KTM Adventure Rally Extreme announced with Dakar champion Matthias Walkner

KTM has announced the Adventure Rally Extreme, a new off-road and rally training experience, conducted by 2018 Dakar Rally champion Matthias Walkner.

The programme will be held in Mumbai and Bengaluru and will be divided into two parts – ‘Face to Face’ and ‘Ride & Train’. The Face to Face session is open to all motorcycle enthusiasts and is priced at Rs. 500. Here, Walkner will share insights from his Dakar career, experiences from rally racing and lessons from competing at the Dakar, undoubtedly the most gruelling rally there is. This will also mark Walkner’s first visit to India.

The Mumbai Face to Face session will take place on 11 September at the Rangsharda Auditorium, while the Bengaluru event is scheduled for 15 September at the NIMHANS Convention Centre.

The more intensive Ride & Train programme, priced at Rs. 5,000, is reserved for KTM Adventure motorcycle owners. Only 50 riders will be selected in each city, taking the total number of participants to 100 across the two locations.

The participants will be divided into batches and will undergo Dakar-inspired training with modules covering rally mindset, physical conditioning, roadbook navigation, motorcycle self-recovery, trail-side repairs and riding skills.

The Mumbai Ride & Train programme will be held from 12-13 September at Adventure Square in Amby Valley, followed by the Bengaluru session from 16-17 September at Tribal Adventure Cafe.

Participants will ride the production-spec KTM 390 Adventure, and the training will culminate in a scored rally challenge. The top-performing rider from Mumbai and Bengaluru will each win an all-expenses-paid trip to Europe for a two-day advanced roadbook navigation training programme with Walkner.

Walkner has an extensive rally racing career, having won the Dakar Rally in 2018 and the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship in 2015, in addition to securing three Dakar podium finishes.

There is no doubt that riders stand a lot to learn from one of the finest riders in the World.