah bags his third in car section

    Toby Price (Aus), left, of KTM Factory Team winner of Dakar 2019 Moto class  with Matthias Walkner (Aut); at the finish line after the Stage 10 from Pisco to Lima on January 17 – Photo Florent Gooden

    Lima, 17 Jan 2019: Toby Price of Red Bull KTM Factory team won his second Dakar on Thursday. Has won the last stage of the Dakar 2019 and wins the world’s biggest rally-raid for the second time, following his triumph in 2016. It was a performance of genuine class from the KTM rider who left everyone in his wake in Lima, beating José Cornejo by 2’21 to crown 10 extremely difficult days for the Australian who rode throughout the race with an injury to his scaphoid bone, which occurred several weeks before the Dakar.

    Peru welcomed the 41st edition of the Dakar that finished today in Lima after 10 punishing stages, the outcome of which was victory for a heroic Toby Price in the bike race, Nasser Al-Attiyah with his third title in the car category thanks to his exemplary strategic poise, Nicolás Cavigliassounprecedentedly dominating the quad category, Francisco “Chaleco” López succeeding in his comeback and conversion after six years of absence with a win in the SxS race and Eduard Nikolaev picking up his fourth title in the truck race.

    Beyond the winners, 179 riders, drivers and crews (75 bikes, 15 quads, 76 cars, 20 SxS and 13 trucks) reached Lima to enjoy a podium ceremony at the end of the day on Magdalena beach, where it all started.

    Bikes: What a fine story was told thanks to the monstrous determination and bravery shown by Toby Price. Taking part in his fifth Dakar with a wrist that was still sore after fracturing his scaphoid bone several weeks before the start, the Australian grinned and bore it, focusing on consistency rather than the verve that his rivals showed, as they picked up stage victories. Gritting his teeth day after day to stay in contact with the best, the winner in 2016 finally took the lead in the general standings the day before the finish and offered spectators a genuine recital with a stage victory in Lima. This allows him to write a second Dakar rally on his role of honour and an 18th in a row for his employer KTM. Indeed, for the Austrian firm, this was an especially satisfying triumph with its three official riders on the podium in Peru. Matthias Walkner, the title holder, took second place, while Sam Sunderland, the winner in 2017, rounded off a podium that again sees Honda absent. Yet, Joan Barreda had offered high hopes to HRC with a superb start to the rally before coming undone, while Ricky Brabec was surprisingly comfortable for 8 stages… until the engine on his Honda broke. It was a cruel disappointment for the American one year after having suffered the same fate, similar to the misfortune that rained down on Adrien Van Beveren, whose Yamaha also gave in on him so near to the finish. In the end, it was Pablo Quintanilla who resisted the KTM clan for the longest amount of time, before his hopes collapsed due to a fall on the last stage of this uncompromising Dakar…

    AL-ATTIYAH Nasser (qat) and BAUMEL Matthieu (fra) Toyota Gazoo Racing (Group T1; Class 1; Auto) arrive at the finish line after Stage 10 January 17 – Photo Florent Gooden / DPPI

    Cars: One single duo managed to avoid all the pitfalls, find the balance between performance and driving safely and grasp all the subtleties of the navigation to which they were subjected. It was the crew made up of Nasser Al-Attiyah behind the wheel and MathieuBaumel as co-pilot. On completion of the ten stages, three of which he won, the Qatari driver also won the Dakar for the third time, thanks to a carefully crafted scenario and a superb understanding of strategy. One by one, the “Prince of the desert” distanced his direct rivals, striking a big blow on his adversaries on the Super Ica stage (stage 8), where he took care to start a considerable distance behind his rivals. Always in control, the boss of the race observed his pursuers do battle in the dunes, whether it wasStéphane Peterhansel, Sébastien Loeb or Nani Roma, before setting the historical record straight in Lima. Toyota, the constructor which has most probably entered the largest number of vehicles in the history of the Dakar, won the car category for the first time to reward the efforts of Team Overdrive, which had previously been prevented from reaching the top step on the podium by the Peugeots or the Minis, firstly with Giniel de Villiers or also last year with Al-Attiyah. As for the X-Raid team, in the end, the 4×4 Mini achieved the firm’s best results, with Nani Roma in 2nd position and Jakub Przygonski again stepping up a notch in the hierarchy by climbing to 4th place. The challenge to win for Sébastien Loeb genuinely seemed possible in light of the gaps that he was capable of opening up when everything was running smoothly. However, navigational mistakes and mechanical problems put paid to his hopes for victory. He finished the rally with four extra stage wins on his roll of honour and another place on the final podium (3rd).

     Side by Side: A battle well and truly took place in the Side by Side category, which swelled threefold in number in 2019 (with 30 crews at the start), thanks to the arrival of prestigious competitors, such as former biker Francisco López, who had previously failed to conquer the title on two wheels (3rd in 2010 and in 2013) but did not let the chance slip through his fingers for his first participation in the SxS category. After a discrete start to the rally, “Chaleco” put on an imperial display ahead of title holder Reinaldo Varela and former biker GerardFarrés (3rd in 2017), while Sergey Karyakin, Casey Currie or Ignacio Casale had already lost a lot of ground. The most successful comeback kid on the Dakar 2019, with three stage victories to add to his already impressive roll of honour (11 specials on a bike),“Chaleco” nailed Chile’s colours even further on to the mast of the rally, with a triumph that follows on from countryman IgnacioCasale’s two successes in the quad race (in 2014 and 2018).

    Quads: The race was soon dominated by Argentinean Nicolás Gavigliasso. It would be euphemistic to say that the rider from Córdoba sailed through this edition of the Dakar because he quite simply won nine out of ten stages on the 2019 edition, an unprecedented feat in the history of the most famous rally-raid, for all of the categories put together. What’s more, at the age of 27 years old, the Yamaha rider was only taking part in his second Dakar this year. “It wasn’t easy,” declared Nico at the finish to the last stage. “I worked hard before this Dakar. It’s only my second Dakar, but I kept pushing, I wanted to finish in front. Now I’m number one in the quad race and I’m so, so happy”. Jeremías González Ferioli, second in the general standings 1 hour 55 minutes behind the winner, was Cavigliasso’s sole rival who managed to win a special, on the third stage. Taking part in his fourth Dakar, the young 23-year old rider from Córdoba was not able to put his countryman under pressure. Behind the two Argentineans, Frenchman Alexandre Giroudfinished on the third step of the podium.

  • Sherco TVS team’s Aravind KP conquers Dakar, becomes only Indian to finish Dakar 2019

    Sherco TVS team’s Aravind KP conquers Dakar, becomes only Indian to finish Dakar 2019

    Lima, 17 Jan 2019: Aravind KP had done it. The Indian conquered the Dakar 2019! “The will to win, the desire to succeed! The urge to reach your full potential, these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal EXCELLENCE,” the powerful words of Chinese Social reformer Confucius come to mind, at this historic moment for India and for TVS Racing, as Aravind became the only Indian to finish the Dakar Rally this year.

    In a short period of cross-country rallying, the Indian giant, who had been promoting two-wheeler racing in India for decades, partnered with the French outfit and took part as Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team in Dakar Rally 2019 and Aravind KP became the second Indian to complete Dakar Rally. CS Santosh, who bowed out in Stage 5 this year, is the first Indian to complete Dakar in 2015.

    On Thursday, Aravind Prabhakar, as listed in the Dakar timings, rode his number 48 bike across the finish line of Stage 10, the last stage to reach another milestone in his life, perhaps the biggest, completing Dakar in his third attempt. In the first year in 2017, he had a wrist injury and failed to finish the second time too in 2018.

    Aravind did consistently, as he was keen not to allow any obstacle to stop him this year, and in the second half, he stepped up the game and negotiated the tough terrain with admirable regularity to steadily progress to the front, hitting the top-50 before reaching the top-40. After finishing the 359-km Stage 10 in 1hr, 48:16 to be placed in 42nd position. Finishing in 37th position overall, the TVS rider took 49 hours, 48 minutes and 43 seconds for the 10 stages of Dakar, all held in the single country, Peru this year.

    Joaquim Rodriques of Hero MotoSports Team Rally finished stage 10 in 12th position, closely followed by Adrien Metge of Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team in 13th, while Hero’s Oriol Mena was 17th and Adrien’s brother Michael struggled but managed to finish last as 75 of the 78 bikes completed the Moto section of the last stage of Dakar. Michael Metge was the hero for India team yesterday as he won the penultimate Stage 9 with brilliant riding.

    Overall, Hero MotoSports Oriol Mena had a top-10 finishe with 9th position while his teammate Joaquim Rodriques finished 17th. Younger of the Metge brothers Adrien finished three places ahead of Michael in 22nd position. And Aravind KP did a creditable job managing at top-40 place in 37th overall. All the results are provisional.

    “I was overjoyed. I was overwhelmed. It was the shortest stage, but it was the longest for me because I was hoping to get to the finish line and have been counting every kilometre. I came in with a lot of setbacks but I put in a lot of hardwork and with a positive attitude, I turned everything around me.

  • Big day for Sherco TVS Factory team as Michael Metge wins Stage9; Aravind 39th overall

    Big day for Sherco TVS Factory team as Michael Metge wins Stage9; Aravind 39th overall

    Michael Metge with the Sherco TVS Factory team after winning Stage 9 on January 16. A TVS Racing image

    Pisco, 16 Jan 2019: The lone Indian left in the Dakar Rally 2019, Aravind KP of Sherco TVS Racing Factory Team successfully completed the penultimate stage on Wednesday and is all set to complete the Dakar with only one day left.

    Arvind (Prabhakar) did a wonderful job in all the sections except in wp4, WayPoint4, where he lost time, to gain positions in the 409-km Stage 9. He crossed the finish line gaining valuable positions in a time of 6hr, 25 minutes and 22 seconds. The Indian was 55th in the stage for an overall 39th position with only one stage to go to complete Dakar 2019.

    Aravind KP negotiates the Stage 9 dunes. A TVS Racing image

    However, his Sherco TVS Rally Factory teammate Michael Metge is the real hero of the day winning the stage in 3:46:38. It was quite a memorable day for the TVS Team as their top rider Michael Metge won the penultimate stage of Dakar 2019. Michael dominated the stage today ahead of all the top 10 riders as he pushed himself right from the start. The team dedicates this stage win to teammate Lorenzo Santolino, who had to retire due to a crash in Stage 6. Michael’s overall ranking is now at 22nd and he intends to finish Dakar with another dominating performance. The stage saw a mass start in waves of 10 like the first marathon stage. The riders had to ride through another loop in Pisco, full of tricky sand dunes, the ones that had resulted in many key riders to quit the rally in Stage 2.

    The loop around Pisco explored the Ica desert from an entirely new perspective. It started with an 80 km dune sector, followed by a series of coastal dunes separated by the Subida de los Burrosascent and, to cap it all, another sequence of dunes with three fearsome massifs in the final 100 kilometres —more than enough to throw sand in the gears of the top riders and drivers, as Adrien van Beveren, Stéphane Peterhansel and Sébastien Loeb came to know.

    Stage nine of the rally saw another motocross style mass-start with riders setting off in waves of 10, determined by their finishing positions from the previous day’s stage. Heading into the dunes for the 313-kilometre timed special, the first group of riders stuck together for the majority of the stage.

    Aravind’s teammate and Michael’s younger brother Adrien Metge was more cautious in his approach due to physical strain and he finished at 20th position. He is right behind Michael in the overall rankings at 23rd. India’s Aravind KP got off to a blazing start taking the lead for the first 190 kilometres. KP faced bike issues in the middle of the stage but thanks to some help, he was able to complete the stage. His overall ranking stays at 39th position.

    Commenting on the stage win, Michael Metge says, “It’s an unbelievable feeling to win a stage at Dakar. The stage was challenging as there was lots of dunes and fesh-fesh. I started in the second line at the wave start and I pushed all the way through the stage. Soon I caught up with the first riders and I went past the leader quite quickly. Full credit to the team mechanics for preparing my bike, which has been performing beautifully in the sand dunes. I dedicate this win to my wife and 2 children, who are my pillars of support.”

    Aravind KP says, “It was a mixed day for me but that’s what Dakar is about. I started really well taking the lead in the mass start. But things changed halfway, when my bike had some issues. These were tense moments as I wanted to complete the stage at any cost. Thank god for the local help who assisted me in restarting the bike and finish the stage. This is the spirit of Dakar and I am lucky to have experienced it.”

    The team will ride back from Pisco to Lima in Stage 10, which will be a 358 kilometres journey.

    Provisional Results Stage Nine – 2019 Dakar Rally

    1. Michael Metge (FRA), Sherco, 3:46:38
    2. Daniel Nosiglia (BOL), Honda, 3:48:38 +2:00
    3. Pablo Quintanilla (CHL), Husqvarna, 3:50:06 +3:28