YAMAHA WINS AFRICA ECO RACE
Y
amaha’s Alessandro Botturi has claimed
victory at the 11th edition of the Africa Eco
Race. After taking the lead of the 2020 race
at the close of day three, the Italian was never
headed over the remaining stages and rode on to
claim a deserved victory. Despite a small set back
in September 2019 due to injury, the Italian veteran
wasn’t deterred and arrived in Africa focused on
challenging for the event win. Alessandro duly
raced his WR450F Rally into a top-three position
on five stages, including two wins. Over the 15-day
event, and a race-long battle with his closest rival
Pal Anders Ullevalseter, Botturi eventually claimed
victory with a winning margin of three minutes
and 59 seconds. Botturi won the 2020 edition
of the Africa Eco Race, which covered 6500km
and crossed the territories of Morocco, Western
Sahara, Mauritania and Senegal, aboard a WR450F
94 KIWI RIDER
Rally featuring a livery inspired by the legendary
Ténéré Dakar racers from the mid-eighties.
”After my crash at the Panafrica Rally in
September, I took some time to recover, Botturi
said. “When I began riding again, I was more
thoughtful and patient on the bike. It’s been a
fantastic event, with some amazing stages, terrain
and battles. I’d like to thank my Yamaha team who
have supported me – winning the Africa Eco Race
is just fantastic. I would also like to dedicate the
victory to my friend and former teammate, Paulo
Goncalves, who was tragically lost during the 2020
Dakar Rally.” The Africa Eco Race was founded in
response to the cancellation of the 2008 Dakar
Rally, and runs over much of the same ground as the
legendary Rally Raid through North Africa over the
same time period in early January each year before
ultimately finishing in the city of Dakar in Senegal.