Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team Creates History at 2026 Africa Eco Race

Kevin Gallas secures landmark overall victory as Yamaha dominates the Dakar finish at Lac Rose.

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The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team, in partnership with Riders for Health powered by Two Wheels for Life, delivered a historic performance at the 2026 Africa Eco Race. The rally finished at the famous Lac Rose in Dakar, Senegal after two demanding weeks of racing.

Kevin Gallas claimed the overall victory, becoming the first rider to win the Africa Eco Race on a Yamaha Ténéré. The result marked a major milestone for Yamaha and the Ténéré project.

Teammate Gautier Paulin finished second overall. This secured a strong 1–2 result for Yamaha. In total, five Ténéré motorcycles placed inside the top seven overall. Yamaha also achieved a complete podium lockout in the Over 650cc class.

“It’s an incredible feeling to reach Lac Rose and win this race,” said Gallas. “This rally was long and tough, but making history with the Ténéré means everything to me.”

The rally ended with Stage 12, a traditional beach run into Lac Rose. The special stage was 22 km long. It followed a 203 km liaison from Mpal to Dakar. Although the stage did not count towards the final standings, it marked the official end of the event.

The finish brought back memories of the original Paris-Dakar rallies. Stéphane Peterhansel, a 14-time Dakar winner, joined the team at Lac Rose riding a Ténéré 700 Rally.

Gallas secured the win after a close battle with Paulin on Stage 11. He took the decisive stage victory by just 41 seconds. The result came after more than 6,000 km of racing. It was only Gallas’ third rally raid.

Paulin delivered an impressive performance in his first Africa Eco Race on a motorbike. The former MXGP rider claimed three stage wins during the rally and showed strong pace throughout the event.

“I’m very proud of this result,” said Paulin. “The bike worked perfectly, and the team supported me from start to finish.”

Two-time Africa Eco Race winner Alessandro Botturi faced a technical issue on Stage 4. The problem cost him valuable time and ended his fight for the overall win. He later focused on supporting his teammates. Botturi still finished seventh overall, with one stage win and two podium finishes.

Further success came from Mike Wiedemann, who finished fourth overall, and António Maio, who secured sixth place. Across the rally, Yamaha riders achieved six stage victories and 11 podium finishes, highlighting the strength and reliability of the Ténéré 700 Rally.

The 2026 Africa Eco Race will be remembered as a defining event for Yamaha. The Ténéré proved it can compete and win against specialist 450cc machines in one of the toughest rally raids in the world. The team will next compete at the Carta Rallye in Morocco from 18 to 24 April.

The Yamaha Racing family also shared its condolences following the passing of fellow competitor Robert van Pelt Sr. during the event.