Martin Michek is back at ORION – Moto Racing Group. After a season with HOTO, the Czech rider is returning to his familiar team – and for the first time riding a Kove with it. The goal is the Dakar 2027. Michek showed that the new partnership is already quick by winning a stage at the DHD Rally in China.
As of: 27 September 2026.
Familiar crew, new motorcycle
ORION-MRG confirmed the return in August. There Michek is reunited with team principal Ervín Krajčovič and teammate Milan Engel. His new machine is the KOVE 450 EX Rally. The team works with direct support from the Chinese manufacturer and is involved in the further development of the bike. For Michek, this combines a familiar environment with a new technical challenge. Source: ORION-MRG.
Why the return makes sporting sense
Their shared Dakar history offers good reasons for the fresh start: Michek finished tenth overall in both 2021 and 2024 in the motorcycle classification. That makes him one of the most successful Czech motorcycle riders in the rally. His wish for the next attempt is a top-ten overall finish. Source: iROZHLAS.
The HOTO chapter, by contrast, did not bring a successful Dakar finish: in 2026 a technical failure stopped him as early as stage four. The move back to ORION-MRG was publicly announced on 18 August. Source: ČTK/iDNES.
First performance test on the Kove in China
The DHD Rally had been announced as the first race outing on the new machine. There are now concrete results: according to Kove’s race report of 7 September, Michek won the first stage in 3:22:57 hours. Milan Engel was second and Neels Theric third. On the second stage, Theric won ahead of Michek.
The first two stages added up to just under 550 timed kilometres. According to the manufacturer, fast gravel sections, sharp-edged rocks, sand and riverbeds placed varying demands on the bikes. For Michek, it was a test of handling and set-up under racing conditions. The figures relate to the individual stages, not an overall win of the rally. Source: Kove.
What counts between now and the Dakar
A fast stage is a good sign. For a top finish at the Dakar, however, pace, navigation, reliability and recovery have to come together over many days. That is the key challenge of this project.
ORION-MRG announced technical development work and cooperation with the Kove factory. However, the announcement of the return does not name any specific changes to engine, suspension or navigation. A precise list of modifications cannot be derived from it. Source: ORION-MRG.
The starting position is promising: Michek knows the crew, Engel brings experience with Kove, and the first stage win is in the bag. Whether this turns into the targeted top-ten Dakar result will have to be shown in January.
Image credits
- Press conference: Image source ORION – Moto Racing Group, official announcement of the return, file MRG_DKR27_MICHEK1.jpg. No photographer is named on the source page or in the image metadata that was checked.
- DHD team photo: Image source KOVE, “KOVE Claims Two Stage Wins at the 2026 DHD Rally”, 7 September 2026. No photographer is named on the source page.
- Title and social media banners: AI-generated symbolic illustrations based on the official ORION-MRG and KOVE logo templates. Not documentary race photographs and not a true-to-scale depiction of the race motorcycle.