The Pierer Mobility Group is going through a challenging financial phase and has been adapting and restructuring, which includes its involvement in racing. Although it won’t reduce its presence, it will reposition the KTM, GasGas, and Husqvarna brands to align them with their respective values and target audiences.

Hubert Trunkenpolz, a member of the group’s board of directors, explained to SPEEDWEEK.com: ‘«KTM – Ready To Race» as the brand’s core. It will go back to its roots. Short and direct; that is what KTM will represent. This is why motorsport activities will increasingly shift to the KTM brand. That’s why we are leaving MotoGP with GasGas and will compete with four KTMs’.

Regarding GasGas and Husqvarna, the Austrian said: ‘GasGas is intended to appeal to younger people and is also supposed to be a more accessible brand than KTM and Husqvarna. For young people, they will see the GasGas brand in sports – like Moto3. Husqvarna will be prominently represented in all off-road sports’.

Without mincing words, Trunkenpolz acknowledged that the group had overextended the exposure of its three brands, although he emphasized that the objectives had been achieved: ‘We overdid the platform strategy exploitation. Back then, we said that we had certain engine and chassis platforms, and we believed that since the automotive industry did so well, we could do it too. Fundamentally, that wasn’t wrong, but we overdid it. The brands automatically came closer to each other in terms of products due to many identical parts. There is a simple reason why we did MotoGP with GasGas: GasGas was unknown as a brand in the motorcycle industry. If you want to make a brand known, if it is just about brand awareness, then I have to look at which motorsports provide the highest brand awareness. In off-road, it’s supercross and MXGP; on road, it’s MotoGP, by far. It was a purely commercial consideration. […]. This worked perfectly because now everyone knows them. From America to Europe, everyone sees what GasGas is: a motorcycle brand. This means we accomplished our mission’.

A bigger mistake, according to the Pierer Mobility Group director, was with Husqvarna: ‘We had many requests from teams, and we wanted to say we could provide material. We succumbed to the temptation to take a step with Husqvarna that, in hindsight, proved to be less than ideal – specifically, entering road racing. We are now correcting these things. In life, you can become smarter’.

O conteúdo Pierer Mobility repositions brands in racing: ‘In life, you can become smarter’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Toby Price and Sam Sunderland will compete in the 2025 Dakar Rally, but this time they are leaving two wheels behind to take on the challenge in a car – as a duo.

Yes, you read that right. The riders who have been racing in the iconic rally on motorcycles up to this year’s edition have decided to join forces in a Toyota Hilux T1+ from Overdrive Racing for 2025.

This will be the first four-wheel experience for both riders. Price has already driven a car in competitions in Australia and the United States, while Sunderland will make his debut as a co-driver.

It’s not uncommon for motorcycle riders in rally-raid and off-road events to switch to cars later in their careers. Hubert Auriol, Stéphane Peterhansel, and Nani Roma, who all won the Dakar in both categories, are prime examples of this transition.

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O conteúdo Toby Price and Sam Sunderland together at Dakar 2025… in a car! aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Kove showcased two new models at the 2024 EICMA – which kicked off this Tuesday in Milan. The 450 Rally EX and the 800X Rally are now on display to the public, months before they compete in the most challenging off-road races.

Kove 450 Rally EX

The Kove 450 Rally EX is the competition-ready version of the 450 Rally, notable for its lightness, strength, and performance. It features a single-cylinder engine and has been crafted with ultra-light materials and cutting-edge technology.

With a 449cc engine, it produces 47.7 kW of power (64 hp) and 50 Nm of torque, reaching a top speed of 180 km/h. The fuel tank has a 34-liter capacity.

The frame is tubular steel. Its suspension system includes a USD fork at the front and a rear mono-shock with progressive linkage, both fully adjustable. The braking system consists of a floating disc and dual-piston caliper up front, and a single-piston disc brake at the rear. The exhaust is by Akrapovic, and an onboard LCD screen provides essential information.

This bike is designed for both professional riders and rally enthusiasts. In January, the 450 Rally EX will take on the Dakar with Kove’s official team, and with Kove Italia under the management of Pelpi International fielding riders Cesare Zacchetti and Ottavio Missoni.

Kove 800X Rally

As for the Kove 800X Rally, already available at dealerships in Italy, boasts a twin-cylinder engine and a robust frame, making it ideal for long, rough-terrain journeys.

The engine has a displacement of 799cc, paired with a six-speed gearbox. It delivers 71 kW of power (95.2 hp) and 80 Nm of torque, with a top speed of 185 km/h. The fuel tank holds 19 liters.

The bike has a diamond-type steel frame with a bolt-on aluminum subframe. It features a Yu-An USD fork at the front and an adjustable rear mono-shock. The front brake includes a dual-piston disc caliper, while the rear has a single-piston disc, with switchable ABS.

Lightweight, high-performing, and easy to handle, this model will compete in the Africa Eco Race in January, with Kove Italia and Pelpi International’s support, piloted by European motorally champion Matteo Bottino.

O conteúdo Kove attacks the rallies with two new bikes exhibited at EICMA aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Hero MotoSports Team Rally celebrated last week as Ross Branch secured the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship title after crossing the final finish line at Rallye Du Maroc, the last race of the 2024 championship, as he ended the season on top of the overall standings.

This was the fifth and final round of the championship, with Ross Branch, nicknamed the “Kalahari Ferrari,” delivering some of the best performances of his career throughout the 2024 season. By finishing with the highest points in the championship overall, the Hero rider claimed the title.

Ross Branch’s journey in 2024 has been remarkable since the beginning. In January, he delivered Hero MotoSports’ first-ever Dakar podium by finishing second overall, during the opening round of the championship. In February, he finished second at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which allowed him to take the lead in the championship standings. Branch continued his solid performances with a fifth-place finish in both Rally Raid Portugal (April) and Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina (June), holding on to the lead until the final round in Morocco, where he secured the world title.

With this victory, Ross Branch becomes the 11th rider to etch his name in the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship history for motorcycles, which dates back to 2003. He is also the first African rider to win the prestigious title.

Hero MotoSports also made its mark in motorsport history, achieving its first FIM World Championship title just eight years after its debut in competitive racing. This victory places Hero MotoCorp alongside other giants of the sport, as the sixth manufacturer to win a FIM World Championship and the first to break the winning streak of the KTM group (including KTM, GasGas, and Husqvarna), which had dominated the title since 2014.

Wolfgang Fischer, team manager of Hero MotoSports Team Rally, expressed his pride: ‘This is our moment of glory, forever etched in the history of the sport. Ross, our shining star, has brought home our most prized possession – the World Championship. Our journey started eight years ago as a small team with big dreams. I’m extremely happy for Ross and proud of everything our team has achieved through hard work and dedication. Following our best-ever performance at the Dakar, we managed to keep the momentum throughout the year, winning the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and finishing second at Rally Raid Portugal. Rallye Du Maroc, the final round, was crucial, and our entire team rose to the challenge’.

Fischer also thanked Hero MotoCorp’s chairman, Dr. Pawan Munjal, for his continuous support, as well as the team’s partners, fans, and supporters: ‘Now it’s time to celebrate! We’ll be back soon. See you at the Dakar!’

O conteúdo Ross Branch makes history and is the new Rally-Raid World Champion! aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Honda has been crowned constructors’ champion in the 2024 World Rally-Raid Championship, achieving this feat for the third consecutive year. The Monster Energy Honda team demonstrated consistency and excellence throughout the season, winning three rounds of the championship, including the prestigious Dakar Rally.

Ruben Faria, team director, expressed his satisfaction with the overall performance: ‘We are happy to finish one more rally and the season too. We were really close to winning the riders’ title but it was just out of our reach’. Faria congratulated Ross Branch on his World Championship win.

Highlighting the team’s success, Faria added: ‘A huge positive is that for the third time in a row we won the manufacturers’ World Championship. Now we continue to work, the riders will train, and our focus is on our next goal of winning Dakar 2025, something we will do everything to achieve’.

This title reaffirms Honda’s position as a dominant force in the world of rally-raid, setting high expectations for the upcoming season.

O conteúdo Honda clinches Constructors’ Title in World Rally-Raid Championship aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

A Honda sagrou-se campeã de construtores no Campeonato Mundial de Rally-Raid de 2024, alcançando este feito pelo terceiro ano consecutivo. A equipa Monster Energy Honda demonstrou consistência e excelência ao longo da temporada, vencendo três rondas do campeonato, incluindo o prestigiado Rali Dakar.

Ruben Faria, diretor da equipa, expressou a sua satisfação com o desempenho global: ‘Estamos felizes por terminar mais um rali e a temporada também. Estivemos muito perto de ganhar o título de pilotos, mas ficou fora do nosso alcance’.

Destacando o sucesso da equipa, Faria acrescentou: ‘Um grande ponto positivo é que pela terceira vez consecutiva vencemos o Campeonato Mundial de Construtores. Agora continuamos a trabalhar, os pilotos vão treinar, e o nosso foco está no nosso próximo objetivo de vencer o Dakar 2025, algo que faremos tudo para alcançar’.

Este título reafirma a posição da Honda como uma força dominante no mundo do rally-raid, estabelecendo expectativas elevadas para a próxima temporada.

O conteúdo Honda conquista título de Construtores no Campeonato Mundial de Rally-Raid aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Adrien Van Beveren, rider for Monster Energy Honda Team, finished the Rallye du Maroc in fourth place overall, demonstrating consistent improvement throughout the event. The Frenchman secured a third place in the final stage, consolidating his position in the championship.

Despite facing a challenging start, Van Beveren showed resilience and adaptability: ‘It was a tough rally but I’m really happy with how I rode because it’s not normally my preferred terrain and I got into a better rhythm quite quickly,” commented the rider’.

Van Beveren highlighted the importance of this performance in preparation for the Dakar: ‘It’s important for me to finish with a good feeling like that just in time for Dakar. It’s the fourth year in a row that I’m on the podium of the World Rally-Raid Championship; I’ve been runner up twice, in third twice, so I want to keep my dream alive and take that top spot’.

With this result, Van Beveren reaffirms his position as one of the main contenders for the title in the upcoming season.

O conteúdo Adrien Van Beveren satisfied with performance in Rallye du Maroc: ‘To finish with a good feeling like that just in time for Dakar’ aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Tosha Schareina, rider for Monster Energy Honda Team, ended his participation in the Rallye du Maroc with a victory in the final stage, securing second place in the overall standings. The Spaniard demonstrated a remarkable ability to recover after facing setbacks in previous days.

Despite the obstacles encountered, including a time penalty in the third stage due to a roadbook error, Schareina remained focused and competitive. His victory in the final stage equaled the record of ten stage wins in the World Rally-Raid Championship in a single season.

Reflecting on his performance, Schareina stated: ‘We made a few mistakes in this rally, but the end result was really good. The bike and the team were great throughout this event and I’m so proud of them’.

The rider is already looking to the future, adding: ‘The next challenge is Dakar, so of course I will now focus on this and be prepared for January’.

This result consolidates Schareina’s position as one of Honda’s leading riders, promising a strong performance in the upcoming Dakar Rally.

O conteúdo Tosha Schareina concludes Rallye du Maroc in great style aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

The Rally of Morocco is over and once again Tosha Schareina finished the day as the fastest driver, but in the end the biggest celebrations belonged to Daniel Sanders, who won the overall race.

It took Schareina (Honda) 2h33m04s to cover the 273km Special, in a stage that also included a 103km link, so he finished 52s ahead of Santolino (Sherco) and his teammate Adrien Van Beveren.

However, despite his three victories (prologue, second and fifth stages), Schareina had no arguments to counter Sanders (KTM), who finished as the race winner with 11m07s over #68, while Luciano Benavides (KTM) was third, 21m03s behind.

Honda also won the Constructors’ title in the World Rally-Raid Championship.

Top ten of the day:

Top ten overall:

O conteúdo Tosha Schareina wins the last stage of the Rallye du Maroc but Daniel Sanders is the great winner aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.

Another day and another victory for Daniel Sanders in this edition of the Rally of Morocco, with the KTM rider repeating yesterday’s result, with a gap of more than five minutes to the day’s most direct opponent, Jose Ignacio ‘Nacho’ Cornejo.

The Austrian KTM rider took 3h34m17s to complete today’s 350km Special Stage, with a 62-link, which started and finished in Mengoub. Cornejo (Hero) was the closest but finished 5m31s after #5, while Luciano Benavides (KTM) rounded off the podium, 8m11s behind.

Harith Noah (Sherco) was fourth, ahead of Tosha Schareina (Honda) who rounded off the top five, already more than 10 minutes behind the day’s winner.

Stay with the top ten of the day:

O conteúdo Daniel Sanders wins again, in the fourth stage of the Rallye du Maroc aparece primeiro em Motorcycle Sports.