KTM has been a dominating force at the Dakar Rally for the last decade. The manufacturer's dominance has a lot to do with its two most talented riders, Cyril Despres and Marc Coma, who have claimed the last six Dakar titles.
With Coma and Despres returning with KTM for the 2012 rally there's a good chance that KTM will celebrate its 11th consecutive Dakar title on January 15th.
Of course, anything can happen at the Dakar. If Despres or Coma can't manage to bring the title home to KTM, the manufacturer has a few other talented riders who will be capable of winning the 2012 edition of the Dakar. Juan Pedrero, Pal Anders Ullevalseter, and Jordi Viladoms will also be racing one of the KTM 450s.
There will be 188 motorcycles lining up at the start of the Dakar Rally on January 1st. 73 of those motorcycles will be KTM machines.
KTM started its streak of Dakar Rally wins in 2001. Fabrizio Meoni took the title from BMW in 2001 and gave KTM another win the following year. Richard Sainct won in 2003 with KTM and Nani Roma claimed victory in 2004. Marc Coma and Cyril Despres have alternated victories since 2005 (there was no rally in 2008).
Here's a video about the 2012 KTM Dakar Rally Team.
If anyone is going to take the Dakar title from KTM, it will likely be someone riding on a Yamaha motorcycle. Forty Yamaha motorcycles will be racing in this year's Dakar. Helder Rodriguez and David Casteau could both give Coma and Despres a run for their money.
