In less than a week the most grueling motorcycle race in the world will begin in South America. The Dakar Rally will take some of the best adventure riders in the world through deserts, over mountains, and across rivers as they compete for the 2012 Dakar title.
Here are some stats and figures about the 2012 Dakar Rally.
1978: The first edition Dakar Rally kicked of on December 26th, 1978. It is billed as the 1979 Dakar Rally.
742: Motorcyclists, cars, quads, and trucks will take part in the Dakar. This year there are 742 competitors, including mechanics.
465: There will be 465 vehicles racing in the Dakar, a 15% increase from last year. (Cars: 171 / Motorcycles: 185 / Quads: 33 / Trucks: 76)
450: In an attempt to level the playing field, organizers limited motorcycle engine size to 450ccs in 2011. Still, Marco Coma took his third title.
133: France has the most competitors in the 2012 Dakar Rally with 133.
71: Francisco Claudio Regunaschi will be the oldest competitor in the rally this year.
50 nationalities will start the race.
27: The Dakar Rally has driven through 27 countries since its inception. Peru will be included in the route for the first time this year.
20: Lucas Bonetto will be the youngest competitor in the rally this year. (Quads)
14: The Dakar rally will include 14 days of racing. (There will be one day of rest.)
11 women have entered the rally (in all categories)
10: KTM has won the motorcycle portion of the Dakar Rally for the last 10 years.
9: Stephane Peterhansel has the most Dakar Rally wins. Paterhansel has won the Dakar six times on a motorcycle and three times in a car.
6: Marc Coma and Cyril Despres have alternated Dakar Rally wins for the last 6 years.
1: The rally starts on January 1st.
