MICHELIN is taking part in the 2011 Dakar rally (moto class event) – alongside its official partners KTM, BMW, Aprilia and Yamaha – with the MICHELIN Desert race tires developed specifically for the new 450cc bikes.

The Michelin Desert race tire delivers improved handling and grip as well as superior lateral stability and outstanding longevity. The new tire is the result of MICHELIN’s 30 years of experience in cross-country rallying.

Developed by engineers at the MICHELIN Technology Center in Clermont-Ferrand, the MICHELIN Desert Race has been adapted for the new 450cc prototype factory bikes.

"The 450cc bikes developed by manufacturers make different demands on tires than the 690cc bikes of the past,” explains Christophe Chatras, head of off-road motorcycle racing. “The new machines are lighter, their weight is apportioned differently and the engine power is more effectively managed and transferred to the ground. In fact, the 450cc factory bikes deliver very high performance and thus make considerable demands on tires. The new MICHELIN Desert Race was developed for use with these new-generation motorcycles. It’s a versatile product that is suitable for the Dakar Rally’s different kinds of terrain, such as rocky trails and sand. Since last summer, the new MICHELIN Desert Race has undergone some 3,000 kilometers of tests in race conditions, including a number of stages of the Shamrock Rally. The results speak for themselves.”