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Dakar 2019

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  • Dakar 2019

    Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team kickstart their Dakar 2019 campaign

    Lima, January 06, 2019: The Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team began their Dakar 2019 journey with a ceremonial flag off held in Lima, Peru today. This is the fifth consecutive participation of the team in the iconic Dakar Rally. This year, the team boasts of 4 riders – Michael Metge (France), Adrien Metge (France), Aravind KP (India) and Lorenzo Santolino (Spain).

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    The Dakar 2019 will see the team traverse a distance of 5000 kilometers across 10 stages with special stages of 3000 kilometers. The Rally route, unlike the previous one comprises of a substantial section of sand dunes, will test the navigational skills, endurance and techniques of the riders.

    The Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team is riding on the new Dakar-spec RTR 450 Rally motorcycle. The motorcycle boasts of an improved cooling system and an enhanced top speed of 180 kmph. The motorcycle is equipped with specially designed pistons and a new diaphragm spring clutch and higher capacity fuel tank. The Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team has trained in Morocco, Spain and France in the international race calendar.

    David Casteu, Team Manager, Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team said, “The Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team has been training for Dakar extensively over the past year with impressive performances across International Rallies. The team this year shares a great camaraderie, skills and are hungry for a top 10 finish. Along with this winning combination, we are backed by an experienced technical crew who will help us maintain the RTR 450 Dakar motorcycle through the duration of the Rally. We have raced in Peru before, which is an added advantage. Overall, we are positive about exceeding our past performance in the 41st Edition of Dakar.”

    Stage 1, which begins on January 7th, will be a 247 kilometers stretch with 84 kilometers of special where they will encounter soaring temperatures of the Pisco Valley.

    Dakar 2019 - Route

    Stage 1: Lima - Pisco
    Stage 2: Pisco - San Juan de Marcona
    Stage 3: San Juan de Marcona - Arequipa
    Stage 4: Arequipa - Moquegua
    Stage 5: Moquegua – Arequipa
    (Rest Day)
    Stage 6: Arequipa - San Juan de Marcona
    Stage 7: San Juan de Marcona - San Juan de Marcona
    Stage 8: San Juan de Marcona - Pisco
    Stage 9: Pisco - Pisco
    Stage 10: Pisco – Lima


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    Hero MotoSports Team Rally’s flag-off at Dakar Rally 2019

    The most gruelling race on the planet, the Dakar Rally, flagged off its 41st edition in all its glory and showmanship at Lima, the capital city of Peru today. This edition of Dakar Rally marks the 3rd year of participation for India’s Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the rally racing division of the world’s largest two-wheeler manufacturer, Hero MotoCorp Ltd.

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    The three riders of Hero MotoSports Team Rally – Oriol Mena (Competitor no. 7), Joaquim Rodrigues (Competitor no. 27) and C S Santosh (Competitor no. 50) - rolled off the ceremonial podium, in front of thousands of enthusiastic fans assembled in the beautiful seaside district of Magdalena Del Mar to give a warm send off to the participants.

    The team is confident and upbeat about their prospects at the Dakar 2019 riding on the back of some strong performances, intense training sessions and a much improved Hero 450 RR bike since the Dakar last year. Another big positive for the team is the comeback of Joaquim Rodrigues, who has undergone intensive rehabilitation after his injury at the Dakar last year.

    Having completed all the administrative and technical checks successfully, the team is now raring to kick start their Dakar 2019 campaign with the first stage on 7th January that will take the rally from Lima to Pisco for a short warm up special of 84kms.

    Mr. Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally: “We are quite excited to be here at the Dakar 2019 for our 3rd year now. We have had good preparations this year with some good performances in the races and experience under our belt. The team has shaped up well both mentally and physically and we are very happy with the improvements made on the bike as well. JRod is also back with the team so overall, there is a lot of positivity in the camp. We can never predict an outcome in the Dakar, so our first aim is still to get the riders and bikes safely across the finish line every day.”

    C.S Santosh (Comp No: 50): “I am very optimistic about our performance at the Dakar this year. This will be my third Dakar with Hero MotoSports and fifth overall. It has been a very exciting three years and I’m geared up for yet another rendezvous. There is a positive energy in the entire team and we can feel it here. The preparation has been good and the motivational levels are high, I can’t wait for the first stage to get started.”

    Oriol Mena (Comp No: 7): “I had a great year and this also raises the stakes for me at Dakar 2019, so I have been training hard and target to advance my performance this year. Dakar is a very exciting and thrilling encounter for a rider. I am feeling thoroughly upbeat about riding with my team amidst an exceptionally talented group of competitors.”

    Joaquim Rodrigues (Comp No: 27): “I am extremely excited about the start of my ride again, after my accident at Dakar 2018. The recovery has been tough and long. I have been training particularly hard with a focus on arriving at the finish line safely. This will be my third Dakar and I’m very excited to be riding with my team again and hopeful of delivering a good performance. I am charged up and hopeful that I will put-up a great show at Dakar this year.”

    Dr. Markus Braunsperger, Chief Technology Officer, Hero MotoCorp Ltd: “The entire team is enthusiastic and absolutely ready for Dakar 2019. Considering at this high-octane event, which is anticipated to be even tougher than last year, our focus remains on finishing the Rally. This year has been very good for the Team in terms of trainings and preparations as it has participated in events across the globe and delivered strong finishes. We aim to ride that momentum in the upcoming Dakar Rally in January. I, along with the many fans and supporters, wish them good luck and all the best.”

  • #2
    re: Dakar 2019

    While i appreciate what the Hero and TVS teams are doing for Indian motorsports and riders by having a team in the Dakar , i fail to understand them not having a proper on-off road bike in their product range to go with the Dakar campaign (Impulse was a half hearted attempt in my opinion). Specially TVS which has a rallying and racing heritage should have come out with one after all what use is the experience if it is used only for advertising and not for R&D.
    Yamaha RX 135 5 Speed - 2000 -(current)
    Yamaha R15 v1 - 2009 - 2016 ( Sold )
    Yamaha R3 - 2015 - (current)

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    • #3
      re: Dakar 2019

      ORIOL MENA CONTINUES STRONG RUN TO END STAGE 3 IN EIGHTH POSITION

      The third stage of the Dakar 2019 from Marcona to Arequipa turned out to be surprise for most top teams today. As the competitors began stage 3 of the Dakar Rally 2019, everyone expected the stage to be 75% sand, but it turned out to be a heady mix of dunes, rocks, mountains, fesh-fesh and morning fog. The stage turned the rally upside down with many top contenders across bikes and cars, losing their way.

      For Hero MotoSports Team Rally also, stage 3 brought in mixed fortunes. C S Santosh and Joaquim Rodrigues both met with time setbacks during the course of the day. JRod lost some time in the beginning of the stage and then at a tricky waypoint that made him and many others lose even more time. Santosh met with a few crashes, and lost time around the same waypoint. However both before fought their way through all this to make it to the finish line.

      Oriol Mena, however, seemed to be doing a completely different stage altogether. He showed his class and skills to blaze through the stage in quick time, gaining a few positions in the process. The stage results place Oriol Mena in 8th place, JRod in 46th and C S Santosh in 64th place. In the overall rankings, Mena climbed a few places from yesterday to end at 12th position, while Joaquim Rodrigues stands at 31st place and C S Santosh on 42nd place at the end of stage 3.

      C.S Santosh (Comp No: 50): “It was an extremely difficult stage, throwing a fair share of challenges. I had the wrong lens on for today’s stage and it set me up for the struggle for most of the first part. So, I decided to ride without my goggles, which was really difficult to do. Had a few crashes, lost my way around a waypoint, so in all a very tough day. I am glad to have seen the back of it and still be in the race.”

      Oriol Mena (Comp No: 7): “Today was a really tough stage, the kind that we know Dakar for. Conditions were difficult with lot of fog in the mountains, many stones and fesh-fesh. The navigation also was quite tricky. So, I decided to ride with caution today, trying to avoid any mistakes and managed to catch all the waypoints. I am happy with the result today and the way my bike is performing. Now we prepare for the Marathon stage!”

      Joaquim Rodrigues (Comp No: 27): “I spent most of the stage today at the back of the pack in the dust. I developed a decent rhythm soon and passed a lot of guys but then I got lost and had to find my way back. I recovered from that to again end-up spending almost an hour in finding a tricky waypoint. Many guys lost time around that waypoint too. I think it was a hard day but the important thing is that I made it back to the end with my bike. Tomorrow will be a new start of a new day.”

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      Comment


      • #4
        re: Dakar 2019

        Santosh crashed and is unfortunately out of the rally.

        Comment


        • #5
          re: Dakar 2019

          Sherco TVS Rally Factory team makes steady progress in marathon Stage 4

          The marathon Stage 4 posed many challenges for the Sherco TVS Rally Factory team riders as they rode from the Arequipa highlands to Moquegua. The marathon stage means the riders are on their own and get no assistance from their crew. The riders began the stage on sand dunes gradually moving to the first fesh fesh surface at Dakar 2019. The riders made a good start and navigated their way through sand, fesh fesh and rocks successfully to complete stage 4. Lorenzo continues to be aggressive in his riding and finished in the top 10 stage position. He holds the 13th position (overall) at the end of stage 4.

          Stage 4 tested the navigation skills of the riders and the team rose up to the challenge. Michael Metge had a small fall but he was able to get back on his bike quickly. He improved his ranking to the 26th position today. Adrien Metge had a good start and navigated successfully to finish the stage at 21st position. His overall ranking at the end of stage 4 is 16th.

          Aravind KP continues his steady journey towards the finish line and completed stage 4 at the 64th position (overall).

          Team manager David Casteu says, “Our team navigated their way successfully through this complicated stage on tricky terrains and this reassures me. I am confident that the team will push their limits and make us proud. I am very excited to see them back at the bivouac after stage 5.”

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          • #6
            re: Dakar 2019

            A good start to the second half of the Dakar for Hero MotoSports team Rally

            The stage 6 of the Dakar Rally kicked off from the overnight bivouac of Camana with another 267km of liaison before it reached San Juan De Marcona, making a total run of 316 kms in the special stage today.

            Oriol Mena, who had also suffered a big crash during the stage 5, seemed determined to make it to the finish line today without another incident. He rode with caution today but ran out of fuel close to the finish line. His teammate, Joaquim Rodrigues, who wasn’t far behind, came to his help, and in the process, both lost some time.

            For Joaquim Rodrigues, the day started well as he rode with good rhythm and was poised for a good stage finish. Despite losing some time in helping out his teammate, he managed to climb up several positions today. Oriol Mena finished the stage at 20th position and JRod at 21st position, thus bringing another stage home for the team.

            After today’s stage, Oriol Mena stands at 13th position and JRod, climbed eight positions to break into top 20 at 20th position in the overall rankings, at the end of the stage 6.

            Leaving behind the memories of one of the most chaotic stages yet, the rally moved forward into its second half with all the competitors making their way to an overnight bivouac at Camana, making a liaison of 177kms, after the half day of rest in Arequipa. The stage 6 challenged the competitors with three quarters of the stretch made of the sandy terrain. The highlights of the stage were the four dune sectors that were designed to cause significant gaps at the finish and bring about changes in the overall rankings.

            In the present edition of the Dakar Rally, 74% of competitors managed to reach the halfway point of the rally at Arequipa —the lowest percentage since 2007. With two of the three riders still going strong, Hero MotoSports Rally finds itself in strong position as it started the second half of their Dakar campaign today.
            Tomorrow, the rally will remain based in the dusty San Juan De Marcona for a 386 km loop around its dunes, to conclude the stage 7 of rally.

            Oriol Mena (Comp No: 7):My aim was to regain my confidence after the tough last stage we had. I am happy with the way I rode today - it was nice and smooth. But towards the end of the stage, I ran out of the fuel and had to stop. My teammate Joaquim helped me out with the refueling and we made it across the finish line. So one more day gone and one day less to go.”

            Joaquim Rodrigues (Comp No: 27): “I had a good feeling today with the bike and got into a good rhythm. The stage was fast with lot of sand and was quite dangerous. Towards the end of the stage I stopped for some time to help Mena with the refueling. Lost some time there but it’s ok and I am happy to make it to finish line today.”

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            Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team makes steady progress in Stage 6 of Dakar 2019

            After a day’s rest, Stage 6 kicked off from Arequipa to San Juan De Marcona and the Sherco TVS Rally Factory team continued their steady progress. The team rode through 4 tricky sand dune sectors amidst intense heat and complex navigation. 33km into the special, the fastest rider of the team, Lorenzo Santolino suffered a major crash and had to be evacuated by the medical team. He is undergoing treatment in Lima and is out of danger.

            Indian rider Aravind KP continues to ride with grit and is clinching every opportunity to improve his ranking. He has moved to 48th position overall at the end of the Stage 6. Despite complicated navigation and issues with the roadbook, Aravind kept his cool to ride carefully and get to the end of the stage. Adrien Metge had a challenging Stage 6 facing mechanical issues but was assisted by his brother Michael to help complete the stage. Adrien secured 33rd position (overall) at the end of sixth stage, while Michael secured 36th position (overall).

            Commenting on this stage, David Casteu says, “It was a challenging day for us. Our fastest rider Lorenzo is out of the rally, which is a setback for the team. He showed great promise in the first half of the rally and was the fastest beating even experienced riders. We wish him a speedy recovery. I am confident that our other three riders – Adrien, Michael and Aravind will be able to get a good finish for the team. The crew is ready to support them in all possible ways for the challenges that lie ahead.”

            Aravind KP
            says, “I had a good start to the stage with a good rhythm on my motorcycle. But soon the roadbook machine on my motorcycle stopped working and so I had to scroll manually. This broke my rhythm and I had a few minor crashes. It was a challenging day for sure but I am glad to have this stage in the bag.”

            The seventh stage will be within San Juan De Marcona, where the riders will ride 387km, out of which 323km is special.

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            • #7
              re: Dakar 2019

              Stage 6 update - J Rod got a late 40 min penalty for missing a waypoint and got demoted to 26th position overall at end of stage 6.
              Yamaha RX 135 5 Speed - 2000 -(current)
              Yamaha R15 v1 - 2009 - 2016 ( Sold )
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              • #8
                re: Dakar 2019

                Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team picks up momentum in Stage 7 at Dakar 2019

                Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team rode on a 387 km loop around San Juan De Marcona in Stage 7. The start of the stage was challenging with lots of fesh fesh, rough tracks and an unexpected sandstorm. Thereafter the team moved to the sand dune sectors, where our riders could pick up speed and improve their overall ranking in the rally. Extreme weather and complicated navigation made this stage more challenging. The rally was halted at the first checkpoint for a while as there was low visibility due to the heavy sandstorm.

                After the exit of the team’s fastest rider Lorenzo in Stage 6, Michael Metge took the responsibility to lead the team and rode with the top 10 riders. He finished the stage at the 15th position and ranks 31st overall. Adrien Metge found himself caught between some slow riders and had to manage his way through a lot of dust and sand. He had a fall on the way, which damaged the navigation system on his bike but he was still able to finish the stage at the 27th position, taking his overall ranking to the 32nd. Indian rider Aravind KP was able to navigate his way through the dust left behind by the preceding riders and finished the stage without any complication. He finished the stage at the 46th position, his overall ranking is 47th now.

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                Commenting on this stage, team manager David Casteu says, “I am happy with performance of the team. After the unfortunate exit of Lorenzo from the rally, the other riders have quickly shuffled their roles and are riding as per the alternate strategy we had made in case of exit of any one rider. Michael is a seasoned Dakar campaigner and with 3 more stages to go, he will push himself for a Top 20 finish.”

                Aravind KP says, “The rally is getting tougher day by day and I am pushing myself to perform to the best of my ability. Stage 7 was long and difficult, the bad weather just made it trickier but I could ride as I planned. I have got into a good rhythm on the motorcycle and I hope to maintain it till the final finish line.”

                In Stage 8, the team will ride from San Juan De Marcona to Pisco, a 576km long stage with 361km special.


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                HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY IN STAGE 8 OF THE DAKAR RALLY 2019

                The competitors were greeted today with another day of fog, dust and fast riding as the stage 8 went underway from San Juan De Marcona to Pisco.

                Hero MotoSports Team Rally riders have seem to turn a leaf in their 2019 Dakar campaign, as they continued to make gains for the third consecutive stage. Unlike the first half of the Rally where they were marred by crashes, the two riders have managed to improve their rankings significantly, with Mena now in top 10 and JRod in top 20.

                Joaquim continued his strong run amidst fog and dust to bring in another good stage to his name. With a 13th place finish in Stage 8, he now stands at the 18th place in overall rankings. However, he was in pain as he arrived at the finish line, having suffered a minor injury to his back while tackling the fast stage.

                Mena also posted a flawless stage with no mistakes and continued his final push to gain some valuable time over his close competitors. He finished the stage in 12th place breaking into the top 10 in overall standings.

                Stage 8 was another fast stage that was impacted by foggy conditions in the beginning that created some impairment for the riders. Being the “Super Ica” stage, it meant that the fastest 10 competitors across the cars, quads, bikes and trucks, from yesterday’s stage started one after the other in a mixed start format. This compounded the difficulty for the riders starting behind who were forced to ride in the dust of the lead pack for a long time. The long stage with 207 km liaison followed by a 360km special section, tested the competitors with roughly about 40% of sand and dunes and 60% gravel and soft terrain.

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                The penultimate stage of the Dakar 2019, will take place in Pisco area with a mass start, for a 313 km loop of special stage. The Rally will then move to the grand finale in Lima.

                Oriol Mena (Comp No: 7): “When I started today, it looked like a difficult and dangerous stage so I decided to ride safe and steady with no crashes or mistakes. The Stage terrain was completely damaged due to the previous stage tracks and mixed start. So I focused on my rhythm and rode more like an endure race with good speed and flow. I am really happy to be across the finish line today and now only 2 more days to go!”

                Joaquim Rodrigues (Comp No: 27): “Today was a really difficult with lot of fog in the mountain and lot of fesh-fesh with rocks making it extremely dangerous to push ahead. I encountered dangerous large hole in the track, which wasn’t mentioned in the road-book. I hit the hole really hard and hurt my back. I am a little bit in pain but happy to finish the line and we see how it goes tomorrow.”

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                Strong show by Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team riders in Stage 8

                Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team conquered Stage 8 with a strong performance by all riders despite multiple challenges. The team had to find their way through dense fog at the start point wherein the visibility dropped to as low as 5 metres. This was just the beginning of an eventful day for the team as after the fog, they had to battle against the dust left behind by the cars and trucks. The cars and trucks had opened the race ahead of the bikes in Stage 8. This was the longest special stage of 360 km in this edition of Dakar.

                Michael Metge was at his best despite difficult weather conditions and finished the stage in the 10th position. Michael picked up his pace once he hit the sand dunes and his overall ranking is now at 24th. Adrien finished Stage 8 in 14th position despite a minor wrist injury. His strong show has taken him to the 26th position (overall). Aravind KP continues to impress with his consistency and finished the stage in the 39th position (overall). He battled with low visibility initially but was able to ride smoothly post the refuelling point into the dunes.

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                Commenting on this stage, Michael Metge says, “It was a challenging stage with the bad weather and order of vehicles at the start point. As the rally moves closer to the end, I feel the urge to make up for the time lost in the initial stages and record my best timings once we reach Lima at the end of the rally.”

                Aravind KP says, “The low visibility at the start was a concern for me and I didn’t take any chances. I really enjoyed my ride once I hit the dunes and managed to improve my rankings. It was a very long stage and I am happy to have completed it.”

                The team will ride through a loop in Pisco in the next stage, which is also the penultimate stage for Dakar 2019.

                Comment


                • #9
                  re: Dakar 2019

                  HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY POSTS ANOTHER STRONG STAGE FINSIH

                  With just one more day to go for the completion of the 41st edition of the Dakar Rally, Hero MotoSports Team Rally is well poised to finish their third Dakar in a commendable position. Both Oriol Mena and Joaquim Rodrigues kept their spirits up and finished the penultimate stage of the Rally without any incidents. Mena was in good form again and finished the stage 9 on 11th position. This allows him to move a notch above to 9th position in the overall rankings.

                  Joaquim Rodrigues fought off the severe back pain from the previous stage and a crash in the current stage to finish at the 19th position. JRod is now placed at 17th position in the overall rankings. Stage 9 witnessed a mass start in waves of 10 riders each. Offering a run of 313 kilometers in the special stage, it presented the competitors a 50-50 mix of the dunes and soft gravel laden terrain, a recipe for yet another fast stage.

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                  The last stage will be the final test for all the competitors with a loop of Pisco in 112 kilometers special stage, before moving to Lima for the celebrations.

                  Oriol Mena (Comp No: 7):
                  I am happy with my stage today. It was a mass start and there were all kinds of things happening around me, like guys going in wrong directions, losing way points, engines breaking and so on. So I decided to shut myself off and do my own race with my own rhythm and flow. One more day in the book, and only one day to Lima.

                  Joaquim Rodrigues (Comp No: 27): Hard day today, I had a crash and damaged my bike a little bit. My back is still sore from yesterday so I decided to just take it easy and focus on reaching the finish line safely. So despite the difficulties we are across the finish line today with only one more day to go.

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                  Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team’s Michael Metge wins Stage 9 at Dakar 2019

                  It was quite a memorable day for the Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team as their top rider Michael Metge won the penultimate stage of Dakar 2019. Michael dominated the stage today ahead of all the top 10 riders as he pushed himself right from the start. The team dedicates this stage win to teammate Lorenzo Santolino, who had to retire due to a crash in Stage 6. Michael’s overall ranking is now at 22nd and he intends to finish Dakar with another dominating performance. The stage saw a mass start in waves of 10 like the first marathon stage. The riders had to ride through another loop in Pisco, full of tricky sand dunes, the ones that had resulted many key riders to quit the rally in Stage 2.

                  Teammate and brother Adrien Metge was more cautious in his approach due to physical strain and he finished at 20th position. He is right behind Michael in the overall rankings at 23rd. India’s Aravind KP got off to a blazing start taking the lead for the first 190 kilometres. KP faced bike issues in the middle of the stage but thanks to some help, he was able to complete the stage. His overall ranking stays at 39th position.

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                  Commenting on the stage win, Michael Metge says, “It's an unbelievable feeling to win a stage at Dakar. The stage was challenging as there was lots of dunes and fesh-fesh. I started in the second line at the wave start and I pushed all the way through the stage. Soon I caught up with the first riders and I went past the leader quite quickly. Full credit to the team mechanics for preparing my bike, which has been performing beautifully in the sand dunes. I dedicate this win to my wife and 2 children, who are my pillars of support.”

                  Aravind KP says, “It was a mixed day for me but that’s what Dakar is about. I started really well taking the lead in the mass start. But things changed halfway, when my bike had some issues. These were tense moments as I wanted to complete the stage at any cost. Thank god for the local help who assisted me in restarting the bike and finish the stage. This is the spirit of Dakar and I am lucky to have experienced it.”

                  The team will ride back from Pisco to Lima in Stage 10, which will be a 358 kilometres journey.

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                  • #10
                    re: Dakar 2019

                    What an achievement for the Sherco TVS rally team to win a stage in what is their 3rd or 4th year of participation. The Hero team is not doing bad either with one rider already in the top 10 , hat's off to both the teams .
                    Yamaha RX 135 5 Speed - 2000 -(current)
                    Yamaha R15 v1 - 2009 - 2016 ( Sold )
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                    • #11
                      re: Dakar 2019

                      HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY SECURES ITS SECOND TOP 10 FINISH AT THE DAKAR RALLY

                      A bright and sunny morning greeted the competitors as the final stage of the Dakar Rally 2019 began in the Pisco region.

                      For Hero MotoSports Team Rally, it marked a glorious day as the team secured its second back-to-back Top 10 finish at the Dakar Rally. The Team also successfully achieved its third successful finish at the Rally, with its riders arriving at the finish line in all the three years that it has participated at the Dakar.

                      The final stage was all about bringing the bike home safely across the finish line at Pisco, which was achieved expertly by both Joaquim Rodrigues and Oriol Mena as they finished the stage in 12th and 17th positions respectively. With the final stage results in, Mena is placed at the 9th position and JRod at 17th position in the overall standings of the Dakar 2019, bringing in a Top 10 and a Top 20 finish for the Team in the toughest rally race on the planet.

                      It was a superlative show put on by Spaniard Oriol Mena throughout the Dakar 2019. His sporting acumen and superb temperament was at display once again as he got through the stages in a near flawless fashion while some of the more experienced and exalted peers faltered now and then. With this performance Mena is beginning to improve his reputation from being the “Best Rookie of the Dakar” last year to being one of the “Heroes of the Dakar” this year.

                      On the other hand, Joaquim Rodrigues ensured that his comeback, after the crash last year, was a successful one. He put on a gritty show, fighting his old injuries and battling the new challenges, not once bowing down or giving up. His performance at the Dakar this year reinforces his status as a force to reckon with in the near future.

                      On the technical front, the bikes performed with absolute reliability, giving the riders supreme confidence and an extra edge over some of the other more experienced factory teams.

                      The short 112km final stage offered one concluding round on the dunes of Pisco to the competitors. The dune-heavy 112 km special kept the leaders on their toes, while providing others a perfect terrain for aggressive riding and an opportunity to move up the general classification.

                      The Dakar Rally came to a final halt in the seaside district of Magdalena in Lima for the triumphal parade and celebrations that marked the end of what has been one of the toughest editions of the Dakar Rally yet.

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                      Oriol Mena (Comp No: 7): “What a Dakar this has been. Lots of ups and downs, even the very last stage was quite tough. I am very happy with my performance overall and happy to bring in another Dakar for Hero MotoSports Team Rally. I think it was a better Dakar for me this time as we went through some amazing stages and terrains. I’m really happy that I could finish in the top 10 again. The Team and my bike have supported me throughout and I want to thank all of them from my heart.”

                      Joaquim Rodrigues (Comp No: 27):This is an emotional moment for me. I wanted to come here and finish, something I could not do last year. I started this Dakar and finished it at the same special where I crashed last year. Isn’t that something! I am so relieved to finish this time and win this battle. I want to thank my Team as they always stayed behind me, even when I was at my lowest and there were chances that I may be resigned to a wheelchair. Now I will go home and get surgery done on my back and then start my recovery again to get into the shape where I was before the crash. It’s a long process but I am very motivated now to get through this for my family, my team and my supporters.”

                      Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally:We are very happy with our performance in this Dakar. We all knew it would be a tough Dakar, but it turned out to be a few notches above our expectations. This was also probably the most competitive Dakar we have seen in recent times. The skill levels of teams and riders are going up every year and the competition is quite tough amongst the top 20-30 riders. Considering all this, our result is very good as both our riders did extremely well to come out in top 10 and top 20 standings. It was overall a much better Dakar for us as we committed fewer navigation mistakes, had no issues with the bike and put up a more solid performance in general.

                      Oriol Mena has been great this year and another top 10 finish at the Dakar speaks volumes of his skills and capabilities. Joaquim was making a comeback this year, and we are really elated to see him finish the Dakar as well. His spirited show, battling the back injury, and the tough stages, inspired us all to race our own limits every day. Santosh, unfortunately, could not finish this Dakar, but we are quite relieved to know that his injuries are not major and we should see him back in action soon. Thanks to all our families, friends and supporters for all their wishes and being with us all through our journey.”

                      Dr. Markus Braunsperger, CTO, Hero MotoCorp Ltd. and Head of Hero MotoSports:My congratulations to the entire team in this superlative effort and for putting India and Hero MotoCorp on the high pedestal in the world of rally sport once again. This result is a testimony to the hard work the team has been putting in. There has been improvement in the bike and rider trainings over the last couple of years and everyone’s alignment towards a shared goal, have resulted in an impressive finish.

                      For now, we relish these results and start the preparation for our next season with an aim to improve our performance benchmarks in all aspects of the sport and products. MotoSports for us is a platform to test high performance vehicles in the toughest conditions available. We are already seeing the first results of this in the XPulse that shares our learning and DNA from motorsport. More to come.”



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                      Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team’s Aravind KP conquers Dakar 2019

                      Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team’s Aravind KP has successfully completed the 2019 edition of Dakar making him the only Indian to finish the gruesome rally at 37th position. This is KP’s third appearance at Dakar and this successful attempt to finish the rally has brought glory to the team and the country. This edition of Dakar has been touted as one of the toughest in the history of the rally and only 55% of the bikes completed the gruesome rally this year. The 11-day rally saw riders battle with fesh fesh, sand dunes, beach and rocks with complex navigation at every stage.

                      After a steady start in the early stages, Aravind KP picked up his pace in the second half of the rally and climbed up the rankings. Despite a few crashes during the intermediate stages, he fought hard and got to the finish line. KP faced a tricky situation in the penultimate stage of Dakar, when his bike broke down in the sand dunes. He sought help from some spectators and reached the finish line defying all odds.

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                      Commenting on his achievement, Aravind KP says, “The feeling of finishing Dakar is yet to sink in fully as I have been dreaming and waiting for this moment for 3 years now. It’s difficult to express my feelings at the moment but I am overjoyed to be at the finish line. With multiple injuries in the run up to Dakar, I always knew I had to push myself beyond the comfort zone to finish the rally. The route this year was extremely challenging but I was ready to fight it out and finish one stage at a time. I would like to thank my team especially my mechanic Prakasham for ensuring my motorcycle was in the best shape at the beginning of every stage. I am also grateful to my mentors at TVS Racing & Sherco for believing in my dream and supporting me all along. Dreams do come true if you truly believe in them. I hope my achievement inspires young Indian riders to chase their Dakar dreams and work hard to put India on the world motorsport map.”

                      KP’s teammates - Michael Metge and Adrien Metge finished the rally at the 25th and 22nd positions respectively. Michael had a good start at the rally but had a setback on the second day due to fuel outage. He picked up pace in the next stages and broke into top 15 in the third stage. His grit became intense with each passing stage and he won the ninth stage against all lead riders. Adrien Metge strived hard and picked up pace in the first two stages but an unfortunate fall in third stage left him with a sore wrist. His bike fell in the seventh stage and the navigation system got damaged but he continued his journey to finish the rally. Lorenzo Santolino, rookie at Dakar was the fastest rider of the team this year and broke into top 10 in the third stage. Unfortunately, he had to exit the rally in the sixth stage due to a heavy crash.

                      B. Selvaraj, Team Manager, TVS Racing said, “I would like to congratulate all the racers and the team for their outstanding performance at the rally this year. With each passing day at the rally, the level of difficulty shot up manifold and so did our determination. Aravind KP is a talented rider and has a razor sharp focus on his goal and that’s precisely the reason why we chose him to represent us at Dakar. At TVS Racing, we spend a lot of time with the racers to identify their potential and strive to give them every opportunity to prove their mettle. We believe success doesn’t come to anyone overnight, it is an ongoing journey and one might have to overcome many obstacles before achieving glory. It is a red letter day in the history of TVS Racing and we are honoured to be a part of this success story.”

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