Back in the day when motocross world champion, KTM sporting director and trained baker Heinz Kinigadner (49) rode in the Dakar Rally, drivers pinned compasses to their sleeves. These days, he says, the drivers have a much easier ride.

The gloves are off for the 2010 Dakar Rally as all 361 competitors and their crews left the haven of La Rural to put on a show of force for the fanatical Argentine crowd.

Volkswagen have high hopes of repeating their diesel-powered victory in last year’s Dakar Rally car class. The team made history as they took top spot on the podium in the first edition of the race to be held outside Africa.

Cyril Despres reports on getting to know his new team-mate Ruben Faria

Giniel de Villiers was the first African to win the Paris-Dakar rally – in the first year it wasn’t held in Africa. But part of the great continent will always be with the Red Bull VW driver, as he likes eating springboks...

KTM sporting director Heinz Kinigadner gives us his take on the Austrian motorbike company’s performance in the Dakar Rally.

The new king of the Dakar, Marc Coma, has endured weeks of racing through the heat, dust and rain of South America. Now, he says, he really wants a snooze.

Marc Coma’s winning ride in the 31st Dakar Rally has been hailed as the performance of the race by the competition organisers.

An inaccurate weather report meant that defending Dakar bike champion Cyril Despres missed an opportunity to close the gap on the race leader.

Frenchman Cyril Despres (KTM) won his third stage of the Dakar finishing Stage 12 1.23secs ahead of Spain’s Marc Coma (KTM), passing David Frétigné to take second place overall.

After establishing a commanding lead in the Dakar Rally, disaster struck for Carlos Sainz when he careered off the track, down a ravine and out of the race.

Two-times Dakar champion, Cyril Despres, blogs from the sand dunes of Chile on his progress in Stage 10 of the Dakar.

The winner of the Dakar 2007, Cyril Despres, has taken his first stage win on the 2009 Rally Dakar.