Confirmed: Aravind KP To Race For Sherco TVS In Dakar 2019

In what will come as great news for Indian motorsport lovers, Sherco TVS have announced that Aravind KP will be their fourth rider for the upcoming Dakar Rally. The announcement comes in the backdrop of Aravind sustaining a wrist injury during this year’s Pan Africa Rally, which caused him to pull out of the event’s prologue stage. Back in October, Sherco TVS had unveiled their team for Dakar 2019, which is going to be held between January 6th to January 17th.

This will be Aravind’s third outing in the Dakar, which is known as the world’s toughest rally. He will be astride Sherco TVS’ Dakar-spec RTR 450 motorcycle. The Dakar is known to take a heavy toll on both man and machine. Completing the rally calls for a high level of physical and mental endurance, while the machine too is subjected to a variety of mechanical stresses and varying weather conditions.

Aravind’s confirmation, as such, should come as a shot in the arm for the Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team. The team has scored four podium finishes in 2018 and is aiming for a top-10 finish at the Dakar. This time around, the Dakar will only take place in Peru. For more details, refer to the full press release from Sherco TVS below.

Press Release:

Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team announces India’s Aravind KP to be its fourth rider for Dakar 2019

 Aravind KP to join training in Morocco with his team mates

Bangalore, December 03, 2018: Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team has announced Aravind KP to be its fourth rider for Dakar 2019.  Aravind KP has recovered completely from his injuries post PanAfrica Rally, and has been training in Spain for the last few weeks. For Aravind KP, this will be his third Dakar outing and will be riding the Dakar-spec RTR 450 Rally motorcycle.

Aravind KP, Racer, Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team said, “Dakar is the ultimate challenge for any racer and I am glad to be a part of it for the third consecutive time. I thank TVS Racing and Sherco for believing in me and giving me another opportunity to fulfil my dream of finishing the rally. The past 10 months has been a journey of ups and downs but I have focused on my fitness and recovery to ensure I am ready for Dakar.  The next one month will be crucial to my preparation and I will be going to Morocco to train with my team mates. Both Michael and Adrien have been extremely supportive during my recovery time and have kept me motivated along with my TVS Racing family. Conquering Dakar 2019, is my single focused goal for now and I am determined more than ever to finish the Rally.”

B. Selvaraj, Team Manager, TVS Racing said, “I am happy that Aravind KP is returning to Dakar with full energy and vigour. We are very confident  given his experience in the international racing arena and Dakar in particular, he will be able to perform well. The team has worked hard on the race strategy and is focused on maintaining consistency all through the race. We are competing with four best riders in the team and are very confident of a top 10 finish.”

The Sherco TVS Factory Rally Team also includes the experienced Metge brothers Michael and Adrien from France and Enduro Champion Lorenzo Santolino from Spain. With strong performances this year in the Baja Aragon, PanAfrica Rally & Rally of Morocco, the Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team is confident of a top-10 finish at Dakar 2019. The 41^st Edition of the Rally scheduled from January 6^th to 17^th, unlike the previous editions, will cover only one country – Peru.  It will see the racers starting from Lima, cruising through terrains of Pisco, San Juan de Marcona, Arequipa and Moquegua, covering a total distance of over 5000 km.