TVS Racing has announced that it will not be a part of the Dakar 2021 Rally. It is likely that the TVS and Sherco partnership has fallen through and that has led to the team’s withdrawal from the 2021 edition of the Dakar Rally. However, Harith Noah, star TVS Racing rider will still participate in the grueling Rally as a privateer with the Sherco Rally Factory Team and will be sponsored by TVS Racing. He will be riding the Sherco TVS RTR 450 Rally motorcycle.
The following was the statement from TVS Motor Company, outlining the news, “TVS Racing, the factory racing team of TVS Motor Company, will not be participating in Dakar Rally 2021. Harith Noah, TVS Racing factory rider will participate as a privateer in the Dakar Rally with Sherco Rally Factory Team and will be sponsored by TVS Racing. He will ride the Sherco TVS RTR 450 Rally motorcycle. We would like to wish Harith and Sherco Factory team racers, technical team and support staff the very best for the Dakar Rally”.
Had TVS participated in the Dakar 2021 it would’ve been its seventh outing in the legendary rally. TVS Racing partnered with French company Sherco Motorcycles to form the team that would participate in its first Dakar Rally in 2015. The rider line up of the first team consisted of Fabien Planet and Alain Duclos from France and they ranked fifteenth and seventh, respectively overall. In 2017, TVS announced that Aravind KP will be the first Indian on the team. The 2017 line-up also included Juan Pedrero Garcia and Adrian Metge. TVS finished 13 and 22 overall in the Dakar 2017. Harith Noah first participated in the Dakar 2020. The Dakar 2020 saw Adrian Metge finish 12 overall. This will be Harith’s second outing in the Dakar series which kicks off on January 3.
The reason for TVS Racing’ departure from Dakar 2021 remains to be seen but it has definitely taken the Indian motorsport community by surprise. We wish Harith Noah the best of luck for the Dakar 2021 Rally. Stay tuned for more updates.