The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team, in partnership with Riders for Health (powered by Two Wheels for Life), secured a superb one-two finish on Stage 2 of the 2026 Addax Rally in Morocco. Kevin Gallas extended his lead in the overall standings with his second consecutive stage victory ahead of teammate Gautier Paulin in second, while Alessandro Botturi finished fifth on Tuesday’s demanding stage to maintain second place in the general classification.
The longest stage of the rally, covering approximately 370 km, saw competitors tackle challenging desert terrain, including demanding dunes and technical navigation sections around Merzouga. Following Monday’s impressive top-three lockout in the motorcycle category, the team was looking to build on its strong start.
Starting first on the road, 2025 Addax Rally winner Gallas adopted a measured approach in the opening kilometres before being caught by Paulin. The pair then worked together throughout much of the stage, sharing navigation duties and maintaining an impressive pace aboard their Ténéré 700 Rally machines.
Their teamwork proved particularly effective, with Paulin leading the way through the dunes as the two riders used their respective strengths to navigate the challenging terrain, quickly correcting any minor errors along the way. Gallas eventually secured his second stage victory in a time of five hours, 45 minutes and 39 seconds, continuing his excellent run of form.
Paulin looked set to claim the stage victory himself after a superb performance alongside Gallas, but a heavy impact approximately 40 km from the finish caused a minor technical issue with his bike. Despite the setback, the Frenchman still managed to continue and secure second place, just seven minutes and 43 seconds behind Gallas, completing an impressive ride and ensuring another excellent result for the team.
Although Paulin was able to finish, the team has decided that he will sit out Wednesday’s Stage 3 to allow time for repairs and further testing. The plan is for him to return for Stages 4 and 5, with the experience providing valuable lessons as the team continues its preparations for the 2027 Africa Eco Race (AER).
For Botturi, it proved a more challenging day. The two-time AER winner encountered an issue with his navigation tablet early in the stage, adding to the physical demands of the lengthy special. Nevertheless, the experienced Italian pushed on to finish fifth among the motorcycles in six hours, one minute and 10 seconds, ensuring he remained second in the general classification.
After two stages, Gallas has strengthened his position at the top of the overall standings, with a combined time of 10 hours, 42 minutes and 56 seconds. His advantage over Botturi, who sits second on 11 hours, 11 minutes and 29 seconds, has grown from 13 minutes and two seconds following Stage 1 to 28 minutes and 33 seconds. Meanwhile, Paulin has climbed from 23rd to 11th overall, despite the significant time penalty resulting from his prologue DNF, having now secured consecutive second-place finishes on the opening two stages.
Wednesday’s Stage 3 will see Gallas and Botturi return to the challenging desert terrain around Merzouga, where sandy tracks, rocky sections and the dunes of Erg Chebbi provide a demanding test of speed, endurance and roadbook navigation.
Kevin Gallas – P1 Overall (10:42:56)
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team
“It was a really good day. Starting first on the road, I knew it would be difficult to keep Gautier behind me, so I focused on riding at a safe pace. He caught me early on, and from there we worked together throughout the stage. Honestly, it was probably the best we’ve ever worked together as a team. We helped each other with the navigation, made very few mistakes and maintained an incredible pace. Gautier opened the track through the dunes, and it was amazing to see two Ténéré 700 Rally bikes riding together like that. It’s a shame he had a problem near the finish because he rode brilliantly and deserved the stage win. But I’m really happy with our teamwork and the progress we’ve made. It’s exactly why we’re here, and it’s very positive for the future.”
Alessandro Botturi – P2 Overall (11:11:29)
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team
“It was a very difficult stage today, especially physically. I had a problem with my navigation tablet at the beginning, but after that things improved, and I was able to find a better rhythm. It was a demanding day, but I’m happy to have completed the special.”
Gautier Paulin – P11 Overall (13:50:14)
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team
“It was a great day. I had a good start and caught Kevin quite early, and from there we rode together at a really good pace. We were able to help each other with the navigation and push at the front, which was great fun. Unfortunately, towards the end I had a heavy impact that caused a technical issue with the bike, but I managed to get it running again and reach the finish. Apart from that, I really enjoyed the navigation and riding with Kevin. I think we did a great job together, and it was another valuable experience.”
Marc Bourgeois
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team – Team Manager
“It was the longest stage of the rally, and I’m really proud of the teamwork between Kevin and Gautier. They rode together, helped each other with navigation and demonstrated an excellent team spirit, which is exactly what we want to see ahead of the AER. It was a more difficult day for Alessandro, but these experiences are also important for our preparations. Gautier suffered a heavy impact about 40 km from the finish, which caused a technical issue, but he managed to complete the stage. We’ve decided he will sit out Stage 3 so we can change some parts and carry out further testing, with the aim of having him back for Stages 4 and 5. These are exactly the kinds of situations we need to learn from ahead of our main event.”
