Official- 2011 Dakar Rally Preparation and Lead-Up Thread

With conformation of the 2011 Dakar (3rd addition Chile/Argentina) and the world Dakar tour in full swing, along with the release of the KTM 450 rally bikes, we are about to embark on a new age of the dakar.
The domination of KTM in recent times (restricted or not) could be up for grabs in the overall win.
Manufacturer pride will be contested with gusto this addition, with not just two names a standout.

Questions to be debated:

Coma or Despres?
Will Ulleveseter go with the new KTM? (The loyalty is strong)
Is Lopez ready for the next step?
Will Street compete?!?!
Sherco and Team Casteu?
Luca Manca?
Przygonski? - the young Polish rider is learning fast.
Perilli or Michelin?
Australian competitors?
BMW Husky Rally?

Exciting times ahead for die hard Dakar fans.

GHR are looking at a team of 4 riders, Jacob Smith (Jake won the Aust. Safari in '09 and came 2nd in '07 ) plus 3 others on customer rental bikes, all CRF450X's I would assume.

Glenn certainly knows how to make a CRF450X hang together.

The planning, logistics, admin paperwork etc can take months !!!

Hope it all goes well with the planning and bike development.

Be great to see Jake mix it up with the euro rallye gods

Having recently spoken to the UK Husky importer he seemed confident that the factory will be giving support for a factory rally team. Hopefully that new BMW engined Husky 450 will show itself in a factory rally team, not just enduro/MX/SM!

Indeed, it'll be the battle of the century with all them 450's!

I wonder if Cyril's blooding some new water carriers?

All doing OK in the Sardinian Rally

Coma's preparation for Dakar is moving well with an 8 minute victory in the Sardinian Rally

Not unless you knock 80cc's out of it... otherwise the officialdom will disqualify him... and Cyril will get poo-poo'ed for casually pointing it out...

Glenn Holmin Racing Australia (Honda) are developing their crf450x dakar bike in the Austrliasian Safari, I guess they mean everything on top of what we need in safari, nav, fuel ect. From what we have seen in Australia it will be the rider that needs to get to "dakar" the bikes are sound!! Go the Aussies!!
If they could find the funds Grabo and Willo should have a crack! (Australian made stater only!!!!!!!!)

Rumour has it that Coma's team couldn't convince their local tech support to shave off his signature stash so they have begun an iniative to pay locals and aso staff to grow stashes so their "guy" can better blend in for this event :)

I think you find cyrill and co will be riding the new 450 rallye thats just being announced by KTM

Another year, another great rally hopefully!

Jordi's been "carring the water" for Coma a long time. I noticed Jordi on a Husky for Sardinia, expect Husky to have a hot dip this year.

Tim Trenker or Luca manca as Comas water man for 2011?!?!

Tim Trenker or Luca manca as Comas water man for 2011?!?![/quote]

Manca for sure!

Marc Coma has been testing new bike "Feels very good on a motorX track"

Refering to the new KTM 450 Rally

Rallyman, is there any info on the motor to be used in the 450 KTM?

When's the cutoff for entries? Is there a list of inmates entering this year's race?
What happened to that fellow from Oz who finished last year and was doing a documenary movie on his prep and race (Sorry his name escapes me) ?

Dakar 2011

Coma's teammate?

Dont think it will be Tim, solid fast rider but maybe not fast enough. Manca mmm maybe as a thank you but unlikely.

Cyril is sorted.

BMW seems to be using the BMW engine, full factory backing so could be up for a surprise. 4 fast boys.

Yamaha , dont think they have any pro's sorted just yet.

Husky, dont see them putting any extra effort as the owner of Husky (BMW) is already putting in a team. Maybe a distributor supported rider.

My outside money is on Sherco. yes Sherco, impressed alot so far.

Honda? probably a couple of riders again but to get a 450X competetive for the Dakar tough call. Without tinkering they can make it for a privateer but to build one that runs as fast as the BMW (175-180 kph) not sure how reliable it will be. As for Glenn Hoffman Racing, yep quick safari bikes, love to see the quick aussies have a shot at it but a very steep learning curve and if it isnt sorted yet the team will have too much to sort out.

My guess top three bikes (KTM/BMW/Sherco)

You are forgetting Chaleco and the Aprilla

While not a top 5 rider Thomas Berglund will be there on a Husaberg FE450 he is good for possible top 10, at least top 15. So a little more brand diversity

http://www.husaberg.com/Husaberg-at-the-Dakar-2011.23.14.html?nodeID=1065&cHash=1e91240742




GHR certainly have done among the most globally re top level CRF450X's as rallye bikes. They know how to make one hang togther for sure and Jacob Smith is a very fast and capable rider, but yes it will be a big learning curve for the rider and team. Their Safari bikes pull 170+ kph and survive 7 days at least.