TVS to enter 2015 Dakar Rally with Sherco Motorcycles

TVS has announced that it is going to participate in the 2015 edition of the acclaimed Dakar Rally, in association with Sherco Motorcycles. TVS Motors will compete in the notoriously challenging endurance rally along with the French off-road motorbike specialist, under the banner of Sherco TVS Rally Factory team.

French motorcycle racers, Alain Dulcos and Fabien Planet, will don the suit of Sherco TVS Rally Factory team, as they attempt to conquer the rally, while competing with other international teams. The Sherco enduro racing motorcycles, called RTR 450, have been modified to decrease weight and been have equipped with highly reliable 450cc engines developed and manufactured especially for the 2015 Dakar Rally. The overall design has also been modified with a new fairing and several additional upgrades to enhance the bike’s ride handling.

Making the announcement in Bangalore, Arvind Pangaonkar, Head of TVS Racing said, “We are building further on the success of TVS Racing. Under this special racing arrangement, engineers from TVS Racing will be working alongside the team from Sherco and its racing affiliates at the 2015 Dakar. The Dakar Rally is the ultimate motorcycling challenge. Through this arrangement, our engineers will get hands-on experience and deeper understanding of international racing programs and improve the competitiveness of TVS Racing.”

TVS Racing has an astounding 90 per cent success rate in all the events it has participated so far, though a majority of these competitions have been on a national level. TVS’ previous successful endeavours include Dakshin Dare, Raid De Himalaya, Monsoon Rally and the Indian National Rally 2014. Earlier this year, TVS won three major scooter rally events on a modified Wego as well as Sigiriya, Fox Hill and Gunners Supercross racing events, held in Sri Lanka.

By participating in the 2015 Dakar, the company will not only hope to earn a new feather in its cap, but also get experience to further develop and enhance its products. You might not be able to see the new technology from these motorcycles in the immediate future, but slowly and eventually, the learning from these events is sure to filter down to road-going production models of TVS.