For more than a decade of Dakar Rally racing, there has only been one name at the top. KTM. KTM has captured the last 10 Dakar Rally victories, with Marc Coma and Cyril Despres earning victory for the last 6 years. Marc Coma won his third Dakar Rally this year, bringing KTM an impressive 10th consecutive title.
With new size restrictions being enforced during this year's rally, the championship was put up for grabs. But KTM's new 450cc machine took to the desert sands of the Atacama without a problem, as Marc Coma and Cyril Despres claimed the top two spots on the podium this year.
“Staying focused was essential so I did focus on my riding. It was the only way to win," said Coma. "What was really tough was that I could not let my guard down, not even for a second. When a tough stage was ending, the next one was even tougher. We all know that a Dakar is a difficult race but this year it was particularly difficult. This victory is the reward of all the hard work, the reward of many years and a lot of tensions over the last few days. It is the bonus you get for steering right and for so many sacrifices over the years.”
The Dakar Rally has been a major focus for the KTM brand, but CEO Stefan Pierer says that now that KTM has won 10 in a row, the Dakar Rally will be the main marketing platform for the Australian brand. Pierer also said that the new 450cc machine is going to lead the way on an aggressive attack to stay on top of the rally sport.
“I am confident that this new bike is going to add yet another layer of prestige to our brand," Pierer said. "Following the unprecedented success we have enjoyed recently with other models like the 350 SX-F and the all new 350 EXC-F Factory. As well as developing the best rally bike on the market, we plan to introduce new and interesting packages for both rally teams and individual rally enthusiasts.”
Marc Coma and Cyril Despres weren't the only successful KTM riders at this year's Dakar. 7 of the 10 top spots this year were held by KTM Machines.
2011 Dakar Rally Results
- Marc Coma, Spanien, KTM
- Cyril Despres, Frankreich, KTM +15:04 min.
- Helder Rodrigues, Portugal, Yamaha +1:40:20 h
- Chaleco Lopez, Chile, Aprilia +2:09:45
- Juan Pedrero, Spanien, KTM +3:07:03
- Pal Anders Ullevalseter, Norwegen, KTM +3:32:56
- Jean De Azevedo, Brasilien, KTM +3:59:38
- Ruben Faria, Portugal, KTM +4:13:01
- Quinn Cody, USA, Honda +4:52:10
- Jacek Czachor, Polen, KTM +6:13:41
