Marc Coma has won three Dakar rallies in the last five years. The Repsol rider, who won last year's rally, will be aiming for his second consecutive title when the 2012 Dakar rally kicks off on New Year's day in South America.

Don Hatton has completed more endurance rallies than any other Canadian motorcycle racer, but the British Columbian native will be missing the 2012 Dakar rally.

Chris Birch is a five-time New Zealand Enduro Champion. He's a three-time winner of the Roof of Africa. He won the Red Bull Romaniacs in 2010. But can he handle the Dakar?

Cyril Despres has been riding in the Dakar Rally since 2001. He has three Dakar championships to his name but was beaten out last year by rival Marc Coma. Despres will be gunning for his fourth championship in a few days when the 2012 edition of the Dakar Rally kicks off in South America.

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.