MILWAUKEE, Wis. (October 16, 2008) Buell France rider Denis Bouan rode a Buell 1125R to win the Dark Dog Tour and secure the 2008 FIM (Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme) International Rallies Championship. Bouan won the Expert Multi-Cylinder class and was the overall winner with a cumulative stage time of 47 minutes 03.84 seconds. It was his third consecutive victory in the event. The Dark Dog Tour is a nine-day, 3,200 km (1,988 mile) rally that began on September 27 and concluded on October 5. The route through France stretched from Reims to Toulon through Val de Reuil, Magny-Cours, Alès and Corsica. The event included 17 special timed stages, on racing circuits and public roads, including two night stages. French motorcycle police escorted the event to ensure safety on public roads. Entry is limited to 220 competitors in a variety of classes. Only 164 racers completed the entire distance, which includes long stretches of riding in transition stages with little opportunity for sleep and strict penalties for timing errors and tardiness. Bouan rode a Buell 1125R to a second-place finish in the Belgian Moto Tour in May, and that result combined with his win in the Dark Dog Tour earned him the FIM International Rallies Championship. “I am so happy to have won,” said Bouan. “We had no problems whatsoever with the Buell 1125R. We succeeded in getting quickly ahead of our competitors, which enabled us to manage the end of the race. I took it very seriously in spite of being the leader. My IRC victory is mainly important for the team. This is one of the first victories at the international level for Buell and I think it highlights the capabilities and reliability of the Buell 1125R.” To learn more about Buell motorcycles, visit your local Buell dealer today and experience the pure streetfighter attitude, style and performance only found on board a Buell. For the Buell dealer nearest you, pull into www.buell.com.