N° 003 - TEAM KTM AUSTRIA
- CASTEU
- David
- FRA
- 09/04/1974
|
| MODEL |
MAKE |
| LC4 660 RALLYE |
KTM |
The turning point maybe occurred during the 2005 Dakar. Best privateer and winner of the Marathon class added to a final 13th position overall, David Casteu was noticed by the official KTM Gauloises team, ready to give him his chance. And the rider form Nice made the best of it with a fine 2005 season and especially a Dakar during which he fulfilled with the honours his contract as a water-carrier for Cyril Despres and Isidre Esteve. Eighth overall at the finish, the newcomer in the world of pro riders continued his progression with a series of fine performances. On the 2007 Dakar, he even did better than his leader Isidre Esteve, and better than Marc Coma, then the title holder but down and out after a fall with two days to go. Second behind Cyril Despres, the Frenchman saw his consitency pay off. Those who knew him a few years before, working on his old Aprilia, late in the evening with a battered shoulder, can appreciate his progression. An extra step was yet to be climbed to really triumph but the decision to change the regualtion in the bike class actually modified the projects of David Casteu. The future being now on a 450cc machine, French constructor Sherco rushed in the adventure with Casteu who spent the whole year developping a bike that could be competitive as soon as the 2010 Dakar: “I don’t know if I’ll take off to win but I have the possibility of achieving something good. I have no complex. When I see the work done since a few months on the bike, it’s already a great satisfaction. And now, I know that we are entering a new era. This year, there will be a lot more title contenders because the good riders on 450cc bikes are far more numerous. So it will be a big battle”.
