Austrian dirtbike specialist KTM is racing a prototype 690cc machine in the legendary Baja 500 desert race in the USA, this week.
Running the company's new LC4 powerplant, which was debuted in the 690 Supermoto early this year, the machine will be ridden by Dakar heroes Cyril Depres and Chris Blais plus Baja specialist, David Pearson.
KTM says of the bike, "Borne out of the 690 Rally, so successful in the Dakar 2007, the 690 Baja aims combine the advantages of a very light and easily handled Enduro with the outreach and the stability of a rally machine."
The race starts today (May 31) and runs til June 3, just south of the USA border near San Diego, in Mexico. It includes classes for motorcycles, ATVs, cars and trucks.