The first series of tests throughout August and early September of the all-new Honda CRF450 RALLY have been completed by TEAM HRC Rally as the team and its five riders prepare for the forthcoming Dakar.

TEAM HRC’s riders, led by Helder Rodrigues, Joan Barreda and Paulo Goncalves, put the new bike through its paces in the Californian desert near Barstow alongside Sam Sunderland and Javier Pizzolito, with the assistance of expert American rider Johnny Campbell.

The CRF450 RALLY has been rebuilt from the ground up based on the demands arising from the last edition of the Dakar 2013.

“We are really happy with the way the tests have gone until now,” said Katsumi Yamazaki, TEAM HRC Rally director. “We have reached all the goals which we set ourselves at the start of this new project. The new CRF450 RALLY is lighter, more powerful, reliable and handles well and easier.

“We now have another month of intensive tests and racing in Morocco to fine tune a few final details, but the immediate feedback from all the riders for the new machine was extremely positive.”

The brand new machine and the official HRC riders will make their debut in the next Oilibya Maroc Rally to be held in Morocco from 13-19 October.