Ready To Race With The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team? KTM 450 Rally Perfectly Modified and Developed for Dakar 2018
Ready to claim their victory are Sam Sunderland, Matthias Walkner, Antoine Meo, and Topy Price of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team for the 17th Dakar bike class after a year of rigorous training and preparation. But will it be enough?
Dakar Rally is known for its tough race courses and the top-level discipline it requires of its riders. But it seems like they are upping the ante even higher for their 40th-anniversary edition. Even more so, the race is finally coming back to Peru after five years for its six opening stages. If the racers aren’t yet shaking in their boots, we definitely are because we will never truly know what these organizers have in store until the day of the races, which is exactly eight days away.
Toby Price, former Dakar winner and member of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Team, returned our sentiments. “Even though we've seen the route,” he said, “you still never really know what the Dakar can throw at you until you're out there racing.”
Starting January 6, Dakar will take place over 15 days in total at the start of next year. The 9,000km race will see riders through some of the most dangerous terrains on the world including three race stages in Bolivia, infamous for its high altitude and extreme weather conditions that can rob the victory from top contenders.
But it seems like the KTM Team is unfazed. Even the KTM 450 Rally that underwent two years of development seems ready to crush Dakar. The new bike boasts its team proudly in its Red Bull livery, featuring a new engine and management system that provides a more accurate throttle response. The chassis and swingarm were also improved for sharper handling while the new fuel tank and bodywork designs make sure that the bike feels slimmer and is more manageable.
We are most excited to see Sunderland, however, defending his championship title as he displays the No. 1 plate on his KTM 450 Rally. He is feeling confident and “really positive”, he said. “I’m feeling really fast and strong on the new 450 – my fitness is good at the moment and I have no injuries. We have had the final shakedown test on the new bike and it went very well.”
The cat is out of the bag now. The “roughest and toughest” Dakar route will be seen next year and before it officially commences, participants will have to study the Dakar Rally maps thoroughly if they hope at all to win.