In the vast desert plains of southern Morocco, the fourth stage of the Addax Rally unfolded as a gripping head-to-head between two fierce contenders. The 373-kilometre route stretched from Merzouga through Ouzina and Ramlia, serving up a punishing mix of soft dunes, sharp rocks, treacherous oueds, and deep fesh-fesh. Navigation was once again a minefield of doubt and missteps. As the field thinned out, the pressure at the top only intensified.
Sand, wind, and vanishing tracks shape the rally
The stage turned into a brutal ordeal for anyone still in the game. The desert was unpredictable and relentless: the landscape constantly shifted, temperatures soared, and visual references were nearly nonexistent. Many competitors got lost or fell behind due to sheer exhaustion. Yet at the front, the battle remained razor-sharp.
Josep Pedró Subirats (RACE 1) surprised everyone by taking the stage win. He navigated flawlessly through the complex terrain and crossed the finish in 6 hours, 29 minutes, and 53 seconds. Just two minutes behind him was Javier Vega, who continued to climb the overall ranking. But all eyes were on the two Yamaha riders locked in a title fight.
Botturi vs Gallas: four minutes become one
Alessandro Botturi began the day trailing his younger teammate Kevin Gallas by over four minutes. With Gallas starting first and setting the pace, Botturi caught up with him early in the stage. From that moment on, the experienced Italian led the way through the sand, gliding over the dunes aboard his Ténéré 700 Rally. It seemed like a tactical masterstroke until the final section, where a chasing group gained ground on the open plains. There, Botturi was left to defend his lead alone, against the wind and without tracks to follow.
Botturi finished third in 6:34:45, three minutes ahead of Gallas, who came in fourth. That narrowed the overall gap even further: Gallas still holds the lead, but it has shrunk to just one minute and five seconds. After four days of racing in the Sahara, everything will be decided in the final stage.
Results and standings: top two far ahead
With a total time of 21:10:54, Gallas remains on top of the standings. Botturi follows closely with 21:11:59, just one minute and five seconds behind. Javier Vega sits in third, but now trails by nearly 53 minutes. Subirats and Daunoravicius complete the top five, though neither appears to be in podium contention. The battle for the win is now solely between the Yamaha duo.
Sara Garcia continues to hold her place in the top ten with a solid stage, keeping Urko Garmendia just behind her. David Carton climbed to eighth thanks to a flawless day. Several riders have already withdrawn or are now riding out of classification, highlighting just how demanding this rally has been.
Yamaha survives brutal stage with strength in numbers
Mike Wiedemann, who had to swap bikes after damage in stage 3, managed to finish an impressive fifth in stage 4 despite limited preparation. Once again, three Ténéré riders placed in the day’s top five. It’s a testament to the bike’s reliability and the strength of the team, which has dominated the rally so far. Team manager Marc Bourgeois reflected with mixed emotions: “Alessandro rode brilliantly. He caught Kevin, took the lead and defended it. Kevin rode maturely once again, and Mike proved how quickly he can adapt. Everything is still wide open for the finale.”
Looking ahead to the climax
The fifth and final stage will cover 283 kilometres. Though shorter, it won’t be any easier. The route from Merzouga to Merzane includes another tough blend of sand, stones and fesh-fesh, where focus and flawless navigation will be crucial. Fatigue is sure to play a role. And with just over a minute separating the leaders, every waypoint and course correction could be decisive.
What began as a rally with dozens of contenders has become a titanic duel between two generations, two styles, two riders on identical machines. Tomorrow brings the final showdown in the Sahara. All or nothing.
