When the 29th Dakar 2007 gets underway on Saturday in Lisbon, eight KTM factory team riders make an impressive line-up, including the absolute favourites for the race that many see as the ultimate test of man and machine. Marc Coma (Repsol KTM, Spain) is the title holder after defeating his close rival Cyril Despres (Gauloises KTM, France) when Cyril, winner in 2005, broke a collarbone last year. Coma’s team-mates Giovanni Sala and Jordi Viladoms make up the Repsol line-up while Isidre Esteve Pujol, Frans Verhoeven and David Casteu race with Gauloisses KTM. American Chris Blais, fourth last year races alone for Red Bull KTM of the USA.
There can be perhaps no better confirmation of KTM’s status as the world’s leading producer of offroad machines than a quick look at the starting list for Dakar 2007 — the ultimate rally and the ultimate adventure. Of the 250 motorcycles competing in 2007, 128 riders will be on the hallmark orange machines made in Austria.