Motorcycle Rally: Is This Aprilia’s Year? from Bikes in the Fast Lane

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Motorcycle Rally: Is This Aprilia’s Year?

October
2010

  File under Aprilia Racing
  Author: Mike Werner
  Location: Normandy, France

At the 2010 Dakar earlier this year, Aprilia

motorcycles made a big impression. Chilean racer Francisco “Chaleco” Lopez

was amazing, but so was his motorcycle. Finishing third overall is an incredible feat. It was an early sign that KTM should start looking towards the Italian motorcycle manufacturer as a serious competitor. Many people thought that the menace would come from the East, specially from Yamaha. But Aprilia have shown that their rally motorcycle is strong and very fast.

Francisco “Chaleco” Lopez on his Aprilia

To prove the point, Chaleco drew first blood in the Pharaons Rally

in Egypt. The Pharaons is always seen as one of the main testing grounds for the Dakar racers, and you'll see most of the top riders participating in the race. Well, Chaleco won the first stage yesterday, with a 5 minute lead over number two, the Portuguese racer Helder Rodrigues

.

Francisco Lopez: "It was a fast and beautiful stage. I profit that I started behind and I went full gas, always keeping things under control. The road book has many changes of direction. I started 37th and I got out the special stage 4th. I must say it was a wonderful way of starting. "