Cyril Despres’ Dakar Machine: Yamaha 450 YZF Rally

By Tim Sturtridge

We go inside Yamaha Motor France to learn about Cyril Despres’ new ride for the 2014 Dakar Rally...

Alexandre Kowalski, Team Manager of Yamaha Motor France, has got big ambitions of the upcoming desert classic in South America. Signing up five-time Dakar champion Cyril Despres is a clear signal that the team are targeting a return to the glory days of Stéphane Peterhansel’s multiple wins with Yamaha. We asked Alexandre about his plans for a second spell of Yamaha dominance at the Dakar…

RedBull.com: What pleased you most about the Yamaha 450 YZF Rally during the previous Dakar?

Alexandre Kowalski: The two things that pleased us most were the bike’s top speed and its reliability. We were the only frontrunners who didn’t have to change an engine during the 2013 Dakar and when you consider that a first engine change costs you a 15-minute penalty and a second 40-minutes that’s a very important bonus. On the 2013 Dakar we saw that the bike had great potential, that it was capable of leading the race and so the logical decision was to continue to refine the model rather than build a completely new machine.

You don’t sign a rider like Cyril Despres, five-time Dakar winner, to come second!

 
 RB: What adjustments have been made to the bike ahead of your next trip to the Dakar?

AK: The suspension has been improved, there are new fuel tanks front and rear, a new Akrapovic exhaust system, a new front fairing, a modified riding position, a new instrument layout, a new water tank. The list is extensive. With all these elements in place we are coming back with a much more competitive package.

For 2014 our ambition is quite simply to win the race.

RB: You have now welcomed Cyril Despres to your team, what ideas have you been working on with your new rider?

AK: In terms of the bike many of the changes mentioned above have come directly from Cyril’s comments following extensive tests. Cyril has unrivalled experience in rally-raid and his background as a mechanic means he is able to translate his impressions into concrete suggestions. In addition he has brought with him some key members of his previous team such as his mechanic Benji Melot and Chris Evans who has been with him since the start of his career. We have also assigned Mickael Metge as Cyril’s support rider and they have formed an excellent working relationship. You don’t sign a rider like Cyril Despres, five-time Dakar winner, to come second! For 2014 our ambition is quite simply to win the race.

RB: The Yamaha 450 YZF Rally will fly to South America. This gives you slightly longer to develop and test the bike so how are you using this time?

AK: We will be using the extra days to continue to test all the changes we have made to the bike. Getting ready for the Dakar is always a race against time and by choosing to fly the bikes out, rather than put them on the boat, we have gained almost a month of extra of testing time that could well pay dividends come next January.

By choosing to fly the bikes out, rather than put them on the boat, we have gained almost a month of extra of testing time.

RB: Can this current Yamaha team dominate the Dakar like they did when Stéphane Peterhansel was on your bike?

AK: It is difficult to compare the two periods. Now we are on a different continent and the race has evolved considerably. There is also a lot of competition with serious factory efforts from a number of teams who have invested heavily. Everything has become much more professional. That said, with a rider of Cyril’s ability and a bike as fast and reliable as the YZF 450 Rally there’s no reason why we shouldn’t see another run of success for the Yamaha team.