KTM Confirmed for the 2010 Dakar Rally

Though recent rule ambiguities would have seen a completely KTM-free 2010 Dakar Rally, the Austrian manufacturer confirmed its presence for the competition which is due to start from the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires on January 1st, 2010. For the upcoming race, the number of KTM private riders will be supported by the official KTM service truck.

“KTM has shaped the world of rally sport in a way that no other company even comes close. The design and construction of the KTM 690 Rally perfectly embraces our ‘Ready to Race’ philosophy. The fact that so many lead riders and private riders alike continue to put their trust in KTM and the service we provide only serves to confirm our beliefs,” Stefan Pierer, Managing Director of KTM Sportmotorcycle, said in a release.

Leading the private riders will be Marc Coma and Cyril Despres on the single cylinder LC4 fitted with a performance-limiting air restrictor.

The French, who has only recently successfully completed an endurance test lasting several hours in Andorra, also had something to say about the upcoming Dakar Rally:

“They might be able to limit the air intake of our KTM 690 rally engines with performance-limiting restrictors, but they cannot put a limit on our experience, our professionalism or our drive. We want to win!” Despres said.

The Dakar Rally 2010 starts in Buenos Aires on New Year’s day. 83 of the 161 motorcycle riders registered to take part in the rally will be riding KTMs. KTM is also represented in the quad category with Italian female rider Camelia Liparoti riding a specially tuned KTM rally quad.