Riding the DS 650 X, a Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) vehicle, Antoine Morel won first place in the ATV category at the 27th edition of the Telefonica Dakar Rally. Morel completed the 8,956 km between Barcelona, Spain and Dakar, Senegal, maintaining his lead from beginning to end.
This constitutes a major win for experienced racer Antoine Morel, who was participating to the event for the 15th time, his 3rd riding a DS 650 X ATV.
"I've had no technical problems with my DS; from Barcelona to Dakar, the engine turned with the regularity of a clock, allowing me to ride at a regular pace and to reach pit stops within reasonable delays, before nighttime," said Antoine Morel. "My DS's size and its dynamic characteristics allowed me to maintain my lead in key sections of the itinerary."
Minor modifications were induced to Antoine Morel's DS 650 X. However, the initial motor and frame were left unmodified. To conform to rally rules, a 3-liter water tank was added, and gas tank capacities were increased of 52 litres.
"I congratulate Antoine Morel for his remarkable achievement. Riding all the way to Dakar and climbing on the highest step of the podium demands great tenacity and incredible willpower," declared Michel Hade, vice-president and general director, sales and international marketing at BRP. "This victory also illustrates the DS 650 X's competitive and technical characteristics. The ATV, slightly modified from the original version, suffered from no technical failures."
This new victory follows other successes previously achieved by the DS 650 X in 2004: Ruben Martin's outstanding first place at Mexico's "Baja 1000" in November and Christophe Kuhnl's noteworthy second place at the "Roof of Africa", which took place in South Africa last December.
Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. is a world leader in design, development, manufacturing, distributing and marketing of Sea Doo® watercraft and sport boats, Ski Doo® and LynxTM snowmobiles, Johnson® and Evinrude® outboard engines, direct injection technologies such as Evinrude E TECTM, Bombardier all-terrain vehicles (ATV), RotaxTM engines and karts, as well as Bombardier utility vehicles.
For more information on the 2005 Telefonica Dakar Rally including more pictures, maps and overall results, visit the official website at www.dakar.com.