Husqvarna announces its return to Dakar Rally

Swedish motorcycle manufacturer Husqvarna has announced its intentions of making a comeback at the Dakar Rally with a new factory team. They will compete on Husqvarna FR 450 Rally bikes and will be ridden by Ruben Faria of Portugal and Frenchmen Pierre-Alexandre Renet.

As KTM now owns Husqvarna, it will not be a big surprise to see more than a passing resemblance between the KTM 450 Rally Replica and the Husqvarna FR 450 Rally. Also considering that KTM has dominated the notoriously difficult endurance rally since 2001, we can be sure that the Husqvarna rally bike will be equally competitive. Besides the official factory team, an official satellite team called HT Husqvarna Rally Team will also compete in the 2016 Dakar Rally.

Speaking about their return, Robert Jonas, VP of motorsports, Husqvarna Motorcycles said, “We are pleased and proud to be taking the Husqvarna brand another step forward into rally sport. Husqvarna has a rich tradition of racing and this represents an opportunity for us to honor and extend this tradition. The Dakar is the most prestigious rally on the calendar. We’re determined to compete on equal terms with the world’s best teams and we are ready to accept the challenge of rally sport at its finest. We are also very confident that it will be rewarding for our brand and our factory team.”

Rumour has it that HRC is seriously shaking up things in its team to improve its chances at ending KTM’s winning streak, while Yamaha is said to be bringing in a completely new bike for this year’s rally. With Laia Sanz switching from Honda to KTM and five-time Dakar champion Marc Coma announcing his retirement from racing and appointment as the new sporting director of the rally, the 2016 Dakar Rally has already seen some major changes. Stay tuned to BikeWale for more updates.