2007/08 Aprilia RXV4.5/5.5 launch-The lion has been tamed (only a little…)  

When Paul Walker from Aprilia called me to see if I was interested in a rendezvous with the brutal V-twin RXV’s I had to say yes. I rode the bikes at the world launch in Sicily earlier in 2006. Already at the end of 2006 the 2007/08 models are ready with improvements. I rode the new models around a castle in the English countryside.

Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Ian Jubb/MCN, Tor Sagen & Milagro (06 shots)

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2008 Ducati Hypermotard 1100 & 1100S-Hypercool!

Since Ducati showed us the Hypermotard concept in Milan 2005 we have been very eager for a ride. Early May in Sardinia and we are finally in the seat of the latest motard designed fun-bike to enter the market. In hyper mode we rode the Hypermotard both on the road and on track. Is this the perfect motorcycle?

Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Stefano Taglioni & Marco Campelli

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Buell XB12X Ulysses compared to the new XB12X Super TT

It would have been wrong of me not to compare the two latest models from Buell since I had the chance to swap between the two all day long over two days in Spain.

To give you an idea of where these two models are compared to other offerings in this growing market place I’ll use the KTM 950 SM and 990 Adventure as examples since I have tested both in the past. Buell have used the exact same idea, but with very different raw materials. The Super TT is based on the Ulysses which is Buell’s adventure touring motorcycle. The TT is a harder version of the Ulysses with firmer suspension, lower seat height and more aggressive styling. XB12X Ulysses   XB12X Super TT

2007 CCM SR40 Street Scrambler, CR40 Café Racer & FT35 Flat Tracker-From Stroka to SR40, on any day!

Since rising from the collapse in 2004 CCM have recently launched an all new retro collection of offroad and road motorcycles. The British maker of offroad and competition motorcycles has only recently turned to the retro market. And it’s a wise choice since CCM’s heydays was in the 70’s and 80’s. We rode the new Street Scrambler and Flat Tracker on English roads and on the Speedway track.

Words: Tor Sagen   TEST

Kraftwerk from Germany

Little Frodo the Elf (or Hobbit, whatever…) had just ridden the HP2 Enduro before I picked it up. The rear end looked like a sad beaten dog before I pumped it up to an Enduro man’s size with my cycle pump. I had been having nightmares about this mud pit filled with water followed by a very steep hill. There was no two ways about it, the HP2 had to go in, whether I wanted to or not.

 Words: Tor Sagen Photography: Claire McHugh/Tor Sagen

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Adventures on a small island

Since 2003 KTM has had a big Adventure Enduro on offer. This year KTM has treated Adventure fans with the latest 999cc engine from 990 Superduke. We attended the world launch at the far away Island of Fuerteventura on the west coast of North Africa. If you look the Canary Islands up on a map you will see that the Islands are parallel with the greatest desert in the world, Sahara. KTM had a great adventure awaiting the lucky journalists that had made the journey from all over the world.

Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Redeye, Peuker and Halwax   TEST

BMW R 1200 GS Adventure-Brutal Adventure

R 1200 GS has been a huge success for BMW and time was right to introduce the Adventure version in 2006. My adventure ended brutally in a farmer’s stone wall.

Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Carlos Ballester

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Honda joins the fun!

With the FMX 650 Honda has made supermotard fun and games accessible to a lot more people. Gone are the days where you had to buy expensive wheels with your XR enduro to get a Honda supermotard. True, the ultimate is still a CRF with supermoto wheels. But FMX 650 is not about ultimate performance, it’s about honest and cheap fun.

Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Claire McHugh   TEST

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Coma completed the eight day event in 21 hours 25’08  KTM said in their statement
 
“I am especially happy to win the Optic 2000 Tunisia rally because it was the only one that had eluded me,” Coma said at the conclusion of the rally. “After falling in the Dakar, what better way to come back to the World Championship. My love of bikes, competition and Africa have all been good motives.”
 
Unlike other years where a prologue has been run in Europe before debarking for the African sectors, this year there was no prologue but instead the first stage was held on the island of Corsica. This was immediately followed by the longest stage, the 506 km from Tunis to Douz. Then over the following days riders matched their skills against the challenges of the desert, the elements and nature before concluding on Sunday. The final stage took the riders from Matmata to Touzeur, a distance of 353 km, ending in style by crossing the finish line amid the “Star Wars” film sets.
 
Results
1. Marc Coma, Spain, KTM, 21 hours 25’08
2. David Casteu, France, KTM 21:47’48
3. Michael Marchini, France, Yamaha, 22:57’19
4. Gerard Farres, Spain, KTM, 23:23’49
5. Michael Angerer, Austria, KTM, 23:33’23
 

January kicks off in the best possible way with the worlds greatest motorcycling adventure rally. 2006 was a deadly year for the Dakar race (see the 2006 coverage below) and safety is in the highlight once again. The factory riders will be wearing new neck-braces as a bad fall on heavy sand often leads to serious and sometimes fatal neck injury. The 2006 Dakar champ Marc Coma will once again be one of the favourite riders on his factory Repsol KTM 690 Rally. Sala will once again join Coma and the Repsol team looks strong. Coma's strongest rival looks to be Cyril Despres again. Despres heads the Gauloises KTM factory team. Team Rally Panamerica and Paal Anders Ullevaalseter are other strong KTM competitors. Shortly we will present other 2007 Dakar teams and competitors. Who will be the big surprise in 2007? Dakar 2007 kicks off on Sunday January 7 in Lisbon, Portugal.  TS/Photo: Mitterbauer/KTM

Repsol KTM rider Marc Coma won the Dakar 2006 overall after the last stage in Dakar that was not timed. Despite this Ullevålseter and Fretigne fought for the last stage's unofficial win. Ullevålseter won the unofficial battle and is also the best privateer in the rally on 6th. Coma commented: “I was well prepared to fight a long and difficult battle. And I already learned that in order to win a Dakar at least two things have to occur. First is not to make mistakes, second is that opponents make at least one mistake. If nothing of that happens, then you have to feel the right moment and unlock the gas. I did not made big mistakes, Cyril was unlucky and fell, and finally I only had to administer a favourable situation. Anyway it has been a ten days long stress. With a marvellous final purpose reached. Thanks to everybody. Thanks to KTM." Overall results as after stage 14. Alain Duclos won the 450cc class on his KTM 450. Pic: DPPI

David Fretigne takes his first stage win in Dakar 2006. Finally the 450cc Yamaha-Motor France Ipone rider could claim a victory to his name in this years Dakar. Fretigne is this year as he was last year the only non KTM rider to take a stage win. The riders are now in Senegal and the holy grail Dakar itself. Marc Coma is still the overall leader and he was number two after today's special. Farres Guell third. Tomorrow's stage is only 110 kilometres in Dakar.

If Repsol KTM 660 RR rider Marc Coma cruises in to Dakar tomorrow without crashing or mechanical problems he will win the Dakar 2006. Marc Coma (SPA) has not won a single stage in the Dakar 2006, but has taken an impressive 8 second places. Will Coma resist trying to win tomorrow's stage and just cruise in? Coma would then follow in the footsteps of Repsol KTM's 2004 edition of the team that saw Spaniard Nani Roma take the victory in Dakar. TS. Pics: DPPI/T. Flechsig

Overall results after stage 14

Coma's water carrier, Giovanni Sala, finally won a stage today. Sala is a enduro specialist and commented: “It is true: yesterday I was disappointed. But that’s it. Nothing to be emotionally related to the today’s stage. In fact, due to my starting position, I have had a bizarre opportunity: that one of catching my first victory in this Dakar avoiding any risk of lose my “salary” of “water carrier” for the Repsol KTM Team. As we say in Italy, it was the opportunity to grasp two pigeons with one bean”, meaning to collect two benefits with one only effort. Nothing to add: I feel very happy!”. Pics: DPPI/P. Batini

US riders Blais and Street has improved greatly at the latter stage of the rally. Jonah Street commented to Dakar.com: "Another good day for me on a stage even faster than yesterday’s, but sometimes a bit dangerous. I stopped when I saw Azevedo on the ground and stayed with him for about five minutes. Except a tiny mistake, I have been almost perfect in navigation. Actually, I improve every day. For me, the rally should last one more week to enter the top 10."

Team Scandinavia's Guatemalan rider, Francisco Arredondo (57 overall), finished as number 52 on today's stage and according to Solveig Ullevålseter, Pål Anders's wife and press contact, Francisco was jumping in joy when he arrived the depot. All the contenders can smell the finishing line in Dakar now. The riders are now in Guinea and it is hard going. Pål Anders Ullevålseter is still number 6 overall after finishing 15th today. Yesterday's stage saw his rear tyre's mousse dissintegrate and he lost one hour just on that incident. But this is Dakar and it has happened before that the leader of the whole race gets an engine seizure on the last stage. So the race is not over until Dakar finishing line even though the last stage is an easy one on the beach. Sunday 15th January is the big day for all the competitors as the race concludes. Marc Coma and Cyril Despres is separated by 31 minutes and are the two most likely contenders to win Dakar 2006. Pic: DPPI

The first non KTM to reach the finishing line after today's special and transport was David Fretigne once again flying the flag for Yamaha. Pic: DPPI

Best BMW rider is Nick Plumb (UK) that is currently on 80th place overall. Fellow BMW rider and last man standing on the Race to Dakar project, Simon Pavey, is currently on 89th place of  95 riders. BMW's F650 GS Dakar is virtually the same bike as you can buy at the dealers and it's a good job just making it this far.

And last but not least, here's a image of Stage 11 winner Alain Duclos. Pic: DPPI

Local hero Alain Duclos won today's 11th stage of the Dakar 2006. It was a dream come true for the French/Mali KTM 450cc rider. Marc Coma still is the overall leader of the desert rats. Unfortunately we haven't got any photos of Duclos in the archive so here's one of Coma. Pic: DPPI

On stage 7 David crashed after jumping over camel grass twice. This is how David's nose looked like after the crash. Then on Stage 8 Fretigne lost 2 hours through navigation errors. And on stage 9 David crashed badly too. The only race left for the 450cc Yamaha rider is to reach Dakar in one piece. Please make sure not to stick your nose in the sand again David! Yamaha's honours are now in the hands of Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues (WR450F Kit Africa - Vodafone) that finished a surprising third today that puts him ninth overall. that puts him 15 minutes behind the leader of the 450 class, Alain Duclos on a KTM 450. Rodrigues is riding a customer Yamaha-motor France bike through a scheme that was launched this year. P: DPPI

The sturdy Norwegian  37 year old KTM 660 RR rider is once again the top privateer in Dakar. Currently Ullevålseter is fourth overall and charging for a podium place in Dakar. The Norwegian is about 34 minutes short of Sala on third. On todays stage PA lead the way after passing more than 100 riders and he was not caught until after 350 kilometres by the bliztering fast Marc Coma.  Ullevålseter was deeply sadened by the loss of navigation mate Caldecott. Ullevålseter uses every opportunity to call wife Solveig as soon as he has finished every stage. Both PA and wife Solveig has become celebrities both in Norway and Sweden as PA is racing single handedly for the Scandinavian colours in Dakar. PA's strength is stamina and it shows after a very good result on the longest special of the race. Photos: DPPI TS

Marc Coma comments after stage 9

Coma commented to Dakar.com:

" This is very hard news for all of us. We are going to try to cope with it but it will be difficult. I do remember Andy’s smile and a lot of other things. Nevertheless Andy did what he loved and he shared his passion with us even if he joined the team very soon. I didn’t contact his family, our team manager did it. That’s all. It hard not only for our team but also for all competitors of Le Dakar. "

Stage 10 will see the riders enter Mali, but due to today's events the special is cancelled and all the riders will ride the transportation to honour Andy Caldecott's memory.

 

Cyril Despres won the toughest special in the Dakar race even with injury. this shows which calibre Despres is made of. The tragic loss of fellow KTM rider Caldecott will be on everyone's mind tonight and no one will want to celebrate. Marc Coma is still the overall leader, but Despres is getting closer again.

KTM statement regarding the death of Andy Caldecott: "The accident happened directly after the day off. This information has totally shocked us, we’re at a loss for words.

The terrible accidents in the past 2 years caused us to start with mixed feelings and question our rally engagement. The presenters of the Dakar have tried to make the rally safer together with several manufacturers. A tempo limit has been adopted, a GPS system which enables each rider to be located and to allow him to communicate with the presenter. Riders can have more rests now due to shorter tank stops. A pretty sportive rally until yesterday’s day of rest eclipsed the pain of the past - today we were brutally pulled out of our dream to make this rally safe.

Our thoughts are with Andy and his family."

Australian Repsol KTM rider Andy Caldecott died today on his way to Dakar on the longest special in the race. The report came from the organisers and Dakar.com. Eurosport reports that Caldecott crashed fatally at the 250km mark today. Caldecott joined the Repsol KTM team at the last minute this year when Jordi Durans of the KTM Junior team got injured. We will update with all the details, reactions and results from Stage 9 this afternoon. Our thoughts goes to Caldecott's family and friends. Andy Caldecott, 41, was competing in his third Dakar. He had finished 6th of the 2005 edition and was currently 10th overall of this edition after having won stage 5 between Nador and Er-Rachidia in Morocco. R.I.P

KTM Gauloises rider Isidre Esteve crashed twice today and has been sent to hospital with helicopter. Dakar.com reports that: "his days are not in danger".

Navigation were the big separator today. Here is what David Casteu had to say: “I have to thanks Cyril Despres”, said Casteu at the finish”, he is a master in navigation. I only had to follow him, and learn. At the finish I thought for a long time this was the area where last year we have lost Fabrizio Meoni, and I dedicated him my first victory, I am sure he is watching us and he is also happy for my today’s success”. Eurosport video report.