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First Look: 2014 Honda CRF 450 Rally

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CRF 450 Dakar web 1

Honda Racing Corporation (HRC)  – the Japanese manufacturing bigwig’s racing wing has raised the curtains on its latest entry for the upcoming 2014 Dakar Rally. A year after HRC made a trailblazing return to the Mecca of rally raids, they’ve announced their participation in the next installment of the competition as well. Drawing parallels to last year, HRC have again used the the CRF 450X enduro as blueprint for their dedicated rally machine, called the CRF 450 Rally.

Honda had introduced the Dakar-ready model exactly a year ago,and now, the new CRF 450 Rally has undergone a series of upgrades and improvements based on data pertaining to maintenance requirements, aerodynamics, durability and engine performance gleaned from last year’s race. The bike will be propelled by HRC’s signature Programmed Fuel Injection system this time around as well.

Team HRC’s 5 racers and their respective CRF 450s will participate in the upcoming 2013 Morocco Rally which starts on the 13th of October, using it as a platform to build towards next year’s Dakar Rally, which will also feature the same personnel and vehicles that will appear in Morocco. The bike will be produced and released for sale to other rally teams post-Dakar next year.

Story: Harket Suchde

CRF 450 Dakar web 2

Women Bikers Début at Raid De Himalaya

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Established in 1999, Raid De Himalaya is a yearly rally event that is executed under extreme duress brought about by the high altitudes of the Himalayan range. In the history of this precarious rally which features events for both two-wheelers and four-wheelers, participants have had to face up to a variety of hazardous circumstances such as the ever present temperatures that fall below 25°C, ice-covered roads, oxygen depravity at a heights of around 6000 metres above sea level, and natural calamities such as blizzards, earthquakes and snow-ins.

Clearly this race isn’t for those of the faint hearted, and this year, for the first time in the history of the rally, a woman rider, namely Sheetal Bidaye hailing form the city of Mumbai will participate in the experts only Moto-Quads rally, while a young 20-year-old student from Fergusson College, Pune, Kalyani Potekar, will compete in Raid Xtreme Alpine category which is for the newer, less experienced riders.

These courageous women will pit themselves against the elements, beginning their journey from Shimla, and traversing through the high mountain reaches of Khardung La and Wari La all the way through to Leh, where the rally comes to a close.

According to Vijay Parmar, President, Himalayan Motorsport, who are the event’s organisers, this journey will be fraught with challenges, he said, “The Wari La climb happens in 14 kilometres, while the Khardung La climb takes 32 kilometres. The descent is equally steep and rapid into the Nubra Valley. The challenge of the Raid lies in competitive driving at these impossible altitudes, which demand the best from both man and machine.”

The rally, that sees only a quarter of its competitors cross the finish line on an average, enters its 15th year and will run from the 4th to the 12th of October.

Story: Harket Suchde

Mahi Racing back on top as Sofuoglu wins in Imola

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Mahi Racing web

It was a good day in Imola for Mahi Racing Team India with their rider Kenan Sofuoglu finishing on top in the seventh leg of the 2013 World Supersport Championship, pipping leader Sam Lowes from previous race by three seconds.

The 2012 world champion, Sofuoglu began the race in second after the qualifying on Saturday, and overtook Lowes on the very first turn going on to maintain the lead throughout the race, which had its share of drama with an oil spill on the track. Until the oil incident, Sofuoglu had asserted his supremacy on the race, setting the fastest lap of 1’51.960 on the third lap to open up a considerable gap between himself and Lowes.

With 14 laps to go, the race was red flagged when Valentin Debise, the Prorace Honda rider, had an engine blow and spilled oil onto the track. Though not an immediate stop, two more incidents of riders slipping due to the oil spill forced the stewards to bring out the red flags and end the race.

Sofuoglu’s victory also meant the end of a four race winning sequence for Lowes. The team’s second rider, Fabien Foret, finished 12th in the race.

With Mahi Racing Team getting back to a winning spree, Sofuoglu is now second in the overall standings with 106 points, 35 points behind Sam Lowes. His team mate Foret is in third position with 85 points.

Arun Pandey, Chairman of Mahi Racing Team India congratulated Sofuoglu for securing top honours and said the performance on Sunday was proof that they were indeed the strongest contenders in this year’s Championship. He stated, “With half way mark, the performance of the riders are very satisfying right now and we are confident we will be only bettering ourselves hereon”.