2012-10-23 16:42
After announcing Honda's return to the Dakar earlier this year, TEAM HRC and the new CRF450 Rally machine were unveiled at the Intermot Show in Cologne, Germany on 2 October.
The first test for team and bike took place last week at the 2012 Rallye du Maroc when the five-rider TEAM HRC squad competed together for the first time.
With some impressive performances, Portugal's Helder Rodrigues was in superb form, recording two stage wins. Sadly, a technical problem in stage three prevented Rodrigues and the team from a possible overall podium.
However, the rally was predominantly a data-gathering and Dakar preparation exercise and, in that respect, was an outstanding success.