The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team’s Alessandro Botturi, in partnership with Riders for Health (powered by Two Wheels for Life), will take on the 2025 Addax Rally in Morocco from November 10–14, marking the next step in their preparation for the 2026 Africa Eco Race.
Last in action at the Carta Rallye in April, where the Ténéré 700 Rally made its racing debut, the team have been working hard testing and developing the bike, and aims to continue this at the Addax Rally as they prepare to take on the 2026 Africa Eco Race (AER), January 25 –February 7.
Italian legend Botturi, a two-time AER winner, comes into the Addax Rally fresh from another strong season in the Italian National Motorally Championship and securing a dominant victory in the Swank Rally.
He will be joined by guest rider António Maio. One of the biggest stars of the Portuguese off-road scene, the multi-time national champion and Dakar finisher, will get his chance to impress on the official race bike as part of the Ténéré Spirit Experience (TSE).
The TSE is designed to allow people to participate in rallies alongside the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team, whether in the Race or Raid categories, and gives them the chance to experience rally raid like never before, with a further three TSE riders taking part in the Race category in Morocco, supported by the team’s mechanics.
The Addax Rally consists of over 1,400 km of timed special stages spread across five days and will see the riders take on the endless dunes of Merzuoga, the vast plains of Ramlia, and the valleys of Ouzina, providing a perfect challenge of soft sand, rocky trails, navigation, and endurance.
Alessandro Botturi
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team
“I am really looking forward to the Addax Rally. After a long season in Europe, it is time to turn our attention to Africa, and this will be the perfect preparation for the Africa Eco Race. The team has been working very hard on developing the bike throughout the year, and there is no better way to test it than five days of intensive racing in the Saharan Desert. It has been a long time since the Carta Rallye, so I cannot wait to get back on my Ténéré Rally 700!”
Marc Bourgeois
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team – Team Manager
“After what seems like a very long break over the summer, it is great to be getting back into competition. The Addax Rally will give us the perfect chance not only to get back into the rhythm of a rally raid, but also to evaluate the development of the Ténéré 700 Rally and to continue testing on some of the harshest terrain on the planet. We are also delighted to have António Maio riding on the official bike as an invited guest after impressing in previous rallies. It shows the kind of opportunity the Ténéré Spirit Experience can offer, and we have another three TSE riders competing in the Race category, too. We are excited to return to the desert and get back in action!”
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