KTM Rally Factory Team 2005

The rally season starts in mid winter with the Dakar, the mother of all rallies, and is followed by a World Championship series consisting of eight rallies throughout the year.

The KTM Factory team varies from 6 to 8 riders throughout the season. On the Dakar the maximum amount of riders will be present, twelve pilots in three different teams. The mechanical and logistical base is Mattighofen, but from the start on the teams race indepentently with their own structure and fight each other.

There will be two classes in the World Championship 2005 - up to 450cc and more than 450cc.

OVERALL TEAM MANAGER - HANS TRUNKENPOLZ:
After so much successes, what appeals you to compete again as a team manager at this Dakar?
In the open class, so to speak the formula one of the rally sports, we compete with our KTM 660 Rally. The world elite of rally pilots fights for the crown of rally. Without exaggerating it, we have developed the
best motorcycle here and we aren’t afraid of any competitor. Technically, the 450 cc class will be the biggest challenge again, since we only start with one rider and many other brands declared war to us.
Contrary to the open class, the regulations here allow to change the engines arbitrarily. That makes it somewhat easier for our competitors, because we follow the objective that every pilot of us has to reach Dakar with only one spare engine. However, we are optimally prepared with our new 450 and I am really happy to see the machines and pilots after months racing again.

How many riders will be provided with service during the Dakar?
Of 220 nominations will be 152 KTM motorcycles, which is definitely the best demonstration of the quality of our rally bikes.