The 2025 Addax Rally has officially kicked off in the Moroccan desert, launching with a prologue and a demanding first stage where sand, stones, and sharp navigation dictated the pace. What began as a familiarisation round near Merzouga quickly escalated into a double dose of rally action: a short but tricky prologue in the sands of Erg Chebbi, followed by the first full special stage of 149 kilometres toward Begaa and Erg Znagui. The opening day immediately shook up the leaderboard, with a few surprises and a strong showing from the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team riders.
Fast start in the sand
The 54-kilometre prologue took place entirely in the dunes and instantly split the field between fast sand specialists and more technical riders. Spanish veteran Javier Vega clocked the fastest time, followed closely by Yamaha’s Alessandro Botturi and António Maio. The margins were tight, but the message was clear: this rally will not be easy prey for the favourites.
Stage 1: Rough trails and cunning traps
After the prologue, competitors headed east in the afternoon for a 149-kilometre special stage across varied terrain. Fast pistes, loose rocks, and soft dunes kept riders on their toes. The area around Erg Znagui in particular challenged even the most seasoned navigators. Portugal’s António Maio proved to be a master of the terrain. In his debut rally raid aboard a full factory bike, he rode flawlessly and maintained a high pace, claiming the stage win in 2 hours and 10 minutes.
Behind him, Germany’s Mike Weidemann delivered a standout performance. The Ténéré Spirit Experience rider climbed to second in the stage, matching his best-ever rally result. Third place went to Ignas Daunoravicius, a strong competitor from the lighter RACE 1 category, who surprised many with his consistent riding and error-free navigation.
Botturi’s penalty shakes up the standings
The day’s biggest setback befell Alessandro Botturi. The Italian appeared to have taken the stage win with the fastest time at the finish, but a missed waypoint resulted in a 15-minute time penalty. As a result, he dropped to fifth in the stage and now holds fourth in the general classification, eleven minutes behind teammate Maio.
Other top contenders also ran into trouble: Urko Garmendia and Javier Vega both suffered penalties due to navigation mistakes, despite strong riding times. It highlighted how thin the line is between success and setback in this rally, and that the Addax Rally is about much more than just speed.
General classification after day one
After two timed sections, António Maio leads the overall standings with a total time of 3 hours and 17 minutes. Weidemann trails by five minutes, with Gallas six minutes behind. Botturi’s penalty places him eleven minutes adrift, although his pace remains a serious threat. Javier Vega rounds out the top five but is already over sixteen minutes behind due to his own time loss.
The top RACE 1 rider is Daunoravicius in sixth place, followed by Josep Pedró and Urko Garmendia. Sara Garcia also impressed, finishing twelfth overall and third among the women.
Yamaha’s desert power
With three riders in the stage’s top five and five within the top ten overall, the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team is living up to its ambitions. António Maio impressed with a debut victory in the sand. Botturi remains a threat for stage wins despite his penalty, and the Ténéré Spirit Experience riders are proving their platform is capable of competing in tough conditions.
Team manager Marc Bourgeois was pleased: “Maio adapted incredibly well, and Botturi showed his speed. Having five Ténéré bikes in the top ten proves how strong both the machine and the team are.” Maio himself remained humble after his win: “The bike feels amazing, and I made no mistakes today. I hope I can find even better rhythm in the coming days.”
Looking Ahead: The queen stage awaits
Riders won’t have to wait long for the next big test. Stage two features the rally’s longest distance: 388 kilometres across the barren plains of Taouz, the dry riverbeds of Jdeid, and the deceptive sands of Ramlia. Once again, navigation will be crucial, and mistakes could be costly.
The Addax Rally opened with a stage that delivered everything: speed, technical riding, strategy, and drama. With four tough days still to come, the battle is far from over.
