The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Crew, in partnership with Riders for Well being (powered by Two Wheels for Life), skilled a blended day on Stage 4 on the Africa Eco Race. There was pleasure as Gautier Paulin secured his first podium within the motorbike class on the rally and Ténéré Spirit Expertise riders António Maio and Mike Weidemann made it three Ténérés within the high 4 after ending the particular in third and fourth, respectively, but in addition heartbreak as Alessandro Botturi suffered a technical subject simply 12 km from the top of the stage and misplaced over an hour.
Stage 4 of the 2026 Africa Eco Race (AER) noticed rivals go away the bivouac in Assa and sort out a 483 km particular that featured an actual mixture of terrain because the rally headed in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean, earlier than a brief 5 km liaison to the bivouac on the East coast of Morocco in Khnifiss.
Paulin, who’s competing in his first AER within the motorbike class, loved one other excellent stage. The previous MXGP rider continued his fast adaptation to rally raid and saved his run of enhancing outcomes every single day, securing his maiden AER podium within the motorbike class after profitable the 2024 version of the race within the automotive class. The 35-year-old French rider completed the particular on his Ténéré 700 Rally in a time of 5 hours, 18 minutes, and 43 seconds, and is now fifth general within the basic classification, simply seven minutes and 23 seconds off the lead.
In distinction, it was a troublesome day for his teammate Botturi. The 50-year-old Italian was flying on the stage and had opened up a spot on the entrance on the closing waypoint, however catastrophe struck simply 12 km earlier than the end line. Sadly, a minor electrical subject on the bike compelled him to cease, and he couldn’t get it began once more. Simply when it appeared like he may need to retire from the rally, in a real present of sportsmanship, Ténéré Spirit Expertise (TSE) rider Nicolas Charlier, himself a stage winner on the AER in 2025, confirmed as much as save the day.
Sacrificing his personal time, he stopped to assist Botturi, tying a brief rope between the 2 bikes and towing and pushing him all the way in which to the end line. This meant that regardless of shedding simply over an hour, the Italian remains to be within the rally and sits ninth within the general standings, one hour, seven minutes, and 18 seconds behind the chief.
There have been extra excellent shows from the TSE riders, with three of the highest 4 bikes on the stage Ténérés. Portuguese rider António Maio, himself an skilled Dakar competitor, confirmed his class by ending second earlier than receiving a two-minute penalty for dashing that dropped him again to 3rd, whereas German Mike Weidemann was fourth and his compatriot Kevin Gallas seventh.
Which means Gallas leads the way in which for Yamaha within the basic classification in fourth, six minutes and 44 seconds behind the chief, with Weidemann in sixth and Maio in seventh.
Stage 5 is the longest stage of the rally, because the bivouac heads down the east coast of Morocco in the direction of Dakhla. Beginning with a 204 km liaison, the riders then face a particular stage that includes 396 km of soppy sand and quick rocky trails, earlier than a 168 km liaison to the bivouac in Dakhla, the place the crew will take pleasure in a relaxation day.
Stage 4 Outcomes
Basic Classification After Stage 4
Gautier Paulin – P5 – 12h53m09s
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Crew
“Clearly, right now I used to be gutted for Alessandro, however he’ll come again preventing. Personally, I’m feeling higher every day on the Ténéré 700 Rally. I spent a while on this stage, main the way in which; it was difficult, however a superb expertise. As my confidence with the roadbook grows, I really feel I can push increasingly more, however I’m decided to not make any main errors, which is the fixed compromise it’s a must to make in rally raid. The entire crew is decided to combat again after Alessandro’s dangerous luck, and with an extended fifth stage, it provides us the proper platform to try to assault and claw again a while.”
Alessandro Botturi – P9 – 13h53m04s
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Crew
“At the moment was powerful to take. I felt nice on the Ténéré and was opening up a pleasant hole on the entrance when, sadly, simply 12 km from the top of the stage, I suffered a minor electrical subject on the bike that compelled me to cease, and I couldn’t restart it. I used to be stranded, however then Nicolas got here alongside to avoid wasting the day. He towed and pushed me to the end line, permitting me to proceed the rally. I wish to say thanks to Nicolas; it was an ideal act of sportsmanship, as he misplaced a substantial period of time serving to me, and I’m extraordinarily grateful. It’s good to see the spirit of rally raid remains to be alive and nicely. Now, I’m over an hour behind the leaders within the basic classification, however there may be nonetheless a really lengthy approach to go, so I’ll come out preventing and attempt to make up time over the following few phases, after which see the place we’re.”
Marc Bourgeois
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Crew – Crew Supervisor
“This was a troublesome stage. Alessandro was driving so nicely and was main the stage by a superb margin when, with simply 12 km to go, he had a minor electrical subject with the bike. Sadly, this meant he was caught, however, in an ideal show of sportsmanship, TSE rider Nicolas Charlier selflessly sacrificed his personal stage time to return to the rescue. That is the true spirit of rally raid, and I wish to say bravo and thanks to Nicolas. Regardless of Alessandro shedding simply over an hour, there may be nonetheless a really lengthy approach to go, and as we all know, something can occur in rally raid. Gautier produced one other spectacular efficiency and has improved on each stage as he learns the roadbook expertise wanted in a rally. His navigation is getting higher every single day, and this implies we’re beginning to see his true tempo and potential. It was additionally an ideal stage for the opposite TSE riders, with António on the rostrum, Mike in fourth, and Kevin producing one other sturdy trip to complete in seventh. Stage 5 options lengthy liaisons and a really powerful particular, so we’re going to assault and attempt to shut the hole to the general leaders.”
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