Spaniard Jordi Villadoms will return to KTM Racing as part of the Red Bull KTM Rally Factory team for the 2014 Dakar Rally.

Villadoms, 33, rode in the Dakar for KTM from 2006-2010 and will ride as official support rider of triple winner Marc Coma next year. His best result came in 2012, finishing fourth.

The late signing of Villadoms comes following the sad death of American Kurt Caselli, who was scheduled to ride for KTM next season.

“It’s obviously a shame to be inheriting the ride under such sad circumstances, but I’ll be doing my best to put on a good show in Kurt’s memory,” Villadoms said.


Joining Coma and Villadoms in the team for the 2014 edition of the Dakar are Ruben Faria and Francisco ‘Chaleco’ Lopez – all aboard the latest edition of the KTM 450 Factory Rally bike.

KTM has won the Dakar every year since their breakthrough year in 2001, except for 2008 when it was cancelled at the last minute because of security issues in Northern Africa.


The Dakar Rally starts on 5 January and this year takes riders through Argentina, north into Bolivia and then down into Chile where it concludes at Valparaiso on 18 January.