The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team, in partnership with Riders for Health (powered by Two Wheels for Life), enjoyed another superb stage at the 2026 Africa Eco Race. Ténéré Spirit Experience riders Kevin Gallas and António Maio secured second and third, respectively, with the former now second overall, while Alessandro Botturi finished in fourth, and Gautier Paulin moved up to third in the general classification after ending the special in sixth.
Stage 9 of the Africa Eco Race (AER) saw competitors leave the bivouac in Aidzidine and head towards Ouad Naga, with 65 km of liaison and a 426 km timed special that featured lots of soft sand and dunes. With temperatures reaching over 40°C in the desert, the difficulty level for the riders was cranked up a notch as the rally edged closer to its final destination in Dakar.
Once again, it was Ténéré Spirit Experience (TSE) rider Gallas who shone brightest under the desert sun. The German rider, a former Junior Super Enduro World Champion competing in only his third rally raid, powered through the dunes on his Ténéré 700 Rally to record his fifth podium of the rally, including two stage wins, to finish in second with a time of four hours, 22 minutes, and 30 seconds. This meant he moved up to second in the overall standings, 18 minutes and 49 seconds behind the leader with three stages left in the race.
He was joined on the podium, the 13th for a Ténéré during this year’s edition of the AER, by Portuguese rider Maio, who finished just six minutes and 13 seconds behind his TSE colleague Gallas, as he continued his strong rally, with the six-time Dakar finisher jumping up to sixth in the general classification as a result.
Botturi produced a vintage performance to secure fourth. The experienced Italian, who lost over an hour on Stage 4 due to a technical issue, demonstrated his never-give-up attitude, showing his typical fortitude and skill in the dunes to make up time and move up to seventh in the overall standings.
Botturi’s teammate Paulin led out the stage, but despite this disadvantage, he produced another fantastic ride. In his first AER in the motorcycle class, the two-time stage winner pushed hard but also had one eye on the vital Stage 10, where the rally can be won or lost, and decided to ease off towards the end to ensure he would have the ideal starting position for the next day. The 35-year-old finished in sixth, in the process moving into the overall podium positions in third, 32 minutes and nine seconds behind the leader, with all still to play for.
TSE rider Mike Wiedemann enjoyed another good day, finishing the stage in seventh to mean there were five Ténérés in the top seven and ensure a top-five lockout for the Ténéré in the Over 650cc class. It also moved him up to fourth in the general classification, which means that Yamaha not only occupies five of the top seven spots in the overall standings, but also the top three positions in the Over 650cc class, too.
Next up is Stage 10, one of the rally’s key days. The timed special is a loop stage that starts and ends at the bivouac in Ouad Naga, featuring 25 km of liaisons and a challenging 445 km timed special with numerous dune crossings and extremely tricky navigation. The tenth stage is essential, as it is the last full-length stage of the rally, before the shorter 131 km special on Stage 11, and the traditional race along the beach for the 12th stage, which does not count towards the final standings, meaning it is the perfect chance for riders to attack and make a bid for victory.
Stage 9 Results
General Classification After Stage 9
Kevin Gallas – P2 Overall – 33h10m09s
Ténéré Spirit Experience
“That was another fun stage. I am really enjoying the dunes on my Ténéré, and my navigation was good, despite this being my first time racing in Mauritania. The temperatures today made it a physically tough stage for the riders and the bikes, but we went through it without any issues, and I am happy with another podium. Now, it is time for the vital Stage 10, where the rally has been won and lost in the past. My aim is to try and push as hard as I can to close the gap to the leader, but it won’t be easy, as I am starting from second, so I won’t have many riders to follow, although I am happy like that, as it means I can get in the zone and ride at my own pace.”
Gautier Paulin – P3 Overall – 33h23m29s
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team
“Another amazing day. I cannot explain the feeling you get when riding this amazing bike through the desert. It is like nothing I have ever experienced, and I am so grateful to be able to experience it. Racing in the dunes of Mauritania is as tough as it gets, but today I was able to push hard and make up time, even though I was opening the stage. However, we decided as a tactic beforehand that I did not want to finish the stage in too high a position, as it meant I would have a better starting position for the make-or-break Stage 10. The tactic worked: I will start from sixth and use the riders in front as markers, so I can really attack. There is still a long way to Dakar, but to be in the overall podium positions is amazing.”
Alessandro Botturi – P7 Overall – 34h59m35s
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team
“It was a good stage. Tough, hot, and demanding, but a lot of fun too. Obviously, after my technical issue on Stage 4, I am not in contention for victory, but I am pushing as hard as I can, and day by day, we are making up time and places in the general classification. Stage 10, as always, will prove key to the whole rally, so we are ready to work as a team to bring home the best results possible.”
Marc Bourgeois
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team – Team Manager
“What can I say? Once again, we enjoyed a great day. Kevin and António made it another double podium for the Ténéré, and Gautier moved up to third in the general classification. The dominance of the Ténéré has really shown in this rally, especially against our rivals on the 450cc single-cylinder bikes. It is amazing to see five of our riders in the top seven overall. I am proud of each and every member of the team, but we still have a long way to go, so we must remain focused and work together to ensure we get a good result on Stage 10.”
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