Highly experienced Italian rider Alessandro Botturi is a legend in off-road motorsport and is a big character in the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team. His elite level riding ability, expertise and warm personality make him a huge asset to the official Yamaha team and to the Ténéré Spirit Experience as a whole.
From enduro to rally-raid, a string of successes
Having started his career in trials, Botturi is a two-time winner of the prestigious International Six Day Trial title (2005 & 2007). He went on to compete in the World Enduro Championship before riding the Dakar, completing the legendary rally several times with a stage podium to his name and a best-placed overall finish of eighth. He is a two-time winner of the Rally Sardinia, has tasted victory in the Transanatolia and Merzuoga Rallies and was also victorious in the 2019 and 2020 editions of the Africa Eco Race.
Botturi ensured that the inaugural season for the Ténéré World Raid Team was a major success, when we stormed to victory at the Tunisia Desert Challenge, before helping Yamaha secure a 1-2 in class at the 2022 Africa Eco Race.
Last year he placed second overall at the TransAnatolia, creating history by ensuring a team 1-2 in the general classification with his teammate Pol Tarrés. Botturi narrowly missed out on the overall victory at the 2024 Africa Eco race, winning four stages on the Ténéré on his way to a second-placed finish..
"We're very proud to have him on the team"
Marc Bourgeois, who leads the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team and the Ténéré Spirit Experience, says of Botturi:
“His value to the team is truly significant due to his high level of racing experience, especially in Rally Raid. Importantly, he was an official Yamaha rider at the Dakar with the 450cc bikes. Over several years he competed with Yamaha in Italy, in Rally Raid in the Italian Motorally Championship, and in races such as the Africa Eco Race, which he has won twice.”
“He is a very, very nice guy and in terms of sharing knowledge he plays a crucial role in the success of Pol Tarrés as well. He is a fantastic teammate to Pol; he supports him, accompanies him, and shares his knowledge, which is not always easy in a team where there are two official riders. So, he really brings significant value to the team.”
Bourgeois adds, “Alessandro is also involved in sharing his expertise by offering navigation courses in Italy and Tunisia. He is helping to grow the Ténéré Spirit Experience project and we’re very proud to have him with us.”
Ténéré Spirit Experience: an insider's view of the world of rally-raid
For Ténéré owners, Yamaha Motor Europe is offering them the chance to fulfil a dream by joining Botturi, Tarres and the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team at each of the rallies they are competing in.
At each event, up to 20 Ténéré Spirit Experience customers are transported with their bikes to the rally, where they get to ride each stage depending on their level of riding, following the racing line or a route parallel to the main race competitors.
Ténéré Spirit Experience riders travel with and live alongside the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team and riders Botturi and Tarres in the bivouac, creating a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience that gives them a taste of what it is like to ride in elite Rally Raid competition.
Riders interested in taking part in rally-raids with the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team through the Ténéré Spirit Experience, can check out the events page here.
