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TVS hints full-scale Dakar entry in future

Indian two-wheeler manufacturer TVS is considering competing in the Dakar Rally as a full-fledged manufacturer, having tied up with France’s Sherco Racing for the last two years.

#20 Sherco: Alain Duclos

#20 Sherco: Alain Duclos

Bauer/Barni

Arvind Pangaonkar, TVS Racing Team Head
#14 Sherco: Alain Duclos
TVS virtual reality
#20 Sherco: Alain Duclos
#20 Sherco: Alain Duclos
2017 Route
#17 Sherco: Juan Pedrero
#60 Sherco TVS: Florent Vayssade
#71 Sherco: Florent Vayssade

TVS made history in 2015 when it became the first Indian manufacturer to take part in the gruelling Dakar Rally, providing technical and financial support to Sherco Racing.

Although the partnership has generally been fruitful, results have been hard to come with Sherco-TVS managing a best result of 27th this year, despite showing top-10 pace in the early stages.

Now, TVS is mulling over its future involvement in Dakar, with company’s motorsports chief Arvind Pangaonkar keen on higher involvement’ in the toughest cross-country rally in the world.

“Participation in the Dakar Rally is the ultimate motorcycling challenge for any racing team," said Pangaonkar to Motorsport.com.

"It has given practical opportunity for TVS Racing engineers to grasp various activities involved in the rally and Sherco is undoubtedly a great technical team to collaborate with.

"We always look forward to higher involvement in the Dakar Rally participation," he added hinting an independent involvement in the future.

Factory rider Aravind on Dakar list

CS Santosh is the lone Indian rider yet, to have participated twice in Dakar, when quizzed if TVS would field an Indian driver in their team, Pangaonkar remained tight-lipped, saying he is ‘’exploring all options with regards to our riders for Dakar.”

However, Pangaonkar said his company is willing to support emerging cross-country rider Aravind KP in international events.

"Aravind KP is TVS Racing's number one rider in off-road events," Pangaonkar said.

"He has participated in motocross events in Sri Lanka and even bagged the championship in 2011. TVS will surely support him for international rallies."

The 30-year-old has won Raid de Himalaya, India’s most grueling cross-country rally in 2015 and is likely to follow in the footsteps of countryman Santosh.

Dakar inputs valuable

Road-relevance is important for any automobile manufacturer and the company has used its Dakar experience in designing the new RTR 450, which finished second in Desert Storm, earlier this year.

“We are continuously working on improving and refining our motorcycles and Dakar provides an opportunity to develop new technologies that can be adapted for future TVS Apache RTR series motorcycles,’’ Pangaonkar said.

“The 2016 RTR 450 Racing model is the result of accumulated experience in rally racing and the huge development work done by the engineers.”

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