KTM'S COMA CHASES SIXTH ABU DHABI RALLY TITLE

The Spanish rider has had more than two months to recover from the 2012 Dakar when he finished second to KTM Factory teammate Cyril Despres. Both riders were on the KTM 450 Rally bike. A third member of the KTM factory team, Ruben Faria of Portugal will join Coma to meet the challenge of the rally which in its five days covers over 2000 km including 1520 timed sections.

Coma, who is very much at home riding in the desert said he was looking forward to the challenge. The rally opens on Sunday with the prologue and runs through to April 6.  He said he was looking forward to the challenge and described it as ‘very demanding’ particularly as the temperatures can go beyond 40 ºC. Coma and the other riders will experience extreme temperatures when they tackle the Al Gharbia region and the Liwa desert. Stage four of 500 km, including 318 km against the clock is expected to be the toughest and mistakes will rarely be forgiven.

Start numbers reflect the final result of the 2011 Rally Raid Championships in which Coma did not compete in all events. He rides with #3 and Faria has #5. Other top KTM riders include Jakub “Kuba” Prygonski of Poland and his PZM teammate Marek Dabrowski, Jordi Viladoms of Spain, Mohammed Balooshi of KTM UAE who rode his first Dakar in January and Miran Stanovnik Slovenia. Coma won this event in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2011. 

Check the specs of the KTM 450 Rally bike here.