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2014 Dakar: Honda Introduces Team and Machine

Honda's presence at Mugello, Italy meant more than MotoGP business, as the factory introduced the 2014 Dakar riders and the new cross-country CRF450 Rally machine.
Honda 2014 Dakar team and bikeHonda 2014 Dakar team and bikeHonda 2014 Dakar team and bikeHonda 2014 Dakar team and bikeHonda 2014 Dakar team and bikeHelder RodriguesJavier PizzolitoSam SunderlandJoan BarredaPaulo Goncalves
HRC will start the 2014 Dakr with a hefty team of no less than 5 riders: Helder Rodrigues (Portugal, 34), Sam Sunderland (UK, 24), Javier Pizzolito (Arg, 33), Joan Barreda (Spain, 29), and Paulo Goncalves (Portugal, 34).

The next Dakar rally kicks off on January 5th in Argentina and will end 15 days later in Chile, after having brought the riders through some really tough stages in Bolivia.

Rodrigues and Pizzolito have their first racing events on the new CRF450 Rally machine this month as they will be present in Argentina at the Desafio Ruta 40, while the Barreda and Goncalves get to ride the bike in the Pharaoh's Rally in September.

Sunderland finished the Abu Dhabi Deset Challenge in the third position and will partake in multiple tests in North Africa, as well as the Morocco Rally and the Merzouga Rally.

According to the factory, "HRC’s Katsumi Yamazaki will serve as the Team Director with Martino Bianchi as General Manager of TEAM HRC, who has 30 years experience in the off road racing scene." The team will also be formed of more than 30 other members, and the aim is to win the 2014 Dakar.
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