Ténéré Yamaha Dominates Africa Eco Race with Historic 1–2

Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team dominates the Africa Eco Race with a historic 1–2 finish as Kevin Gallas wins overall and five Ténéré bikes place in the top seven at Lac Rose, Dakar.

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The desert didn’t just test endurance this year, it witnessed history.

The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team tore up the rulebook at the Africa Eco Race, delivering one of the most dominant performances the rally has ever seen. When the 2026 edition finally reached the legendary shores of Lac Rose in Dakar, Yamaha didn’t just win, it controlled the leaderboard.

German rider Kevin Gallas clinched overall victory, teammate Gautier Paulin secured second, and an astonishing five Ténéré machines finished inside the top seven. To underline the dominance, the team also locked out the entire Over 650cc podium.

That’s not a good day at the office: that’s a statement.

A finale steeped in history

The final stage followed tradition: a fast, motocross-style dash along the beach after a long liaison into Dakar. With no times counting toward the general classification, riders soaked in the moment, sprinting toward Lac Rose, the same iconic finish that defined the old Paris–Dakar rallies.

For Gallas, the emotions hit hard at the podium. After nearly 6,000 km of racing, the title came down to a knife-edge battle on Stage 11, where he edged Paulin by just 41 seconds. Two stage wins and multiple podiums across the rally highlighted not just speed, but consistency, especially impressive considering it was only his third rally raid.

Yamaha’s depth on display

Paulin’s runner-up finish made it a Yamaha 1–2 and confirmed the strength of the Ténéré 700 Rally platform. Competing in his first Africa Eco Race on two wheels, the former MXGP star immediately adapted to the brutal demands of rally raid, grabbing three stage victories and proving the bike could outpace lighter 450cc singles over long distances.

Veteran Alessandro Botturi, a two-time former winner, saw his own victory hopes fade after a technical issue cost him more than an hour early on. Instead of chasing personal glory, he switched roles and supported the team effort, still managing a stage win and finishing seventh overall.

Further back, Mike Wiedemann and António Maio added depth with fourth and sixth overall, stacking more podiums and ensuring Yamaha’s presence was felt at every checkpoint.

By the numbers, the dominance was clear: six stage wins, eleven additional podiums, and a top-five sweep on one of the toughest stages of the rally.

More than a win

Beyond the trophies, the result marks a milestone for Yamaha’s twin-cylinder adventure machine. Traditionally, rally raids favour lightweight 450cc bikes. This year, the bigger Ténéré proved that reliability, torque and durability can beat outright minimalism over punishing terrain.

It’s the first overall Africa Eco Race win for the Ténéré platform and judging by the performance, unlikely to be the last.

With momentum sky-high, the team now turns its focus to Morocco’s Carta Rallye. But for now, the image of blue bikes lining the podium at Lac Rose says everything.

Yamaha didn’t just compete in Africa. They owned it.