International Dealer News 159 Feb/Mar 2021 IDN159 Feb/Mar 2021 | Page 23

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Supersprox wins Dakar again as HRC technical supplier

" It is not by chance that Supersprox sprockets have been fitted on all the winning bikes in the Dakar rally since Cyril Despres in 2005 ," says Supersprox General Director DJ Maughfling . " When Honda decided to enter the rally in 2013 , Supersprox was chosen as the technical partner for sprockets and many different test versions were beaten and battered before Honda stood once more on the top podium spot . " In 2021 , Kevin Benavedes proved that it was not a fluke victory for Honda in 2020 - the fight for a victory in the motorcycle category can never be taken for granted and must be fought for every day , every year . The 2021 Dakar saw fantastically close racing , with the lead changing almost every day - the first three positions were up for grabs right up to the 10th stage . " With such long races and marathon days ( up to 740 km ), where there is no outside support crew for the riders , it is vital that all the components , even those like sprockets and chain that sometimes have
overlooked importance , hold up - they have to last the race in order for the rider and his team to be able to finish . There can be no weak points in the success system . " The big challenge for hybrid sprockets is thermal expansion , where the steel and the aluminium expand and contract at different rates , creating massive stresses on the connected parts . Honda engineers have assisted with
R & D to allow Supersprox to design a more stable sprocket , one that can resist the fatigue stress cracking , caused by the constant movement of the different materials .
" In the diagram can be seen the original design ( 2013 ) and the latest version ( 2021 ). The addition of six steps , supported by intermediate legs , has allowed the sprocket weight to be reduced by 11 %, without risking its integrity . Supersprox also supports KTM , Husqvarna , Yamaha and Hero factory teams for world rally championships and Dakar . Altogether more than 70 % of all competitors in Dakar 2021 were using Supersprox ." www . supersprox . com
INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - FEBRUARY / MARCH 2021 23