The F5 Bivouac (rallye raid news) and W2RC - World cross country rally championship

Is Manual this year on a Lamaha?

CDP from a Redbull story:

"If this turns out to be my last contract to ride on two wheels at the Dakar then I want to make sure that I go out in the right way and stay competitive. . . .

"I’ve worked hard to become fluent in English and Spanish but joining Yahama Motor France really feels like a homecoming. In the past I have always worked in very multi-national teams but now I’ve joined a team that is predominantly French. It will be interesting to see what impact the ability to explain exactly what I am after in my own language will have on the development and set up of the bike."

Emirates in flight entertainment, Dakar 2013 and Dream Racer both on Motorsport

Tell him to look me up when he gets to California if he wants to visit up here !

Is that aimed at Sam?

Didn't get to speak with him before he flew as I was away and he was in Italy last week.

He will be on Facebook and twitter so contactable whilst he is there, but I'm sure there will be a few posts on the adventures

No, as far as I understand this is a personal adventure/training as a guest of Johnny/JCR, nothing to do with the HRC programme

Is there such thing?

Nothing to do with it, or a programme?

Appears I was off with my Despres switching to 4 wheels prediction. I remember someone way back predicting a move to Yamaha. Well done.

Yep. Just made sense.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=20953992#post20953992

Not that It wouldnt have surprised me if he had gone elsewhere with a better deal. But looking at the options I can't see why it didn't sound like the best deal. I don't think he was 'pushed' out of KTM either, but there are new young guns coming up. From a team perspective, if the King never gives up his crown, the legacy never gets to try it's hand at rulership...

205?

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/U88zABwxMag" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

cant be .. it only has 1500 views... Awesome edit! Got my heart pumping

can anyone here (who has some first hand experience) compare and contrast the motor used in the 450RR to the motor used in the 2013/14 450 xc-f? i've been told the 450 sx-f motor was the basis of development for the 450 RR by the local KTM regional representative. But, I don't think that's right?

I'm looking at buying a 450 XC-f as the basis for a desert race / rally bike. I know the xc-f has the sx-f engine, so my question is how close is this motor to the one being used/tested/raced in the Dakar (and other similarly grueling) race(s).

Thanks in advance for your input.

john

I take my hat off to you John. By including the bit about "first hand experience" you have cut off 99.5% of the responses you were going get.
I'll dig out some details for you, but rest assured there are a fair few differences between a 450 Rally motor and a SX-f motor. I have seen both close-up and personal, including the insides, but even better I know someone that has grafted a 450 Rally motor into an XC-f frame. (Actually it's for sale at the moment and I'll find a link to it for you). There are many considerations that the average punter that doesn't have the "hands on experience" wouldn't even think of.
Cheers
JayBo

You're not trying to sell my bike now, are you?

Wondered if I'd get a bite

You stayed up all night to see if I'd bite?

JayBo,

thanks for the reply. i look forward to your insightful explanation.... wondering what the KTM platform is IF one can't afford the factory 450RR?.....