Aprilia Savors Fifth Stage Win at Dakar

The Dakar Rally– that brutally epic offroad race that separates the two (and four) wheeled men from the boys– gained national attention in 2008 when it was canceled due to terrorist threats. But this year, the competition is barreling along a collision course from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Antofagasta, Chile.

Chilean talent Francisco Lopez took his Aprilia RXV 4.5 to victory in the fifth stage of the rally after facing a series of problems in previous stages. Aprilia is campaigning four RXV 4.5s in the rally, and claims to be the only constructor applying the twin-cylinder layout to supermoto series (claiming the AMA Supermoto Championship in 2007 and five World Supermoto Championships.) Though they’re trailing in fifth place overall at the Dakar rally (behind three KTMs and a Yamaha), the RXV 4.5– as well as their new RSV4 superbike– is helping elevate Aprilia’s reputation as a company that can step up and play with the big boys on the global stage.

For more on Dakar, check out this Stage 5 Promo Clip.

Related:

• Aprilia RXV 5.5 Review
• RXV 5.5 Photo Gallery

Photo © Aprilia

Aprilia Savors Fifth Stage Win at Dakar originally appeared on About.com Motorcycles on Friday, January 8th, 2010 at 23:40:22.

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