For many the daunting prospect of competing in the Dakar Rally is one that will never be realised. A race of mechanical, physical and mental endurance it is the toughest race on earth. Those that see through the 10,000km route from start to finish are considered kings among ordinary men while those who tame the beast and win reach god like status. KTM’s Marc Coma is one such rider that continues to rewrite the record books. 2011 not only marked a hat-trick of wins for the Spaniard, it also became the tenth consecutive victory for Austrian manufacture but more importantly the first victory for the revolutionary 450 Rally bike…

Winning Combo: Both Marc Coma and KTM are tough to beat in the Dakar

Was there added pressure to enter the Dakar not only as a favourite for top honours but to do so on a new bike, the KTM 450 Rally? When you rode off the start line in Buenos Aires, did you feel ready to go the distance?

When you compete in a race like the Dakar you always have some nerves but over the years I’ve learned to control these feelings. Regardless of bike, I always want to win, that is pressure I put on myself. Being part of a factory team like KTM there will be an expectation to win but that “pressure” is part of the job. We had worked extremely hard during the off-season leaving nothing to chance. Behind the scenes we spent a lot of time testing performance and reliability so when we arrived in Buenos Aires I knew we had done so with the best bike possible.

How difficult was it to develop this bike, were you constantly comparing it to what you knew in the 690 Rally?

We spent a lot of time testing and developing the bike to prepare it for a race like Dakar. The process wasn’t particularly difficult but time consuming. We started with the motocross 450 SX-f engine which already had excellent performance but was not suited to the demands of rally racing. To improve the reliability necessary to race for 10,000km the RPM’s were reduced and the engine internals strengthened. After that it was important to reach a good suspension setting to suit the engine characteristics.

Initially I found myself comparing it to my 690 Rally. This was a bike I had spent a lot of time developing with KTM. I knew it very well and early on I would compare the new 450 Rally to it trying to find more power but not now. The 450 Rally is a different feeling. It is more agile, almost like enduro. It is possible to carry more speed and ride different lines in places where we could not with the 690 Rally. It is faster in the technical places and at times can be easier crossing dunes but is slower on the faster roadwork sections.

The “spirit” of the Dakar has always been about big bore motors. Were you originally in favour of reducing the engine capacity from 690cc to 450cc?

I think this change has been coming for some time and is just an evolution within the sport. When I first started rally racing we raced 990cc twins. This was then reduced to 690cc mono cylinders that I helped develop, and now we have the 450 Rally. Overall it is a good option, it opens the sport up to more factories to compete, which will be great for competition and exposure. I feel riding a 450 will also be easier both financially and physically for amateurs.

Ready to Race: KTM prepare to win

There is no certainty with the Dakar. It is both physically and mentally exhausting. How then do you prepare for such a challenge?

Without doubt the Dakar is the hardest race in the world. If you are not physically prepared for it then you will mentally struggle to survive. You must ensure you are in the best condition possible to compete that comes not only from training but also from experience. It’s taken me many years of competition to reach a level where the two elements are balanced.

For the majority of us who will never get to experience riding the Dakar, what is it like to race across the vast desert plains and sand dunes we see on television?

I still vividly remember my first time when I reached the true rally stages of the Dakar. It is such a daunting and powerful environment to be in. You feel so small and vulnerable surrounded by mountains of sand with no civilisation in sight. At first it was scary but over time I’ve learned to love it and in the same way a motocross rider feels comfortable on the track, being in the sand dunes has become a second home for me.

Now that the race has settled into South America, how are you finding the challenge of that continent compared to the original road to Dakar in Africa?

The challenge of the Dakar Rally will always be long and tough no matter where it is. When we raced in Africa, we were faced with the challenge of the Sahara Desert – the biggest in the world and it was always unpredictable to race on. Now we have the Atacama Desert in Chile, it’s high altitude and salt basins present different challenges but are equally difficult.

Coma will lead everyone into the desert on January 1st

Was there a pivotal point in the race where you began to feel that you could win the race?

I never try to feel like that. The Dakar is such a difficult and tricky race that nothing is ever certain, you must focus solely on each day and take it as it comes. Each year the navigation becomes increasingly more difficult as organisers push us further and further. As a rider, you are the first to open the stage, there are no tracks to follow and therefore if you relax and lose concentration you could make mistakes that may cost you the rally.

How special was this win, it was not only the first 450cc victory but also KTM’s tenth consecutive Dakar win?

All wins are special. Obviously my first victory will be the most treasured as it marked my breakthrough in the sport. Then my second victory came in the first year that we raced in South America and now to win this year has marked another victory for the record books. It was important for KTM to get this win and I am happy to have been part of that, but I want to win many more! It has taken me many years to reach the level I’m at. I’ve worked very hard in my preparation, I am now at my peak and at 34 years of age I feel that it is now my time to win as much as I can!

As part of our countdown to Christmas 2011, we decided to stop in with our site sponsors and review some of the must have, most wanted motocross-related stocking fillers. It’s hard enough to find the ideal gift for the loved one in your life that’s obsessed about dirt bikes but hopefully with these ideas we’ll be able to make it that little bit easier.

Stocking Fillers #09 – Alpinestar Tech 4S Kids

Alpinestar Tech 4S, available Allmoto.ie

It’s important to wear the best protection you can afford when out on your bike and even more important for your future world champs to be safe. Alpinestar are and have always been at the forefront of foot protection and with these Tech 4S you’ll be safe in the knowledge you’ve giving your child one of the best boots there is. The Alpinestar Tech 4S offers plenty of protection with lots of ankle and shin reinforcements to safe guard their feet in the ruts. They look good, feel comfortable and protect – job done! Available Allmoto.ie

Price: €115.00

Visit: http://www.allmoto-online.com/proddetail.php?prod=alpinestars-tech-4s-kids-motocross-boots

Stocking Filler #08 – Polisport Plastic Kits

Plastic fantastic... VMX.ie stock Polisports range of plastics

Okay so it might be almost Christmas but it’s also the middle of the off season, and usually that means it’s time for a clean up. Right now it’s too muddy to put in some laps on your pride and joy so now’s the right time to treat her to a fresh set of skin! Polisports plastics have got an all-in-one kit ready to to the job for whatever ever bike you ride. The kit comes complete with side panels, rad scoops, front number plate and both front and rear fenders all matched to the manufactures OEM colours. Perfect if you plan on keeping your bike for another season and ideal if you need a new canvas to stick your shiny new graphics kit to. And at €89.35 we think they’re a bargain too. Available through VMX.ie

Price: €89.35

Visit: http://www.vmx.ie/home.php?cat=386

Stockin Filler #07 - UFO Alu Handguards (Pro-Taper)

If you’re a fan or riding through the trees, sooner or later your’re going to hit the bark and when you do you’ll wish you wore protection! Hand guards come in all shapes of sizes but UFO are one of the most sturdiest sets you can buy. The wrap-round system bolts onto your handle bars protecting not only your fingers and levers but throttle as well. They’re big, they’re bold and they don’t bend. With the UFO Alu hand guards you’ll never be afraid of bustin’ some bark again. Available through Allmoto.ie

Price: €75.00

Visit: http://www.allmoto-online.com/proddetail.php?prod=ufo-alu-handguards-pro-taper

Stocking Filler #06 – TM Retro Hoody

TM Retro Hoody - Wear it... look cool!

Fact is TM design the best looking bikes out on track, so it should come as no surprise that their latest line of clothing oozes classic Italian styling. But the TM Retro Hoody isn’t just a hoody to wear at the races, it’s one for all occasions, one that’s cool to be seen in among Joe Public – hi-street styling with a bit of moto charm. Perfect we thinks! Available now at CCM Racing

Price: €60.00

Visit: http://www.ccmracing.com/products.php?id=1291&s_id=49&ss_id=0

Stocking Filler #05 – PMP Motorsports Race Package

Race Package Deal:

In need of a tune up? Fancy giving your pride and joy a full factory service? Wether your a two or four stroke lover PMP has got the perfect race package for you:

Here’s what you get for your money:

Race engine

Four stroke
This involves removing the engine from the frame, removing the head, gas flowing the head, cleaning and checking the condition of the valves, removal of the piston, polishing the underside for less drag, complete re-assembly of the head re-setting the valve clearances to race specifications and reassembly of the engine into the frame
Two Stroke
This involves removing top end of engine, polishing and matching of the ports in the cylinder, setting the port timing to the optimum available, polishing of the head removing all blemishes and faults from standard, power-valve checked and adjusted as required, engine re-assembly and bike jetted to your requirements

Suspension Re-valve (Springs if needed extra €200)
This involves complete disassembly, cleaning and inspection of your suspension components replacing any parts which may be worn or damaged. Then with the information provided by you the rider, the forks and shock get rebuilt with the new improved setting and new seals fitted to the forks. The mobile vacuum pump ensures the rear shock is bled properly as any air within the body can alter the performance greatly.

Price: €500.00 (normally €620.00)

Gift Vouchers Available
Contact Phil:
Tel: 0044 78 03148044
email: phillipmclaughlinperformance@gmail.com

Stocking Filler #04 – KTM OGIO Travel Bag 9800

KTM OGIO Travelbag 9800 - fits all your kit and the kitchen sink!

Okay, so everyone needs a kit bag for all their riding kit. Without one, your shiny new gear will end up in a pile on the floor of your van and if your van’s anything like mine that probably means a floor covered in cruddy mud, oil and petrol stains… that aint too good is it? OGIO are the world leader in kit bags and travel bags. The majority of Pro’s use them to travel all across the world so the fact is that their about as rugged as they come! The KTM OGIO Travel Bag 9800 is perfect for fitting in all your riding kit including your helmet, boots and body armor, neck brace and with its robust orange off road wheels is perfect for moving about when fully loaded. Available now at VMX.ie

Price: €230.00

Visit: http://www.vmx.ie/

Stocking Filler #03  - Go Pro HD Hero 960p

Be Spielberg for the day with Go Pro HD Hero 960p

How many times have you been out on your bike and cleared a huge rock step, railed a sandy berm to within an inch of its life or held it flat through a forestry trail? And how often have you done this with no one there to witness it? With no proof it never happened and if it never happened you can’t claim any bragging rights from you mates! Well now you can because GoPro (the world leading onboard camera people) who are making it their lifetime priority to make this possible have just recently launched their latest model of camera: the Go Pro HD Hero 960p. Basically it’s their clearest, fastest and best camera yet and coming complete with the standard mounting kit is easy to fit, getting you out on the track faster. The good people at All Moto have these in stock right now so give them a call and get one of this year’s must have moto-related Christmas presents!

Price: €245.00

Available at All Moto

Visit: http://www.allmoto-online.com/proddetail.php?prod=GP1005

Stocking Filler #02 – Enduro Illustrated

Enduro Illustrated #04... All you need to know about the 2011 EWC in a book

They say you should buy at least one book for Christmas so why not Enduro Illustrated. Okay, so it’s not so much a book but as more of a high-quality glossy coffee table magazine, Enduro Illustrated covers an in-depth review of the 2011 Enduro World Championship season. With it’s 116-pages covering all the highs, lows, ins and outs, ups and downs of the 2011 championship, Enduro Illustrated also gets up close and personal with all three senior world champions along with those who came up short of snatching the king’s crown. Packed with amazing photography and in depth editorial analysis, the big, glossy, high-quality, photo annual is again a magazine enduro fans won’t want to miss…

Price: €9.50 plus post and packaging

To Order Visit: www.enduro-illustrated.com

Stocking Filler #01 – Fox V1 Helmet

2012 Fox V1 Helmet

Kicking off our daily dose of stocking fillers is the 2012 edition Fox V1 helmet. As ever Fox tick all the boxes when it comes to looks and styling and with the eagerly priced Fox V1 this trait continues. But the V1 is more than just cosmeticially pleasing as this model with it’s injection molded polycarbonate shell, vent channels to whisk away the mid moto battle sweat and removable washable padding, the Fox V1 will not only make you look cool but also keep you safe.

Price: €135.00

Available at CCM Racing

Visit: http://www.ccmracing.com/products.php?id=1211&s_id=9&ss_id=29

Another evening of top draw racing took place inside the Atlas Arena, Lodz, Poland for the second round of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship. Again it was home hero Taddy Blazusiak that swept the boards with a maximum three wins. Britain’s Jonny Walker – KTM claimed his first ever World Championship podium with second beating Joakim Ljunggren into third.

Here’s what they had to say for themselves:

Taddy Blazusiak (1st): ‘This has been one of the best events ever for me. Getting to race in front of my home crowd is something I’ve been looking forward to all year and to be able to win all three finals and extend my lead in the championship is just amazing. I knew that I would get a lot of support here, but I wasn’t ready for the reaction of the crowd when I first rode into the arena – I have to say I was a little bit emotional. The event has been amazing. The organising team really did a fantastic job, and the event was more than worthy of being a round of the SuperEnduro World Championship.’

‘In the first race I made a small mistake and Jonny Walker got close to me for a few laps but by the end of the race I had a pretty decent lead so I was happy with the way that race went. The second race was the reversed start order, which I knew would make things tricky. But I went for a few ballsy passes on the first lap, which paid off, and I hit the front on lap two. Once I was in the lead I settled down a bit and the second half of the race went really well. The third final was perfect. I got the holeshot and lead from start to finish to make it a perfect night. It really has been an amazing event, and the perfect way for me to bring the year to an end.’

Jonny Walker (2nd): ‘I’m overjoyed at how this championship is turning out. I learned a lot from my results in Genoa and came here trying to ride a lot smoother. I think by doing that it really helped my confidence with the track and in turn I was able to push a lot harder. To finish second overall tonight is incredible – hopefully with more time to prepare for the final round of the championship in Barcelona I finish on the podium and end this series on a high.’

Joakim Ljunggren (3rd): ‘I think third was the best result possible for me tonight. I was not my normal self early on in the night and was fighting off some arm pump issues during the first final. It held me back as I wasn’t able to ride relaxed on the bike. Once I settled in I began to find my rhythm again and my results improved. I had some great battles tonight with Jonny Walker and Ivan Cervantes and it was fun to be able to race like that with them. Jonny was very strong tonight and I know that I must up my game in order to finish second overall again in this championship. With my result in Poland it’s really tightened things up in the race for second overall and unfortunately I’m now two points behind Jonny in third. But we’ve got eight weeks to prepare for the final race in Barcelona so I’m very motivated to fight as hard as I can to end the season on a high.’

Joakim recovers from a sluggish start to end the night third

Xavier Galindo (4th): ‘Fourth overall tonight has been another strong result for me. Although it’s the same result as what I had in Italy, I feel tonight has been a better race for me. I felt very comfortable on the bike tonight and was able to push hard throughout each race. In race two I got a perfect start and was able to pass my teammate Mike Hartman and lead the race for three laps before dropping back to third. Leading the race was an incredible feeling and I’m confident I have the ability to finish on the podium at my home race in Barcelona.’

Ivan Cervantes (5th): ‘I feel I really stepped up my riding tonight compared to the first round in Italy. Up until the last SuperEnduro final I was on target for a podium. Joakim and myself were pushing hard but coming into the final corner of the third lap I touched his rear wheel and crashed. After that it sort of fell apart as I crashed again by just pushing too hard to come back through the pack. I can’t complain though, it’s been a good night for me and it gives me a lot of confidence entering the final round at my home town in Barcelona. I’m hopeful for a podium there’

Alex Salvini (6th): ‘It was a tough night out there. Again I felt my speed was good and I proved that with the fastest lap in practice but it’s during the race I seem to struggle. My starts were bad and it always left me with a lot of work trying to recover. With a clear lap I can run some of the fastest lap time but I’m finding it hard to do it in traffic. It’s still only my second time racing SuperEnduro so I’ve got more to learn but hopefully the final round in Barcelona will bring better luck.’

Poland was a great success

Images: FIM/ J. Edmunds

With immediate effect, HTM Offroad are pleased to announce that they have now become an official dealer of Husqvarna offroad competition motorcycles. By expanding their ever growing range of motocrcycles, HTM Offroad are now stocking the full range of Husqvarna’s enduro, motocross and trail models along with their current range of Husaberg, Gas Gas and Beta off road motorcycles. This is a move sure to ignite the heart of many Husqvarna lovers keen to own a piece of the cutting edge Italian styling the brand is known for.

Phil Caldwell: “We’re delighted to have now become an official dealer of Husqvarna motorcycles. By adding this manufacture to our current range of motorcycles will ensure the growth of HTM Offroad and with many future developments coming within the Husqvarna brand it is sure to be an exciting time for 2012 and beyond.”

For further information contact HTM Offroad on: +44 (0)2825881666 or email: info@htmoffroad.com

Husqvarna's world championship winning TE250

Suzuki GB has announced an all-new team for the 2012 British Motocross and Supercross Championships.

The TAS Racing-operated squad has signed 2009 British Champion Stephen Sword and Irishman Stuart Edmonds to race the latest RM-Z450 and RM-Z250 machinery under the Tyco Suzuki banner.

Team Manager Adam Lyons said: “Naturally we’re delighted to announce our final plans for 2012. Stephen was confirmed as our MX1 rider a while back, but to complete the line-up with Stuart in MX2 and confirm our new title sponsor at the same time is great news.

TAS Suzuki recieves TYCO backing for 2012

“In Stuart we have a young, keen, but experienced rider who is already familiar with the RM-Z250 and I am sure will be challenging up at the front. Stephen is a class-act who needs no introduction and gives us a very strong team for our second year back in the sport.”

The team riders continue winter testing ready for the first competitive action in the New Year in the remaining rounds of the British Supercross Championship, before beginning their campaigns in the Maxxis British Motocross Championship and the Red Bull Pro Nationals series.

Christmas comes early to Ireland as VMX.ie see a massive price drop on their 2012 KTM 4-stroke motocross range. Yes, that’s right the 250 SX-f, 350 SX-f and the 450 SX-f are up to €600 cheaper for a limited time only, with all three models coming with an added bonus of a six-month warranty.

KTM 250 SX-f Electric Start Was €5894 + VAT Retail Now €5340 + VAT

KTM 350 SX-f Was €6080 + VAT Retail Now €5550 + VAT

KTM 450 SX-f Was €6250 + VAT Retail Now €5650 + VAT

For more details on these championship winning machines contact Graeme on 0402 32843 or visit http://www.vmx.ie/

Let rip like Roczen on KTM's 250 SX-f in 2012...