From 2001 until 2019, KTM embarked on an incredible run of 18 consecutive Dakar wins, spanning the legendary event’s African and South American eras. But since the rally-raid moved to Saudi Arabia in 2020, Honda has taken two wins from two.
These defeats have prompted a change of approach from KTM, which goes into the 2022 Dakar with a three-man factory line-up comprising Toby Price, Mathias Walkner and Kevin Benavides, who defected from Honda following his 2021 victory.
“The idea was that we build a bike that is easier to handle,” 2018 Dakar champion Walkner told Motorsport.com. “The bike should also be easier to ride over stony, rough gravel tracks and over dunes. Nevertheless, nothing should be lost in terms of stability.
“There are new conditions in Saudi Arabia and we have had a harder time than we had in South America. Honda seems to cope with it better.”
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