Marc Coma out of 2013 Dakar rally

Three times Dakar winner, Marc Coma will be unable to ride the 2013 edition of Dakar rally, KTM announced during a press conference in Barcelona recently.  Coma suffered a shoulder injury after crashing in the Morocco rally earlier this year.

The doctor said that he was not completely fit because of which the team decided against his participation in the 2013 edition of the endurance race which will be held from Peru to Chile in South America this year.

“Marc is one of our key riders and together with his teammate Cyril Despres has giving KTM the last seven Dakar titles. While we are disappointed that he is unable to ride, the health and welfare of our factory riders is the most important consideration. If he is not 100 percent fit, it is better for him to sit out the 2013 rally,” said KTM factory team manager Alex Doringer. Marc Coma will be replaced by American rider Kurt Caselli.