After finishing fourth last year, Spaniard Jordi Viladoms will lead a new project riding a factory supported Husqvarna, in conjunction with BMW Barcelona and Speedbrain.
The runner-up of Cross Country Rally 2012 will be part of the strong Tamarugal XC team with Jordi Arcarons as team manager.
Jordi Viladoms has officially announced his new project for the Dakar Rally 2013. Hailing from Igualada (Barcelona) Viladoms will participate onboard a Husqvarna TE449RR within the infrastructure of the powerdul Tamarugal XC Chilean team.
It will be supported by BMW Barcelona and Speedbrain. Viladoms will be joined in his new venture by the team manager Jordi Arcarons and mechanic David Slap.
After his fourth place finish last year, runner-up in the World Cross Country Rally and his win in the Rally of Sardinia, Viladoms has set the ambitious challenge of fighting now for the podium in Dakar, which starts on 5 January in Lima (Peru).
"I always want more, and after the fourth place last year my desire is to be on the podium. Testing has gone really well and I am in my best physical condition ever, " Viladoms stated.
The Spanish rider has been very grateful for the help received from sponsors and the entire Dakar 'family', without which he would never have overcome the many difficulties caused by the resignation of his former team.
"I am very surprised at how quickly well everything has gone. A couple of months ago I was not even sure I could participate and here I am now, with a great team, a competitive bike, a good mechanic and a great manager." Viladoms contined.
"We have already won the first stage." he added.
Villadoms will be supported by Tamarugal XC team aka 'The Yellow Jackets', a team which has also shares it‰Ûªs infrastructure with riders such as the Prohens brothers, Daniel Gouet, Claudio RodrÌ_guez, Jorge Villagra and Francisco Lopez.
"It's one of the biggest teams in the Dakar and I am very grateful that they have given me this oppertunity. I hope that together we can do great things. "
The Husqvarna TE449RR by Speedbrain will power Vilamdoms in his quest for a DAKAR podium.
"The bike has evolved incredibly this year and I am confident that the performance will be very good and that we will become one. I have such a good feeling on the bike," commented Viladoms.
Jordi Arcarons will act as team manager for both Jordi Viladoms and Francisco Lopez. The retired Dakar specialists has 16 Dakars to his name on motorcycles, cars and as a manager.
"We will not have any time to relax throughout the race and will have to be very focused from the first day. Viladoms has ample qualities to be on the podium, although there is a lot of competition and will be a year of surprises." explained Arcarons.
To support Viladoms in this great challenge, experienced mechanic, David Slap, will spanner in his 16th Dakar and will be responsible for the Husqvarna TE449RR, which he believes is an "amazing" machine that will most certainly one of the top motorcycle brands in the Dakar.
Jordi Viladoms has also signed an agreement with Johan Cruyff Foundation in order to help children with disabilities or with limited resources to play sport, as Mario and N̼ria accompanied Viladoms at the presentation. Viladoms will auction his full Dakar race gear. (boots, helmet, gloves, etc.) with the proceeds going to the foundation.
The 2013 Dakar Rally will run from the 5th until the 20th of January and will run through Peru, Argentina and Chile
Top Image: Jordi Viladoms and the bike he will race the 2013 Dakar aboard
Credit: Supplied
