Hero MotoSports & TVS Sherco All Set To Storm Dakar 2017!

Published January 2, 2017
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5 min read

With two Indian teams gearing up to tackle Dakar, the Indian contingent is the biggest ever this year. Let’s get acquainted

As another new year breathes to life, we are all set to bring you a fresh batch of motorsport stories and action from across the globe and in the nation itself. The first one to hit us this year is the Dakar 2017. If you have been following our previous Dakar articles or chase rallying news fervently, the name and what it is known for shouldn’t be alien to you. But, in case it is, suffice to say the Dakar rally is arguably the most difficult, technical and the baddest of them all.

It will span over two weeks and will traverse through Argentina, Paraguay and Bolivia. The participants will pass through snow-capped mountains, deserts, water streams and places where there’s a good chance to find partying extra-terrestrials. And trust me, in its 39th edition, the Dakar has no intention of having an amicable relationship with the participants in terms of the course. The participants will include riders and drivers in/on their machines (a total of 318), which includes bikes (144), cars (87+ 10 SSVs*), trucks (50) and quads (37). As a matter of fact, it is said to be one of the most difficult courses that have been finalised so far. However, this isn’t even the fun part. Rather, two Indian teams, with three debut riders – in the most difficult course – is. It’s like trying to run for the President’s post on your very first day of being a senator!

The two teams – Hero MotoSports Team Rally and TVS Sherco Racing Team – have five riders in total; the former has two, while the latter has three. Two Indian riding stars – CS Santosh (Hero) and Aravind KP (TVS) – are also part of the circus and are aiming quite high. Let’s see how each team’s approach to the rally is like and how the efforts of today will shape the future of Indian presence in this mega rally.

Hero MotoSports Team Rally

We got acquainted with Hero’s Dakar team back in September 2016, and the moment we met with the team members their energy and enthusiasm were apparent. Hero has collaborated with German off-roading expert Speedbrain to develop their rally machine, called the Speedbrain 450. No doubt the bike is a masterpiece, thanks to Speedbrain’s vast rally experience of making champion motorcycles. And, if rumours are to be believed, the bike has one of the most powerful engines around, after those of Honda and KTM. So, both its team pilots – Joaquim Rodrigues and CS Santosh – at least won’t have any issue with the power of the bike.

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On top of these, Hero MotoSports Team Rally had a very decent outing in the Oilibya Rally, with J-Rod finishing 14th overall while Santosh managing a 35th. The rally is considered as a perfect place for experimentation with the bike’s setting and is very crucial for the final set up for Dakar.

The team is very optimistic for Dakar as Santosh’s previous experience in the rally is sure to benefit him. On the other hand, J-Rod will surely set himself through the paces with a more aggressive approach as seen in his previous performances. Though J-Rod is making his debut in Dakar, his vast experience of motocross racing gives him that extra edge of speed, which reflects in his riding style.

TVS Sherco Rally Team

Unlike, Hero MotoSports, the TVS Sherco team is going ahead with three pilots, namely Aravind KP, Adrien Metge and Joan Pedrero Gracia. Though the first two riders are debuting this year, Joan’s eight years of experience in the Dakar has surely helped them to understand the format and approach needed for the rally. The evidence of that was apparent in the Oilibya Rally's results. Joan was able to finish in the 8th spot, whereas Adrien and Aravind finished 11th and 26th overall, respectively.

The bike, or the RTR450 as TVS Sherco call it, of course, is a hoot to ride. We discovered some astounding facts when our editor, Kartikeya, rode one of these bespoke machines in France. Facts like 355mm of ground clearance, 135 kg of dry weight, 32 litres of fuel capacity, etc., are not only surprising to know, but also projects the bike’s potential.

TVS Sherco has competed in previous Dakar rallies, which gives them a little more edge as a team and also with the bike. Then, with an experienced rider like Gracia, the team even has a fair amount of chance to finish in the top ten or even higher.

Now, since Hero is competing in the Dakar for the very first time, it would be unjustified to expect a win in their debut outing. However, what’s important will be how the team absorbs the experiences from the rally and implement it in their future endeavours. The performance of the pilots will also be quite exciting to watch as they’ll strive to survive and complete the rally. On the other hand, TVS Sherco, despite their previous Dakar experience, have two debut pilots to deal with, so they too will be aiming at finishing rather than winning.

To top it off, the participation of two Indian teams is not only encouraging but is also a sign that the future of India as a rallying country is bright. The participation will not only promote Dakar in the country, but will also promote India in countries where the rally is worshipped. We hope the Dakar spirit propagates throughout the country and compels young talents to pursue the sport. Till then, we will make sure to bring you all the latest update straight from South America!