The 13th edition of the Transanatolia Rally, an event that grows in prestige with each passing year, commences in the storied city of Samsun on Turkey’s Black Sea coast at the end of August and culminates in the enchanting city of Izmir eight days later.
The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team and our valued Ténéré Spirit Experience riders will be there in force, ready to take this epic race by storm once again. There are plenty of reasons to join them if you haven’t already signed up and here are just five of them:
1. Epic landscapes and destinations
The rally unfolds from 31st August to 7th September over eight challenging stages, charting a course from east to west across the breath-taking expansive Anatolian steppe. The event covers a total of 2800 kilometres, offering a rigorous yet exhilarating test of skill and endurance.
The riders will get a taste of the historic city of Samsun before heading into Turkey’s impressive mountains, passing green plateaus, inland deserts, salt lakes and arid landscapes. The epic Anatolia scenery features peaks of extinct volcanoes and is framed by fertile and alluvial areas. The race ends in the stunning city of Izmir, ‘the pearl of the Aegean Sea’.
2. World-class machinery and support
For Ténéré Spirit Experience riders attending the Transanatolia Rally supported by the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team will receive world class support from the best mechanics and logistics crew in the business.
Ténéré 700 bikes with GYTR Performance, Handling and Rally Kits take your riding to the next level with a dedicated mechanic on hand for the duration of the event. Our customers can bring their own bikes or hire a high-performance Ténéré 700 from us, benefitting from the supply and installation of navigation and safety equipment.
3. Prestige and nature of the race
At last year’s event the Yamaha Ténéré World Raid Team continued to rewrite the record books. The Turkish race saw Pol Tarrés secure his maiden Rally-Raid victory with a superb first win for a twin-cylinder adventure bike at the TransAnatolia, whilst his teammate Alessandro Botturi ensured the team created more history by making it a Yamaha Ténéré 1-2.
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team manager Marc Bourgeois says, “Last year we beat the 450cc prototypes and we won overall so it was a big success story. For us it is very important to be there again. This race is very nice, you have long stages over different kinds of terrains. Ok, it’s not the open landscapes like you can find in the desert, but there are different kinds of tracks and it’s important to have all the skills.”
“In terms of the date it is good to have it after the summer break. To have an event and to compete and warm-up for the second part of the year before the Africa Eco Race. We will continue with our same strategy, with the improvements for the bike and improvements made by the riders.”
Riders who are new to Rally-Raid are welcome to get involved in this superb event and can do so in style courtesy of the Ténéré Spirit Experience.
4. Progression with GPS and Road Book Options
Participants in the Raid category can navigate using GPS – in conjunction with a road book if they wish – focusing on precision rather than speed, as their adherence to the exact route earns them points that determine the final rankings.
Bourgeois explains, “The riders can enjoy riding with the road book in the Raid category and if they want to ride with the GPS they can, but they can also have the paper road book, so they can get a taste for it and play a little bit. Then you know you can ride with confidence and do it safely following the GPS. It’s only at this race that we can manage it like that as we follow the same tracks, the same line as the racing riders, so that’s a specific aspect for the Transanatolia.”
5. Enjoying the atmosphere and team spirit
Each evening, the Ténéré Spirit Experience riders, professionals and teams gather in the bivouac, where a dedicated Yamaha crew are on hand to service the Ténéré bikes and the participants share the day’s experiences.
Bourgeois comments, “For the Ténéré Spirit Experience riders it is one of the best events for our customers, at the easier level. It’s an event with easy tracks, it’s very enjoyable to ride. We don’t have too many stones on the track, we don’t have the danger of the desert, so for learning and taking the first step in rally conditions it’s a very nice place to be.”
