TVS Racing to make Dakar debut
The news we were all waiting for is finally here. As OVERDRIVE already reported, TVS Racing will collaborate with French off-road motorcycle manufacturer, Sherco for the 2015 Dakar Rally. The new team will be called Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team.
Head of TVS Racing, Arvind Pangaonkar, stated that the collaborative effort would see TVS Racing engineers work with Sherco technicians at the 2015 event. The team will field two motorcycles at the Dakar 2015. The motorcycles, dubbed the RTR 450, are claimed to be more competitive, lightweight, and equipped with a 450cc engine that has been developed and manufactured by Sherco in association with TVS Racing.
More than the RTR 450's engine performance, TVS and Sherco engineers will be focusing on good suspension, protection for radiator, headlights, GPS and development of the fuel tank. The motorcycle will be running motocross tyres with special tubes that cannot get punctured. 5o such tyres will be carried to the 2015 Dakar Rally. All tests on the RTR 450 ahead of the rally will be carried out in France.
Piloting the two motorcycles at the Dakar will be French riders Fabien Planet and Alain Dulcos. The two riders have years of experience in enduro racing and also have Dakar experience under their belt.
The reason TVS Racing has chosen to partner with Sherco is that the French motorcycle maker has tremendous experience at the Dakar which will make TVS' Dakar debut smooth and hopefully successful too.