The Dakar Rally is a true international event. It is one of motorsport’s real adventures and it now has a rich and colorful history. During December, KTM will be presenting a series of 10 bulletins in the special KTM online Dakar Newsroom where there will be a lot of fascinating background about the rally itself, KTM’s participation in it and the Austrian company’s rise to dominance.
We want you to share in the excitement of the Dakar as we count down to the start of the rally on New Year’s Day. You can go to the DAKAR NEWSROOM on ktm.com to check out the latest bulletin so by the time the bikes are under starter’s orders on the shores of Mar del Plata you will be well informed about past Dakar Rallies and what to expect in 2012.
The Dakar Rally 2012 starts on January 1, 2012 at Mar del Plata in Argentina – right on the Atlantic coastline. This year it travels some 9000 km right across Argentina, over the mighty Andes, into Chile and the famed Atacama desert, the world’s driest place, then north into Peru and on to the capital, Lima right on the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
This year the Dakar is a true ‘coast to coast’ challenge and for KTM it has come to have very special significance. In 2012 KTM factory riders will be chasing the company’s eleventh consecutive Dakar title with title holder and three-times winner Marc Coma riding with No. 1 and his teammate and closest rival, Cyril Despres also three-times winner, with No. 2. Juan Pedrero and Ruben Faria will be their support riders and there will also be some other great KTM riders making their Dakar debut.
