The Honda works motorcycle rally team has recently chosen Metzeler as it’s tyre supplier and technical partner for the 2014 Dakar rally.
Riders Helder Rodrigues, Sam Sunderland and Javier Pizzolito will be riding the new Honda CRF Rally fitted with KAROO Extreme prototypes in sizes 90/90-21 and 140/80-18 front and rear respectively. The prototype tyre is not available for sale as it has been specifically developed for competitions in collaboration with Team HRC Rally and will be used in a number of different competitions, including the challenging Dakar.
The rear prototype has been developed with a 0 degree steel belt and 4 ply carcass, plus a new generation of compounds in order to ensure excellent durability and resistance.
There are two front tyre options to help riders cope with the different range of soils, from hard compact surfaces through to loose dirt and sand. The on site technicians from Metzeler will work with the team to ensure they have the best tyre setup for each different stage of the rally.
However before the Dakar the prototypes will be put through their paces at the Rallye OiLibya du Maroc, which starts today and ends on October 19th.
The feedback from this first real race test will be used in order to refine the tyre and bike setups before the Dakar starting on 5th January 2014.
In 2013 Rodrigues and Pizzolito finished 7th and 8th in the Dakar respectively both riding for Honda HRC, and the 2014 race will see the teams pass through South America as they cross Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.
