GasGas to launch production replica of Dakar-winning rally bike
A registration for the name "RX 450 F" in the German transport authority seems to suggest a GasGas replica rally bike may be on the way.
GasGas are set to release a replica version of their factory rally machine that won the 2022 Dakar Rally.
It was Sam Sunderland’s second career Dakar victory in the 2022 edition, having previously won with KTM in 2017.
Of course, since Sunderland’s first win, GasGas has become a part of the Pierer Mobility Group (PMG) and therefore their products are closely aligned with those of KTM. We see it with their motocross machines, enduro machines, and even their recently-released street bikes.
KTM also makes a replica version of its factory rally machine, and the 2022 edition was released earlier this year.
It now seems apparent that GasGas will release a similar ‘rally replica’ bike, based on the RC 450 F that Sunderland won this year’s Dakar with.
Since the factory RC 450 F rally bike is essentially a KTM factory rally bike painted red, it is probably safe to assume that the GasGas rally replica will be along the same lines.
Motorrad reports that, although the news is not official, it is as good as confirmed thanks to a registration for GasGas by the name of RX 450 F listed in the German transport authority.
It is interesting to note that there is no Husqvarna rally replica. Perhaps that will come later, or perhaps the GasGas replica is simply PMG taking advantage of the brand’s Dakar victory.
The news of the RX 450 F also comes after GasGas was announced to be joining the MotoGP World Championship as a new brand for 2023, running rebranded KTM RC16 machinery.
