Dakar – Trusted Since 1999 | Total Motorcycle

The Next Evolution: 2026 KTM 450 Rally Motorcycles!

June 9, 2025 Michael Le Pard

Get ready, adventure riders! KTM has unleashed the 2026 KTM 450 RALLY motorcycles, machines built for Dakar legend fans like you! KTM launches the Next Evolution with only 150 units available worldwide – and an […]

RUNNER-UP RESULT FOR LUCIANO BENAVIDES ON DAKAR STAGE 11

January 16, 2025 Michael Le Pard

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has secured an impressive second-place result on a shortened stage 11 at the 2025 Dakar Rally. Finishing just 33 seconds shy of the win, Luciano’s superb result keeps him in fourth […]

EDGAR CANET FIFTH-FASTEST ON STAGE 10 AT DAKAR 2025

January 16, 2025 Michael Le Pard

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Edgar Canet showcased his skill and consistency on stage 10 of the 2025 Dakar Rally, navigating the demanding dunes of the Empty Quarter to secure a fifth-place finish. The Spaniard’s […]

LUCIANO BENAVIDES WINS STAGE FIVE AT DAKAR 2025

January 10, 2025 Michael Le Pard

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has claimed an impressive stage win on the final day of week one at the 2025 Dakar Rally, his first victory of the event, moving him up to seventh overall […]

TOP-FIVE RESULT FOR LUCIANO BENAVIDES ON DAKAR STAGE THREE

January 7, 2025 Michael Le Pard

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides delivered an impressive fifth-place finish on stage three of the 2025 Dakar Rally, maintaining his sixth-place position in the overall standings. Edgar Canet showed blistering pace on the 327-kilometer timed […]

STAGE TWO VICTORY FOR SANDERS AT DAKAR 2025

January 6, 2025 Michael Le Pard

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders has won the ultra-challenging 48-hour chrono stage, extending his rally lead to over 12 minutes after two stages. Luciano Benavides delivered another strong ride to place sixth, with Kevin Benavides successfully completing the stage […]

Final destination of Dakar Aprilia continues to battle at top of Africa Eco Race

January 11, 2024 Michael Le Pard

The Aprilia Tuaregs consistently at the top in the African desert JACOPO CERUTTI, SECOND, STRENGTHENS HIS GRIP ON THE LEAD IN THE OVERALL STANDINGS OF THE AFRICA ECO RACE WITH FOUR LEGS LEFT TO REACH […]

Quickest 645-kilometre stage five of Dakar 2024

January 11, 2024 Michael Le Pard

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has completed the 645-kilometre stage five of Dakar 2024, posting the ninth-quickest time. Unfortunately, after suffering a technical issue with his FR 450 Rally in the final five kilometres of […]

HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING COMPLETE CHALLENGING STAGE ONE AT DAKAR 2024

January 6, 2024 Michael Le Pard

Husqvarna Factory Racing got the 2024 Dakar Rally underway with reigning World Rally-Raid Champion Luciano Benavides safely completing stage one. The first true special stage of the event presented hundreds of kilometres of rocky, volcanic […]

Start of 2024 Dakar hugely demanding for all riders from AlUla to Al Henakiyah

January 6, 2024 Michael Le Pard

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Kevin Benavides and Toby Price have both made a strong start to their 2024 Dakar Rally campaigns by successfully completing the demanding stage one of the event. Benavides placed eighth on the special with […]

Aiming to re-write record books once more at Africa Eco Race 2024

December 18, 2023 Michael Le Pard

Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team Ready to Take on Africa Eco Race The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team’s Pol Tarrés and Alessandro Botturi, in partnership with Riders for Health, are aiming to re-write the record books once […]

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING READY FOR DAKAR 2024

December 13, 2023 Michael Le Pard

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Kevin Benavides and Toby Price are fully focused on success as they complete their final preparations ahead of the 2024 Dakar Rally, which starts in Saudi Arabia on January 5. Matthias Walkner will unfortunately […]

KTM announces off-road motorcycle engineer Andreas Hölzl now leader of all KTM AG Rally Teams

September 22, 2023 Michael Le Pard

KTM AG is pleased to announce that experienced off-road motorcycle engineer Andreas Hölzl will take over the leadership of all KTM AG Rally Teams with immediate effect having previously held the role of Husqvarna Factory […]

Two-time Dakar winner finishes 2023 Desafio Ruta 40 in 9th

September 2, 2023 Michael Le Pard

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price has placed fourth on the final stage of the 2023 Desafio Ruta 40. After a tough start to the event, where a technical issue cost Price around an hour on […]

KTM Dakar Champion suffers broken lunate bone and ligament damage

August 1, 2023 Michael Le Pard

KEVIN BENAVIDES SIDELINED WITH WRIST INJURY Rally Announcement Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Kevin Benavides is recovering well after undergoing surgery to repair an injury he sustained to his right wrist while training in the […]

Inspiration Friday: Legends of the Dakar Exhibition

May 12, 2023 Michael Le Pard

The word “Dakar” brings up images of desert, dunes, heat and exotic locals but also hero’s and overcoming inspiring challenges overcome. Welcome to week #244 of Inspiration Friday: Legends of the Dakar Exhibition. Be inspired […]

Motul oil expands bespoke innovation partnership with ARCH Motorcycle

May 11, 2023 Michael Le Pard

MOTUL EXPANDS TECHNICAL PARTNERSHIP WITH ARCH MOTORCYCLE Expanded partnership integrates MotulTech’s line of metalworking products into ARCH Motorcycle’s manufacturing process Cypress, Calif. (May 10, 2023) – Motul, the world-class oil and lubricants company founded in […]

Baja Dakar NGPC series at 29 Palms California Results

April 6, 2023 Michael Le Pard

Round 5 29 Palms, CA April 1st, 2023 DeMartile Top Ten at 29 Palms The NGPC series descended on the 29 Palms Motorsports Complex for round 5 of the championship. The course featured some Baja/Dakar […]

Aprilia Racing Tuareg 660 a legend forged from off-road races

January 28, 2023 Michael Le Pard

RACING IS READY TO GO OFF ROAD AS IT PREPARES FOR A RETURN TO THE TOP RALLY RAIDS THE TUAREG 660 IS CENTRAL TO THE NEW APRILIA RACING PROJECT. AS IS CLEAR FROM THE NAME […]

Stunning Podium Performance on Stage 10 at Dakar

January 12, 2023 Michael Le Pard

Casale & Leon Produce Stunning Podium Performance on Stage 10 at Dakar X-raid Yamaha Supported Team’s Ignacio Casale and Alvaro Leon secured the fourth podium of the Dakar Rally for the YXZ1000R Turbo prototype during […]

Ferreira & Palmeiro Make History for Yamaha During Stage 4 at Dakar

January 5, 2023 Michael Le Pard

X-raid Yamaha Supported Team’s João Ferreira and co-driver Filipe Palmeiro secured the first stage podium for the YXZ1000R Dakar Rally project in the T3 class in Saudi Arabia on a day that saw all six […]

2023 Dakar YXZ1000R Prototypes SSVs took on Dakar Rally first stage Yanbu

January 2, 2023 Michael Le Pard

Casale & Leon Power to Fifth During Stage 1 at the Dakar X-raid Yamaha Supported Team’s Ignacio Casale and Alvaro Leon stormed to fifth position in the T3 class on the opening stage of the […]

Good opening day as Dakar 2023 got underway in Yanbu Saudi Arabia

January 1, 2023 Michael Le Pard

Ricardo Porém and co-driver Augusto Sanz led the way for the X-raid Yamaha Supported Team during the Prologue at the 45th edition of the Dakar Rally, securing a strong sixth-place finish, while the other six […]

Dakar Rally 2023 – Team Announcement

December 4, 2022 Michael Le Pard

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Matthias Walkner, Toby Price, and Kevin Benavides are ready to take on the 2023 Dakar Rally. With less than one month to go before the start of the iconic event, […]

Rewrite the Record Books at the Africa Eco Race

October 31, 2022 Michael Le Pard

Ténéré World Raid Team Rewrite the Record Books at the Africa Eco Race The Yamaha Ténéré World Raid Team arrived at the end of the Africa Eco Race, alongside the legendary Lac Rose in Dakar, […]

Inspiration Friday: Most Epic Adventure is Back!

August 26, 2022 Michael Le Pard

This week’s Inspiration Friday: Most Epic Adventure is Back takes a look at the more intense, epic and exclusive adventure you could ever do on two wheels, the Honda Africa Twin Morocco Epic Tour! Held […]

2023 DAKAR STARTS IN SCHIRANNA

June 23, 2022 Michael Le Pard

MV Agusta hosted the official presentation of the next edition of the legendary rally-raid race. Varese, June 23, 2022 – The 2023 edition of the Dakar race was officially unveiled for the Italian public on […]

Yamaha Returns to African Roots

April 12, 2022 Michael Le Pard

Yamaha Motor Europe is pleased to announce that the all-new Yamaha Ténéré World Raid Team will contest the Africa Eco Race, which will run from Monaco to the legendary finish in Dakar, Senegal from October […]

Best 2022 Adventure Bike?

March 21, 2022 Michael Le Pard

Top 10 ADV bikes, Top 8 Best-Selling Adventure Bikes, Top 5 “must-ride” motorcycles, fantastic, coolest, top, best… blah, blah, blah, click-bait titles. So what is the best 2022 Adventure Bike? The one YOU like, the […]

Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2022 – Stage 1

March 6, 2022 Michael Le Pard

Less than two months after the completion of the Dakar Rally, Red Bull KTM are back in action at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. The event opened with a short, two-kilometer prologue sprint to decide […]

2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Starts

March 6, 2022 Michael Le Pard

LUCIANO BENAVIDES AND SKYLER HOWES SAFELY COMPLETE THE OPENING DAY OF RACING IN ABU DHABI Enjoying a positive start to the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, round two of the FIM Rally-Raid World Championship, Husqvarna Factory […]

Inspiration Friday: Harley-Davidson Adventure Awaits

March 4, 2022 Michael Le Pard

Spring is here and I don’t know about you but I can’t wait to ride my motorcycle again. No Biden, Trudeau, Putin or Zelenskyy….global events be damned! Time to refresh the mental health with Inspiration […]

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING READY FOR SECOND WEEK AT DAKAR 2022

January 8, 2022 Michael Le Pard

Saturday at the Dakar gives all competitors a well-earned break from competition, and with the 2022 Dakar Rally challenging competitors right from the start with its long, grueling stages and technical navigation, the Red Bull […]

MIXED FORTUNES FOR HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING ON DAKAR STAGE FIVE

January 7, 2022 Michael Le Pard

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides has delivered a strong performance on a demanding stage five of the 2022 Dakar Rally to claim a 10th place finish. Continuing to put in strong, consistent stage results, the […]

Riders struggling with all the drama at Dakar 2022

January 3, 2022 Michael Le Pard

Unfortunately for Skyler’s teammate Luciano Benavides, the Argentinian saw what began as a positive day’s work come undone mid-way between the refuelling stop and the end of the special stage. One of the first rider […]

WILD KTM FACTORY RACING CLOSE A TROPHY-LADEN 2021

December 29, 2021 Michael Le Pard

MXGP and AMA 450SX titles celebrated as Red Bull KTM run wild with the KTM 450 SX-F Two more MotoGP™ Grand Prix wins & domination for the KTM GP Academy in Moto3™ & Moto2™ E2 […]

5-Time Prestigious Dakar Rally Winner Joins KTM Dakar Management

December 20, 2021 Michael Le Pard

One of the most successful riders in rally-raid history, Marc Coma has won the prestigious Dakar Rally five times, all while competing on KTM machinery. The 45-year-old Spanish star also has six FIM Cross-Country Rallies […]

Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 2021 – Preview

November 6, 2021 Michael Le Pard

The Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge is made up of five full days of racing, primarily held in the dunes of the Liwa Desert. Totaling 1,949 kilometers, the event will feature 1,357 kilometers raced against the […]

Scaled down 2022 Dakar special

October 10, 2021 Michael Le Pard

Following on from what was a challenging opening stage on the 2021 Rallye Du Maroc, Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team’s Ross Branch has bounced back strongly, putting together a calculated ride on stage two to […]

YXZ1000R Prototype at Andalucía Rally Stage 1

May 13, 2021 Michael Le Pard

The Yamaha YXZ1000R prototype was on the start line for the first time since the final stage of the 2021 Dakar Rally today with Yamaha Motor Europe President and CEO Eric de Seynes, and 2021 […]

Yamaha YXZ1000R prototype spotted

May 11, 2021 Michael Le Pard

Yamaha YXZ1000R Prototype Returns to Action at Andalucía Rally The Yamaha YXZ1000R prototype will be back in action for the first time since the Dakar, as the X-raid Yamaha Rally Racing Supported Team head for […]

Husqvarna Motorcycles announce signing new Cross-Country rally racer

April 27, 2021 Michael Le Pard

AMERICAN RALLY STAR TO COMPETE ONBOARD FR 450 RALLY MACHINERY THROUGH 2023 Husqvarna Motorcycles is pleased to announce the signing of Skyler Howes to the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team. Signing a three-year contract, […]

Husqvarna Motorcycles Immediately Retires Superstar Racer

April 26, 2021 Michael Le Pard

Husqvarna Motorcycles would like to thank Pablo Quintanilla for his commitment, enthusiasm and successes throughout his five seasons with the team, racing both the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship and the Dakar Rally. Husqvarna Motorcycles […]

Inspiration Friday: Design Fashion & Style

April 23, 2021 Michael Le Pard

Total Motorcycling brings you this week’s Inspiration Friday: Design Fashion & Style, in style! 1946, quite the year for riding and the history books. First bikini, United Nations, V2 Rockets, UNICEF, “It’s a Wonderful Life”, […]

Dakar champion Signed to Race for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing

April 7, 2021 Michael Le Pard

Benavides, who is this year’s Dakar champion and arguably one of rally’s hottest properties, has signed to race for the Austrian outfit in a bid to compete for the World Championship title and to defend […]

Dakar Rally Final 6 Stages of 2021 Event to Start

January 10, 2021 Michael Le Pard

Lying 10th and 11th respectively in the overall rally standings and having successfully completed six days of racing at the 2021 Dakar, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Pablo Quintanilla and Luciano Benavides are currently enjoying […]

Impressive Finish at Dakar Stage 6 for Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team

January 9, 2021 Michael Le Pard

Stage six of the 2021 Dakar Rally proved to be a highly positive one for the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team with Ross Branch narrowly missing out on taking a maiden stage win. Claiming an […]

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing talks about 2021 Dakar Rally

January 4, 2021 Michael Le Pard

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Pablo Quintanilla and Luciano Benavides will today take to the start of the 2021 Dakar Rally. The South American duo have completed their Shakedown tests and all administrative checks and […]

Opening stage of the 2021 Dakar Rally

December 31, 2020 Michael Le Pard

Launching into 2021 focused on success, for the first time in history the Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team will enter the Dakar Rally with five riders. Forming a formidable line-up of experienced, determined racers, all […]

Adrien Van Beveren completes Dakar preparations with another Hail Baja win

December 17, 2020 Michael Le Pard

Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Official Team’s Adrien Van Beveren has topped the second Hail Baja, his final competitive outing ahead of the 2021 Dakar Rally. With participation proving to be highly productive for the Frenchman, […]

Top 10 New Adventure Bikes for 2021

October 12, 2020 Michael Le Pard

On-road, off-road, enduro, adventure… Travel the mixed roads with Total Motorcycle’s Top 10 New Adventure Bikes for 2021 and runner-ups from KTM, Husqvarna, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW, Ducati, Honda and Harley-Davidson. Adventure motorcycles (aka ADV […]

Inspiration Friday: Dirt to Dakar – Epic Games Dream Comes True

May 15, 2020 Michael Le Pard

Honda’s Ricky Brabec: A fighter and a man with a dream. To not just compete in the Dakar but win it versus seasoned racing professionals. From “good” to “best” takes more than a dream and […]

4 REASONS TO VISIT THE KTM MOTOHALL – Museum, Exhibition, Interaction and Education

March 21, 2020 Michael Le Pard

KTM’s factory has spread significantly through Mattighofen and into the neighboring Munderfing in recent years but the ribbon-cutting of the KTM Motohall in 2019 marked an aesthetic and necessary reference point for the company in the upper Austrian town and away from the assembly line buildings, engine […]