Tanveer awaiting TVS approval for Dakar debut
Abdul Wahid Tanveer’s participation in the 2018 Dakar rally is all but confirmed, with long-time backer TVS yet to decide whether to include him in their rider line-up.
Photo by: Sherco Racing
Tanveer gained a free entry to world’s toughest cross-country rally after finishing as the highest-placed rider in India Baja without prior experience of Dakar.
However, the initiative - launched by organisers ASO - only covers the cost of entry, with the onus on the rider to find a bike to compete with. As such, Tanveer is dependent upon TVS to field him aboard one of the Sherco TVS bikes.
And the Indian manufacturer is yet to make a decision, despite the 26-year-old finishing inside the top 30 on his international debut in Merzouga Rally.
Should Tanveer get the approval, he will become the third Indian to take part in Dakar, joining CS Santosh and TVS stablemate Aravind KP.
“I’ve already finished the Merzouga rally, which was a training session for Dakar,” he told Motorsport.com. “I just need to take the decision with the team about the Dakar rally. They need to decide first.”
Finishing Dakar the priority
The Mysore-born rider said that if TVS shows enough confidence in him, his solitary focus will be on finishing the rally instead of chasing headline results.
He also added that navigation remains his Achilles' heel - a problem faced by all riders in cross-country rallies due to the very nature of the event.
Be part of Motorsport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
Kawasaki to shut down factory WSBK team at end of 2024
Same driver quality but less carnage - van der Linde on smaller 2024 DTM grid
The experiment WEC could revisit to magnify its boom period
Josh Berry "not necessarily panicked" over tough 2024 season
Greg Biffle among new 2025 NASCAR Hall of Fame nominees
Krack: Aston Martin frustrated by inconsistent F1 penalty decisions
Yamaha to test completely new MotoGP bike at Jerez
Injury, COVID, camels and redemption: Petrucci's Dakar odyssey
The positive future implications of Audi's creditable Dakar debut
How Prodrive plans to use trial by Dakar to spur it to victory
Why Sebastien Loeb has joined forces with an old enemy for Dakar
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments