Aprilia’s 2010 Dakar competitor MXV 4.5 revealed

Aprilia has revealed that it will be backing Team Giofil’s specially-prepared RXV 4.5 in the 2010 Dakar rally.

The motorcycle has already notched up a 450-class win in both the 2008 and 2009 Rally of the Pharoahs, as well as third overall in 2009.

Four bikes will compete in the 2010 Dakar (slightly confusingly, now run in South America).

The four machines are based on off-the-shelf MXV 4.5 enduro bikes, but extensively modified to deal with 16 days of hard riding from January 1 to January 17 2010.

Bodywork, and navigation equipment are the obvious external changes, but the chassis and engine is also extensively worked upon to give the right match of performance and durability needed and navigation equipment are the obvious external changes, but the chassis and engine is also extensively worked upon to give the right match of performance and durability needed on a rally.

Riders for Team Giofil will be Paolo Ceci, Gerard Farres, Francisco Lopez and Alex Zanotti.