The Michelin Desert Race

The Michelin Desert Race was first used on the Dakar in 2011. It was designed following the introduction of new regulations which restrict engine capacity to 450cc.

Used only by the so-called ‘Elite’ riders in 2011, the MICHELIN Desert Race took the selective, varied and demanding conditions of the 9,500km trail across Argentina and Chile in its stride. It helped KTM rider Marc Coma add a third Dakar win to his record, while Cyril Despres claimed second place to secure a one-two finish for Michelin.

In 2012, new regulations designed to limit engine power will be enforced in full after initially only applying to the so-called ‘Elite’ riders in 2011. The rule now covers the entire field and restricts the engine capacity of bikes to 450cc.

For this year’s rally, Michelin has developed an evolution version of the front Michelin Desert Race which was tested near Saragossa, Spain, and during the Rallye du Maroc. It features a revised pattern and construction for enhanced agility, straight-line stability, grip and response, with no detriment to either the durability or versatility associated with Michelin’s off-road tyres.

Some 70 percent of the field will contest the event on Michelin rubber, including 22 factory riders. More than 2,500 tyres have been shipped to South America for the event. The regulations do not permit tyres to be changed during stages, while the Michelin Desert Race will need to cover 1,214km (including 784km against the clock) on the marathon stage when no servicing or tyre changes will be permitted between SS11 and SS12. Riders will have to make any necessary repairs themselves using their own resources.