After a week of intense preparations in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team and Yamalube Yamaha Junior Rally Team were delighted to kick off the 2016 Dakar Rally today.
The prologue consisted of a timed 11-kilometre course, serving as an appetizer for the 556 competitors, including 143 participants on motorbikes. Amongst the fierce competition were four Yamaha riders aboard their all-new WR450F Rally.
Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team's Hélder Rodrigues signed off 2016 Dakar's first timed section with a solid third position. He was followed by Yamalube Yamaha Junior Rally Team's Adrien Van Beveren, who secured a strong fourth place in his first ever Dakar Rally ride. Rodrigues' teammate, Alessandro Botturi, finished in a good eleventh place, while Yamaha's second junior rider, Xavier De Soultrait, overcame some issues today to classify 117th.
