All Team HRC are in Rosario awaiting the Dakar Rally scrutineering after the shakedown held at the Otamendi track, near the Honda Campana factory. Team HRC Team Director, Katsumi Yamazaki describes Honda’s new weapon, the CRF450 RALLY.
TEAM HRC returned to Dakar Rally in January 2013, for the first time after a 24 year absence, aboard a CRF450 RALLY prototype based on the commercial CRF450X enduro model Honda. The 2013 Dakar Rally generated valuable information on key areas such as engine power, aerodynamic performance, durability and maintenance requirements, used as a basis for further design modifications and improvements.
The new model retains the electronic Fuel Injection (PGM-FI *), system that has shown proven performance in the harsh and highly variable environmental conditions of the Dakar Rally.
The new CRF450 RALLY will be used by the HRC riders in Dakar 2014 and will be available to other teams for motorcycle rallies later in 2014. The new model has a completely new engine, new chassis, new swing arm, plastics and three different petrol tanks with a total capacity of 35 litres. The power is increased and the overall weight is decreased in order to offer better and easier handling.
The new Honda CRF450 RALLY reached its first goal and took the victory in the Morocco Rally, giving Paulo Gonçalves the 2013 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship. TEAM HRC also achieved victory in the Merzouga Rally last October.
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