KTM has done it again. For the 15th-straight year, the Austrian manufacturer has earned the Dakar Rally title.
This year the title went to Toby Price, who set a few records along the way. Price became the first Australian rider to win the Dakar Rally, and also the first rider to win it on his second attempt. During his debut rally (Dakar Rally 2015), Price earned third behind the eventual winner – the now-retired Marc Coma, a five-time Dakar winner.
Price finished the Dakar Rally 2016, which took riders 5,600 miles throughout Argentina and Boliva in 13 stages (only one rest day) in 48 hours, nine minutes and 15 seconds. Finishing second, over 39 minutes behind, was KTM’s Stefan Svitko of Slovakia. Earning the final podium position was Husqvarna’s Pablo Quintanilla of Chile.
KTM’s Toby Price
“Winning in my second participation is awesome, but being the first Australian to win the Dakar is just insane. I would’ve never imagined this two years ago. Finishing the rally is already a triumph. Winning it is amazing,” Price says.
“I tackled the race in true Aussie style. I attacked when I had to, when the time was right, and I kept an eye on my bike during the all-important marathon stages. I also navigated quite well. I hope this is just the start, to win again. It won’t be easy, so I’ve got to savor this victory.”
In a Dakar Rally plagued by thunderstorms that cut a few timed specials short, Price was took the win in stage 2, and remained competitive throughout the race that began in Buenos Aires and finished in Rosario, Argentina. He also won stages 5, 6, 8, 9, and 10.
Red Bull KTM Factory Team Manager Alex Doringer also commented on Price’s performance: “I could see Toby was a top guy with potential and good navigation skills. He did an amazing job and I am very happy for him. When I brought him into the team I was very happy to do something for my old friend Kurt Caselli. He was the one who encouraged me to try to get Toby to the Dakar and today we see the result.”
The Dakar Rally 2016 was very successful for KTM. Five of the top 10, and 12 of the top 20 finishers piloted “Ready to Race” KTM motorcycles.
As for America’s Ricky Brabec, the Team HRC Honda CRF450 Rally pilot finished his debut Dakar Rally in ninth overall. Brabec, 24, completed the feat just five months after a serious accident in the states.
KTM’s Toby Price
“I’m really excited finishing my first Dakar. I want to come back and do better. I’m excited to be in the team. This is my third rally ever, so that is a huge accomplishment for me. So, finishing in the top ten in my first rally is pretty good and I’m the only rider on the team to get a top 10,” Brabec says.
“So, we’ll see if we can improve and come back next year and do better. Back in June 2015 I had a broken neck and it took a good six month to heal. I was talking to a doctor, eating some special foods and trying to get as much calcium and vitamins as I needed to get back to racing. This is my second race back and the biggest race in the world and I’m happy to have accomplished the goal and get a finish and my medal.”
KTM has now won the Dakar Rally for the past 15 years; the last non-KTM machine to win was a BMW F650RR piloted by France’s Richard Sainct.
Beta Alp X 350 + IR Kinetics and Video gaming with MotoGP
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
The Motos and Friends Podcast is brought to you by Arai helmets. The founder of Arai Helmets was the man who created the first motorcycle helmet in Japan to protect his own head, and as a result, launched the Japanese motorcycle helmet industry. Arai focuses on glancing off performance, accumulating small differences decade after decade, to further rider protection.
The Arai Difference: If your experience has been that “Arai helmets are hard to get on,” then the Contour-X, designed with a wider bottom opening than previous models for easier on/off, is the helmet you’ve been waiting for. Once inside, you will be amazed at the extreme comfort, a key benefit of the Contour-X for long-distance touring, and if you’re into ADV or dual-sport riding, then you’ll want to check out the new Arai XD-5. So try on an Arai at your local dealer. You will be instantly amazed at the fit and all-day comfort of any Arai helmet. You should also check out AraiAmericas.com to learn more.
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This week’s two segments both bring you something a little different…
In our first segment, Don Williams and Kelly Callan chat about Beta Alp X 350. This modest displacement single cylinder four-stroke from the Italian factory is described as an “Urban Adventure” bike. With styling that would fit well in a Mad Max movie, the rugged looking machine exudes fun and cool in equal measure. Don and Kelly discuss whether the Alp X lives up to its charisma.
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Today’s Snippet brings you the newly launched X5 camera fromInsta360, a leader in 360-degree action camera technology. Adam Singer from Insta360 tells us all about the incredible new X5 that shoots in ALL directions at once, and in 8K30 mega hi-resolution. You can create epic motorcycling shots without even having to aim the camera. Literally, just hit record… focus on your ride… and then in the easy and smooth edit find the best angles using Insta360’s mobile app. Its amazing AI tools make it super quick. The X5 is every camera you’ll ever need in one, so for instance, you can try an immersive POV that includes your handlebars; or try unique, third-person shots of you and your bike. From morning to night, X5’s huge new sensors, triple AI chip, and dedicated low-light shooting mode, deliver never seen before detail and image quality. It’s waterproof, reliable, and has inexpensive, completely replaceable, lenses.
To bag a free invisible selfie stick worth US$24.99 with your Insta360 X5 purchase, head to store.insta360.comand use the promo code “ULTIMATE”, available for the first 30 purchases only. For more information, visit Insta360.com.
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Our guest this episode is again, something different. I doubt you have ever heard of IR Kinetics. The company uses a proprietary infra-red technology that tracks objects to within centimeters of their locations—in real time. For motorcycle enthusiasts, this has massive implications. One example they’re currently working on is where video gaming and MotoGP could intersect. The company could create a hybrid experience where you could ‘virtually’ race against the other riders on track. Imagine if you could line up on the grid next to Marc and Pecco, and see if you could compete? This is just one of many ideas from IR Kinetics. Teejay Adams chats with Gilly Switalski (CEO of IR Kinetics), and Stefy Bau. Stefy won three world motocross championships, two WMX USA championships, plus the Loretta Lynn AMA Amateur National Motocross Championship and seven Italian Championships. Gilly and Stefy enthusiastically explain the technology and how it’s about to change our motorcycling world. It’s a cliché, but it could literally be a game-changer. Check out this video on IRK
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Here’s a quick reminder to leave us your comments on our social media—we’re on all the usual platforms at Ultimate Motorcycling. We love hearing your feedback… so good or bad, please let us know what you think. If there’s something you’d like us to cover, we’d love to hear those ideas too!
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