Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team Aims to Conquer the 2024 Africa Eco Race

Join the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team on their daring quest to conquer the 2024 Africa Eco Race. Follow the journey of skilful riders Pol Tarrés and Alessandro Botturi, showcasing the power of Yamaha’s Ténéré World Rally bikes.

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In the unforgiving world of rally raid events, the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team is gearing up for an epic challenge. Pol Tarrés and Alessandro Botturi, in collaboration with Riders for Health, are set to rewrite the record books as they embark on the 15th edition of the Africa Eco Race.

The Africa Eco Race remains an iconic rally that retraces the historic Paris-Dakar routes. The team’s launch event at the Deus Café Isola in Milan marked the beginning of their quest to conquer the 6,000km journey from Monaco to Dakar, Senegal, from December 30, 2023, to January 14, 2024.

GYTR-kitted Yamaha Ténéré World Rally Bikes

Tarrés and Botturi proudly unveiled their GYTR-kitted Yamaha Ténéré World Rally bikes at the launch event. These machines, adorned with a colourway inspired by the legendary Stéphane Peterhansel, symbolize a return to their spiritual Saharan home. Ténéré means desert in the Tuareg language. It resonates with the team’s connection to the challenging terrains they are about to face.

Documentary Screening and Previous Achievements

The launch event featured a screening of the documentary “The Great Adventure”. It recounts Tarrés and Botturi’s exploits in the 2022 Africa Eco Race. During that edition, Tarrés etched his name in history by completing the entire rally on a twin-cylinder adventure bike. He secured victory in the +700 category and finished fifth overall. Meanwhile, Botturi battled adversity to ensure a dream debut for the team with a 1-2 class finish.

Recent Success and Preparation

The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team enters the 2024 Africa Eco Race on the heels of a sensational victory at the TransAnatolia rally in Turkey. Tarrés claimed his first rally raid overall victory. It marked a historic win for a twin-cylinder adventure bike, with Botturi securing the second spot, solidifying another team 1-2 triumph. This success follows Botturi’s win in the team’s debut rally, the 2022 Tunisia Desert Challenge.

Challenges Ahead

As the duo prepares to face the challenges of the Africa Eco Race, both Tarrés and Botturi understand the difficulty of the notorious dunes of Mauritania and the overall demanding terrains of the rally. Botturi, a seasoned rider with back-to-back victories at the Africa Eco Race in 2019 and 2020, is well aware of the hurdles that lie ahead. The team aims to dominate the new 650cc+ Multi-cylinder bike class. They are also keen to compete fiercely in the overall general classification against their 450cc prototype rivals.

The Route-Ahead:

The 2024 Africa Eco Race kicks off with the official start in Monaco on December 30. It is then followed by teams boarding a boat from Sète in France to Nador, Morocco. The riders will then navigate more than 6,000km over 12 stages through Morocco, Western Sahara, Mauritania, and Senegal, culminating in the final stage on the beach alongside the famous Lac Rose in Dakar.

The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team’s journey to conquer the Africa Eco Race is more than just a quest for victory. It is a testament to the indomitable spirit of adventure and competition. The team had a history-making debut in 2022. With its recent successes, the team is poised to leave an indelible mark on the 15th edition of this gruelling rally raid event. They aim to showcase the power of Yamaha’s Ténéré World Rally bikes and the skill of riders Pol Tarrés and Alessandro Botturi.

The desert awaits. The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team is ready to face the challenges head-on in their pursuit of glory.