They are passionate about motorcycles, have very different backgrounds, but share a common goal: to participate in a Rally Raid riding a Ténéré 700. Destination Rally Raid is a series of six articles featuring the stories of riders who have fallen in love with the world of off-road adventures.
EPISODE 2 - Two Is Better
Sonia Barbot, a graphic designer by profession, has lived a life deeply rooted in her passion for motorcycling. From her early adventures on childhood trails to competing in the French Championship, she has always sought to push her limits.
Today, she is preparing for new challenges in rally raid alongside her partner in life and on the tracks, Donaïg, combining passion, adventure, and determination. Dive into her captivating world where every race is a new exploration.
Can you present yourself ?
Hi there! I’m Sonia Barbot, I’m 40 years old, a graphic designer by profession, and a mother to a fourteen-year-old boy. I spent ten years competing in the French Road Rally Championship.
When did your passion for off-road begin?
It’s been a little while.
When I turned 10, my dadfound a small motocross bike for me. My parents got a divorce and when I was going to my dad’s,I was doing a little bit of riding the trail around the house. Until I was 16, because I got my 125cc license and continued riding a bit on trails. Then there was a second phase where I focused on track and road riding, completely forgetting about off-road.
And that passion returned in 2018 with the opportunity to participate in the GS Trophy France. That experience reignited my desire to explore, travel the world, and even consider getting back into competition.
The transition from Road Rally to Trail riding
Do you share this passion with your partner, Donaïg? Do you often ride together?
Yes, absolutely! We ride together whenever we can; we enjoy the same things. So, we often set out on little adventures together on our Ténérés. Whenever we can, we pack our bags and head out. Whether it’s enduro or other challenges, we both enjoy the thrill of new adventures.It’s quite fun. We really ride together.
How do you handle safety ?
Well, up until now, we never really questioned it because we’re often together. We don’t take unnecessary risks because it’s just for adventure, a ride, etc. But now, for the Rally Raid, we ask ourselves we need to consider what happens if someone gets injured, how we manage the situation, especially since we’ve planned to ride together.
Afterward, we also have to think about what happens if one of us gets lost or if there’s a crash and the other isn’t aware of it.
You really have to trust the race direction and organization because everything is planned for safety. So, if someone gets lost or if there’s an accident and you’re unaware, you shouldn’t go looking for the other person. Instead, you should continue your route to the end of the stage.
Adventuring the Rally Raids
Donaïg, what do you think about it ?
Donaïg: As for crashing, honestly, I don’t really think about it, even though it does happen from time to time. But if it were to happen…
I would stop. But we’ve been told that we should keep going, whether it’s a liaison or a special stage, as Sonia mentioned. Still, I always keep an eye on Sonia; I’m always looking out for her.
What do you like most about the Ténéré 700 ?
Sonia: I bought my bike in 2019 when it first came out, without even test riding it. What attracted me first was the design and what it represented—the Dakar, the desert, that whole ideology. Once I started riding it, I was drawn to its simplicity—no electronic assistance, which means fewer chances of breakdowns. And the engine, the CP2, is fantastic. I knew it from the MT-07; it’s torquey, fun, and powerful enough for off-road. It’s a bike that gives me a lot of riding pleasure.
Donaïg : In reality it’s the simplicity and the lack ofElectronique. And the engine is friendly, with torque low in the RPMs, so it’s great for off-road riding. Plus, I’m fortunate to have Kayaba Factory suspensions from OTS Factory, which make the bike much more dynamic and easier to handle in events like rallies, where the speeds are significantly higher.
Tell me more about your projects ?
Sonia: We’re actually looking to get into Rally Raid to explore this new discipline. Sonia: I have a background in road rallying, and Donaïg is a former high-level athlete, so I think we have a pretty solid foundation. We’re aware that this is a challenging endeavor, and we want to do it within a good structure. That’s why we want to join the official Yamaha Ténéré Spirit Experience team for the Transanatolia Rally in Turkey. But before that, we’ve committed to the Swank Rally in Sardinia to learn the basics of rallying.
To make this happen, we need to find financial partners to finalize the project. The Mutuelle des Motards has been supporting us for a few years, but we’re still missing half of the budget to make it a reality. If the idea of a couple participating in a Rally Raid interests you and you’d like to be part of the adventure, feel free to contact us on social media.
