http://www.gizmag.com/go/6754/
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"the Austrian brand filled the first four spots and 23 of the first 30 finishers"
That is impressive!
My name is Moo... and I am a KTM believer....
But I do have questions... Did any other manufacturer do a factory supported team? Yamaha used to dominate the Dakar - no longer support a team? BMW dominated for a while - no longer support a team? Honda throws a lot of money at the Baja... and consistently win... or make that dominate... but no Honda team at the Dakar? Suzuki created the DR-Big years ago and was a Dakar competitor... anyone see a single Suzuki at this year's race?
Without the large number of engine and transmission replacements this year how would the KTMs have done? At one point early on the commentators noted that the transmission was KTM's Achilles heel in this year's race.
Maybe a better indicator would be to compare only the Privateers and see how their bikes fared?
Of course if I was talented enough to ride this event I would want the same bike as the majority of competitors are riding... easier to cannibalize for parts if needed... As in Estevez' rebuild on day 13 with Coma's bike - Estevez' bike was nearly a scrap heap!!!
In the production bikes - up to 450cc it was mostly Honda - 5 out of 9 with 2 KTMs and 2 Yamahas in there... over 450cc it was nearly all KTM - 23 out of 24 finishers
For the Super Production - up to 450cc it was mostly Yamaha with 28 out of 54 (6 in the top ten including 1st and 2nd) Honda showed with 13 (3 top 10) and KTM with 4 (1 top 10)... over 450 cc it was almost all KTM - like 42 out of 43 finishers! (one other was a PAI - which is a privately modified KTM)
http://www.dakar.com/2007/DAK/LIVE/u...t/CGM_2.2.html
No disrespect meant... Not trying to insult anyone's brand loyalty...
Its not so much the machine as it is the rider and the support crews. KTM just happened to have the best of both worlds for the last 6 years.
I would concur on the riders abilities...
RODRIGUES 5th overall Yamaha 450 WRF
MARCHINI 7th overall Yamaha 450 WRF
BETHYS 8th overall Honda CRF 450X
All of these guys placed top 10 overall on 450cc machines!!
I compiled some interesting stats by manufacturer.
Finished Withdraw
Bike Started # % # %
APRILIA 1 1 100% 0 0%
BETA 1 1 100% 0 0%
CAN - AM 8 4 50% 4 50%
GILERA 1 0 0% 1 100%
HONDA 28 19 68% 9 32%
HUSKY 2 0 0% 2 100%
IMPALA 1 0 0% 1 100%
KAWASAK 3 0 0% 3 100%
KTM 127 70 55% 57 45%
PAI 2 1 50% 1 50%
SUZUKI 5 2 40% 3 60%
TOT CURS 4 2 50% 2 50%
YAMAHA 60 31 52% 29 48%
Once again proving that the rider and Support are the ticket to winning!! (Unless you really believe Aprillia and Beta are the best bikes out... and Husky one of the worst!!)
I swear that was a nice little table when I put it in...
Any help there Acca???
Hell, this site hates tables... :wallbash: :haha:Quote:
Originally Posted by double moo