N° 013 - TEAM KNUIMAN
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| Vehicle |
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| MODEL | MAKE |
| RXV 450 | APRILIA |
Henk Knuiman: «Aprilia called me»
He was so close. It was a question of mere minutes, a little more than 10 for Henk Knuiman to reach his goal for 2007: finish among the top ten overall. He went on to finish 11th just behind the Polish rider, Czachor. The fault, without a doubt, a 10 minute penalty he received on the first day of the rally, for, exceeding the speed limit. “I didn’t see the speed limit marked in the road book”, Henk Knuiman explains, who holds no grudge. So close, that without this carelessness he could have broken into the coveted top 10.
This year the goal is the same, with increased means for this Dutchman who has always taken part in the Dakar as a privateer. “Aprilia called me and asked me if I wanted to ride for them! They have furnished me with the equipment: the bike and spare parts”. Now he can take advantage of support from a factory team. It is thus on an Aprilia RXV 450 that this owner of a maintenance company, and father of two, will ride on this year’s Dakar. An amateur that if he was a team leader would have a fine Dakar record for himself: 17th in 1999, followed by an 8th place on his second attempt in 2000 before finishing 12th in 2006.
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