Zoom First Victory for David Casteu in rally-raid.

Before the start of the Central Europe Rally, many people were convinced this new rally would offer the best opportunity to finally break the dominance of the KTM Rally bikes.

Short distances, tracks more suitable to enduro bikes and easy navigation. Despite these ingredients KTM choose to race the 690 Rally Bike, and the results proved them right.

« We're more than satisfied with the results, as 8 from 9 in the top 10 placed KTM riders were using the Rally 690. 17's KTM's in the top 20 of which 12 are 690 Rally's say it all. The third place overall for amateur Alain Duclos also showed how close the 690 Rallye Replica is to the Factory bike. Pellicier, Faria and Rodriguez, who had all chosen a 690 for Dakar 2008 will have regretted their change to Yamaha respectively Honda. » said Team Manager Hans Trunkenpolz.

How did the Rally Light perform ?
« The fastest times set by Coma and Despres have confirmed the concept is good. The next rally in Brazil which is ridden from 18th to 28th of June all riders in our Factory Team will start on the Rally Light. We only need to do a few minor modifications before the conversion kit will be available for owners of a 690 Rally Replica late this autumn. »

What is your opinion of the first Central Europe Rally (CER) ?
« The organization did everything possible to organize a top event in a very short time. The CER has nothing to do with the Dakar rally, you just can't bring dunes and camels to Hungary. The start in Budapest at the ‘Heroes Square' with all the fans and great atmosphere was good. The routes will need a lot of attention for the second edition. Especially in Rumania the specials were way too short, with riding times under an hour, and too much enduro-minded. The timed stages should have a minimum length of 300 kilometers, for the CER to distinguish itself from a Baja or Enduro. The organizers have the know-how, but in this short preparation time is was the best they could do. Media-coverage was good. Results were available very quickly, and TV-images very professional. The only problem was the time of broadcasting. But everybody with interest in this event was able to get great images of the rally. It was clear this was a job done by the experienced Dakar-team. »

« It was good to show that although the traditional Dakar rally won't be back for a while, the organization behind it and behind the Dakar series is still there. In general it was a good event, for sure the wish for more rally and less enduro will be taken into account. In the end conditions were the same for everybody, and we made the best off it: to get the complete podium ! »