It’s a big year for India at the Dakar. Not only do we have the first ever Indian rider, CS Santosh competing in the world’s toughest cross country rally-raid, there is another first. This is that Indian motorcycle manufacturer TVS Motor Corp has become the first Indian company to compete in the gruelling event, in association with Sherco, with the newly formed Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team. And the first day of the Dakar, with Stage 1 running from Buenos Aires to Villa Carlos Paz, proved to be a good start for the Indian contingent.
After the stage had been completed, it was KTM rider Sam Sunderland at the head of the timing sheets for motorcycles. But what really stood out was the fact that the Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team was doing so well at their first attempt at the event. Sherco rider Alain Dulcos managed to put the No.14 motorcycle fifth on the timing sheets, 2 minutes and 8 seconds adrift of the leader. The second Sherco TVS, No.25 piloted by Fabien Planet, ended the day 24th in class.
