Africa Eco Race, Stage 5 – ADVrider

Botturi blasts through the dunes in Morocco, doing the best he can while in rough physical shape. Photo: Yamaha
Today, on the 629-kilometer stage (including a 431-kilometer timed special) running through Morocco from Laâyoune to Dakhla, Yamaha had the bike to beat—or so it seemed at first. Unfortunately for factory rider Alessandro Botturi, a bad case of the flu sapped his energy, and he made a nav error that cost him quite a bit of time.
That’s very bad luck, as today’s sandy sections should have allowed Botturi to pick up speed and put some distance between himself and the rest of the pack, except for maybe Jacopo Cerutti (on the factory Aprilia Tuareg). Botturi’s misfortune saw him lose more than an hour due to that navigational error, around 125 kilometers into the day, and he ended the stage in 37th overall, battling very hard to regain that lost time.
Today was very tough. I woke up this morning feeling very sick, and I wasn’t sure I could ride, but I knew if I could make it through today, I would have an extra day to recover in Dakhla. I was nowhere near 100%, which led to me making a mistake with my navigation, but so did many of the other riders. Once I had realised my error, I was determined to make up for lost time, and I rode with Cerutti to the finish, giving it absolutely everything. In the end, while I conceded some time to him, it could have been a lot worse, and we are both locked neck and neck in the victory battle, with another seven stages to go. The focus is on trying to rest so I can be back to 100% for Stage 6 and ensure we can fight for the win right to the end!
At least he keeps a hold on second overall in the race, as Cerutti also struggled today and lost time, and now Botturi has a bit of a chance to recover from his bug, as it’s the Eco Race’s rest day tomorrow (Sunday).

The stage win, meanwhile, went to Nicolas Charlie, who is riding a Yamaha T7 as well, with the Tenere Spirit Experience team.

2025 Africa Eco Race Stage 5 rankings

	DRIVER		CO-DRIVER	VEHICLE	GRP	CLA	TIME	DIF	Km/h
1	24			CHARLIER NICOLAS			YAMAHA XTZ690D	MULTICYLINDRE		4:08:24		104.2
2	22			MONTANARI FRANCESCO			APRILIA TUAREG	MULTICYLINDRE		4:10:54	+2:30 +2:30	103.2
3	71			GUERRINI MASSIMILIANO			HUSQVARNA 450 FR RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	4:11:48	+3:24 +54	102.8
4	30			PERSSON JOHAN			KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA	450 CC		4:13:46	+5:22 +1:58	102.0
5	66			KAHARA YUJI			HUSQVARNA FR450	450 CC		4:14:50	+6:26 +1:04	101.6
6	88			BRITNELL SCOTT			KTM 450RR	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	4:15:12	+6:48 +22	101.4
7	90			HELLSTEN JOACHIM			6350 KTM 450 RALLY FACTORY REPLICA	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	4:15:47	+7:23 +35	101.2
8	5			PEDRERO JOAN			HARLEY DAVIDSON PANAMERICA	MULTICYLINDRE +1000CC		4:17:45	+9:21 +1:58	100.4
9	36			PERLINSKI STEVE			KTM RALLY FACTORY REPLICA	450 CC		4:20:17	+11:53 +2:32	99.5
10	9			BORNE GUILLAUME			HUSQVARNA 450 FR	450 CC		4:20:23	+11:59 +6	99.4
11	75			MARTINEZ BORONAT GUILLEM			KTM RALLY 450	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / ROOKIE RIDER	4:21:39	+13:15 +1:16	98.9
12	89			TRACCAN THIERRY			YAMAHA XTZ690D	MULTICYLINDRE		4:24:58	+16:34 +3:19	97.7
13	93			GRITTI GIOVANNI			HONDA CRF 450 RS2	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	4:26:02	+17:38 +1:04	97.3
14	52			VONDRášEK JAN			GAS GAS RR450	450 CC		4:26:30	+18:06 +28	97.1
15	34			SIMONIN JAMES			HUSQVARNA 450 RALLY REPLICA	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	4:29:51	+21:27 +3:21	95.9
16	58			PERFETTI ANDREA			HONDA CRF 450 RS2	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	4:30:20	+21:56 +29	95.8
17	80			LIEBAERT MATHIEU			KTM RALLY REPLICA	450 CC		4:30:28	+22:04 +8	95.7
18	12			KALAT JIRI			KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	4:30:43	+22:19 +15	95.6
19	28			WOLTERS BORIS			HUSQVARNA 450 RALLY REPLICA	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	4:33:14	+24:50 +2:31	94.7
20	79			VIVALDI PIERPAOLO			GAS GAS RX 450F REPLICA RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	4:36:12	+27:48 +2:58	93.7
21	64			LEMERCIER GEOFFROY			KTM 450 RFR	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	4:37:21	+28:57 +1:09	93.3
22	91			SEPPELE LUCA			KOVE 450 RALLY PRO	450 CC	ROOKIE RIDER	4:38:24	+30:00 +1:03	93.0
23	31			MATTSSON DANIEL			HUSQVARNA FR 450	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	4:40:48	+32:24 +2:24	92.2
24	7			MENICHINI MARCO			APRILIA TUAREG 660	MULTICYLINDRE		4:42:19	+33:55 +1:31	91.7
25	10			BERNARD ERIC			KTM 890 ADVENTURE R	MULTICYLINDRE	VÉTÉRAN	4:42:19	+33:55	91.7
26	53			BERGLUND ANDERS			KTM RFR	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	4:42:52	+34:28 +33	91.5
27	87			MEILLAT CHRISTOPHE			YAMAHA TèNèRè 700	MULTICYLINDRE	VÉTÉRAN	4:44:08	+35:44 +1:16	91.1
28	51			BLAžEK JIří			KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA	450 CC		4:45:32	+37:08 +1:24	90.7
29	38			LHERMENIER MICHEL			GASGAS 450	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	4:46:07	+37:43 +35	90.5
30	14			PIETRI FILIPPO			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	ROOKIE RIDER	4:49:25	+41:01 +3:18	89.5
31	18			CARILLON PATRICE			KTM 450 RALLYE	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	4:50:43 +15:00	+42:19 +1:18	89.1
32	50			DOVLAND HANS KRISTIAN			KTM RFR450 2015	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / ROOKIE RIDER	4:51:40	+43:16 +57	88.8
33	46			SOTTIAUX JEAN-YVES			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	4:51:46	+43:22 +6	88.7
34	11			BENKO MARTIN			KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	4:54:52	+46:28 +3:06	87.8
35	1			CERUTTI JACOPO			APRILIA TUAREG	MULTICYLINDRE		4:55:42	+47:18 +50	87.6
36	3			BOTTURI ALESSANDRO			YAMAHA XTZ690D	MULTICYLINDRE		4:58:40	+50:16 +2:58	86.7
37	2			ULLEVåLSETER PåL ANDERS			KTM 450 RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	4:59:35	+51:11 +55	86.4
38	85			DEROCQ DAMIEN			KTM 450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	5:02:26	+54:02 +2:51	85.6
39	33			COSTARD MAXENCE			KTM RALLY	450 CC	ROOKIE RIDER	5:04:22	+55:58 +1:56	85.1
40	15			PUNGINELLI CHRISTIAN			KTM 450	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	5:04:23	+55:59 +1	85.1
41	32			COSTARD THIERRY			KTM RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	5:04:23	+55:59	85.1
42	49			BORER RICHARD			KTM 450 RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	5:05:37	+57:13 +1:14	84.7
43	29			DELFORGE JEROME			HUSQVARNA 450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	5:06:31	+58:07 +54	84.5
44	17			BOTTINO MATTEO			KOVE 800X RALLY LS	MULTICYLINDRE	ROOKIE RIDER	5:08:48 +13:00	+1:24 +2:17	83.8
45	39			MARCHESINI DIEGO			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	5:11:03	+1:02:39 +2:15	83.2
46	42			LIVI DANIELE			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	ROOKIE RIDER	5:13:44	+1:05:20 +2:41	82.5
47	45			MORETTO GIANNI			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	5:16:42	+1:08:18 +2:58	81.7
48	41			RIGONI ALESSANDRO			HUSQVARNA HQV 450 RALLY FACTORY REP	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	5:17:44	+1:09:20 +1:02	81.5
49	72			CARMELO PALMER			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	5:18:11	+1:09:47 +27	81.4
50	61			BETTINI MIRCO			SUZUKI V-STROM 800DE	MULTICYLINDRE	VÉTÉRAN	5:29:45	+1:21:21 +11:34	78.5
51	59			FUJIWARA SHINYA			HUSQVARNA FR450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	5:29:52	+1:21:28 +7	78.5
52	67			COCHET LAURENT			YAMAHA XTZ690D	MULTICYLINDRE		5:30:24	+1:22:00 +32	78.4
53	83			BIAU VINCENT			SUZUKI 800DE	MULTICYLINDRE	XTREME RIDER	5:34:16	+1:25:52 +3:52	77.4
54	69			BESENZONI IVAN			HUSQVARNA 450 FR RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	5:44:15	+1:35:51 +9:59	75.2
55	25			BUSATTI LORENZO			HUSQVARNA HQV 450 RALLY FACTORY REP	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	5:47:54	+1:39:30 +3:39	74.4
56	68			SUGIMURA SHINGO			HUSQVARNA FR450	450 CC		5:50:53	+1:42:29 +2:59	73.8
57	82			ROWE STEPHANIE			KTM 450 EXCF	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / FÉMININE	6:03:00	+1:54:36 +12:07	71.3
58	55			FIORINI CLAUDIO			KTM 450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	6:05:10	+1:56:46 +2:10	70.9
59	77			PETTERSEN VEGAR			KTM 450 RFR	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / ROOKIE RIDER	6:43:58	+2:35:34 +38:48	64.1
60	26			STRAGLIATI STEPHANE			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	6:53:22	+2:44:58 +9:24	62.6
61	62			OSHITAMOTO JUNICHI			HUSQVARNA FE501	+450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	6:54:22	+2:45:58 +1:00	62.5
62	63			TANAKA AI			HUSQVARNA FE 501	+450 CC	FÉMININE	7:25:35	+3:17:11 +31:13	58.1
63	65			SAITO AKIHIRO			HUSQVARNA FE501	+450 CC		7:26:35	+3:18:11 +1:00	58.0
64	60			FUJIWARA YUKI			HUSQVARNA FR450	450 CC	ROOKIE RIDER	8:31:02	+4:22:38 +1:04:27	50.7
65	48			THOLY XAVIER			HUSQVARNA 450 FE	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	8:31:56	+4:23:32 +54	50.6
66	20			CATANESE FRANCESCO			YAMAHA T700	MULTICYLINDRE	VÉTÉRAN	25:20:00 +14:30:00	+21:11:36 +16:48:04	17.0
67	21			D’ORSOGNA IARNO			YAMAHA XTZ690D	MULTICYLINDRE	ROOKIE RIDER	25:35:00 +14:45:00	+21:26:36 +15:00	16.9
68	99			HELLEMANS LAURENT			YAMAHA RAPTOR	QUAD	GROUPE G	27:50:00 +17:00:00	+23:41:36 +2:15:00	15.5
69	44			DAL BEN GIAMPIETRO			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	34:04:00 +23:14:00	+29:55:36 +6:14:00	12.7

2025 Africa Eco Race overall ranking after Stage 5

	DRIVER		CO-DRIVER	VEHICLE	GRP	CLA	TIME	DIF
1	1			CERUTTI JACOPO			APRILIA TUAREG	MULTICYLINDRE		20:57:40
2	3			BOTTURI ALESSANDRO			YAMAHA XTZ690D	MULTICYLINDRE		20:59:10	+1:30 +1:30
3	22			MONTANARI FRANCESCO			APRILIA TUAREG	MULTICYLINDRE		22:20:02	+1:22:22 +1:20:52
4	9			BORNE GUILLAUME			HUSQVARNA 450 FR	450 CC		22:23:59 -12:44	+1:26:19 +3:57
5	2			ULLEVåLSETER PåL ANDERS			KTM 450 RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	22:34:24	+1:36:44 +10:25
6	24			CHARLIER NICOLAS			YAMAHA XTZ690D	MULTICYLINDRE		22:49:15	+1:51:35 +14:51
7	5			PEDRERO JOAN			HARLEY DAVIDSON PANAMERICA	MULTICYLINDRE +1000CC		22:51:48	+1:54:08 +2:33
8	75			MARTINEZ BORONAT GUILLEM			KTM RALLY 450	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / ROOKIE RIDER	22:51:51	+1:54:11 +3
9	80			LIEBAERT MATHIEU			KTM RALLY REPLICA	450 CC		22:55:20	+1:57:40 +3:29
10	7			MENICHINI MARCO			APRILIA TUAREG 660	MULTICYLINDRE		23:06:26	+2:08:46 +11:06
11	88			BRITNELL SCOTT			KTM 450RR	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	23:42:24	+2:44:44 +35:58
12	14			PIETRI FILIPPO			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	ROOKIE RIDER	23:44:25	+2:46:45 +2:01
13	30			PERSSON JOHAN			KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA	450 CC		23:59:11	+3:01:31 +14:46
14	90			HELLSTEN JOACHIM			6350 KTM 450 RALLY FACTORY REPLICA	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	24:12:01 -1:07:13	+3:14:21 +12:50
15	36			PERLINSKI STEVE			KTM RALLY FACTORY REPLICA	450 CC		24:39:25 -51:53	+3:41:45 +27:24
16	12			KALAT JIRI			KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	24:48:47	+3:51:07 +9:22
17	93			GRITTI GIOVANNI			HONDA CRF 450 RS2	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	24:56:43 +50:00	+3:59:03 +7:56
18	52			VONDRášEK JAN			GAS GAS RR450	450 CC		25:04:57 +15:00	+4:07:17 +8:14
19	50			DOVLAND HANS KRISTIAN			KTM RFR450 2015	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / ROOKIE RIDER	25:10:21 +15:00	+4:12:41 +5:24
20	18			CARILLON PATRICE			KTM 450 RALLYE	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	25:14:41 +45:00	+4:17:01 +4:20
21	10			BERNARD ERIC			KTM 890 ADVENTURE R	MULTICYLINDRE	VÉTÉRAN	25:15:13 +32:00	+4:17:33 +32
22	34			SIMONIN JAMES			HUSQVARNA 450 RALLY REPLICA	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	25:31:41 +56:00	+4:34:01 +16:28
23	71			GUERRINI MASSIMILIANO			HUSQVARNA 450 FR RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	25:36:51 +1:19:00	+4:39:11 +5:10
24	91			SEPPELE LUCA			KOVE 450 RALLY PRO	450 CC	ROOKIE RIDER	25:39:06	+4:41:26 +2:15
25	89			TRACCAN THIERRY			YAMAHA XTZ690D	MULTICYLINDRE		25:49:26 +43:00	+4:51:46 +10:20
26	28			WOLTERS BORIS			HUSQVARNA 450 RALLY REPLICA	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	25:49:36 +47:00	+4:51:56 +10
27	31			MATTSSON DANIEL			HUSQVARNA FR 450	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	25:53:15	+4:55:35 +3:39
28	66			KAHARA YUJI			HUSQVARNA FR450	450 CC		26:15:15 +30:00	+5:17:35 +22:00
29	59			FUJIWARA SHINYA			HUSQVARNA FR450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	26:17:21 +2:00:00	+5:19:41 +2:06
30	87			MEILLAT CHRISTOPHE			YAMAHA TèNèRè 700	MULTICYLINDRE	VÉTÉRAN	26:23:24	+5:25:44 +6:03
31	42			LIVI DANIELE			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	ROOKIE RIDER	26:31:52 +15:00	+5:34:12 +8:28
32	41			RIGONI ALESSANDRO			HUSQVARNA HQV 450 RALLY FACTORY REP	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	26:34:03 +15:00	+5:36:23 +2:11
33	39			MARCHESINI DIEGO			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	26:41:07	+5:43:27 +7:04
34	85			DEROCQ DAMIEN			KTM 450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	26:50:39 +15:00	+5:52:59 +9:32
35	53			BERGLUND ANDERS			KTM RFR	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	27:17:53 +20:17	+6:20:13 +27:14
36	64			LEMERCIER GEOFFROY			KTM 450 RFR	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	27:19:46	+6:22:06 +1:53
37	32			COSTARD THIERRY			KTM RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	27:44:02 -20:16	+6:46:22 +24:16
38	33			COSTARD MAXENCE			KTM RALLY	450 CC	ROOKIE RIDER	27:44:20 -20:09	+6:46:40 +18
39	17			BOTTINO MATTEO			KOVE 800X RALLY LS	MULTICYLINDRE	ROOKIE RIDER	27:44:27 +13:00	+6:46:47 +7
40	51			BLAžEK JIří			KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA	450 CC		27:53:32 +1:15:00	+6:55:52 +9:05
41	79			VIVALDI PIERPAOLO			GAS GAS RX 450F REPLICA RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	27:55:41 +2:00:00	+6:58:01 +2:09
42	58			PERFETTI ANDREA			HONDA CRF 450 RS2	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	28:22:53 +1:00:00	+7:25:13 +27:12
43	72			CARMELO PALMER			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	29:07:09 +15:00	+8:09:29 +44:16
44	15			PUNGINELLI CHRISTIAN			KTM 450	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	29:21:40 +1:15:00	+8:24:00 +14:31
45	46			SOTTIAUX JEAN-YVES			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	30:33:44 +2:00:00	+9:36:04 +1:12:04
46	49			BORER RICHARD			KTM 450 RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	31:05:24 +2:00:00	+10:07:44 +31:40
47	29			DELFORGE JEROME			HUSQVARNA 450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	31:39:38 +2:15:00	+10:41:58 +34:14
48	61			BETTINI MIRCO			SUZUKI V-STROM 800DE	MULTICYLINDRE	VÉTÉRAN	32:14:47 +2:50:00	+11:17:07 +35:09
49	82			ROWE STEPHANIE			KTM 450 EXCF	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / FÉMININE	34:48:12 +2:15:00	+13:50:32 +2:33:25
50	67			COCHET LAURENT			YAMAHA XTZ690D	MULTICYLINDRE		36:40:40 +2:37:00	+15:43:00 +1:52:28
51	68			SUGIMURA SHINGO			HUSQVARNA FR450	450 CC		39:13:52 +10:55:00	+18:16:12 +2:33:12
52	77			PETTERSEN VEGAR			KTM 450 RFR	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / ROOKIE RIDER	40:35:34 +3:03:00	+19:37:54 +1:21:42
53	20			CATANESE FRANCESCO			YAMAHA T700	MULTICYLINDRE	VÉTÉRAN	46:23:28 +14:45:00	+25:25:48 +5:47:54
54	21			D’ORSOGNA IARNO			YAMAHA XTZ690D	MULTICYLINDRE	ROOKIE RIDER	46:35:03 +14:45:00	+25:37:23 +11:35
55	60			FUJIWARA YUKI			HUSQVARNA FR450	450 CC	ROOKIE RIDER	52:18:12 +13:02:00	+31:20:32 +5:43:09
56	38			LHERMENIER MICHEL			GASGAS 450	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	52:30:34 +20:35:00	+31:32:54 +12:22
57	48			THOLY XAVIER			HUSQVARNA 450 FE	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	54:05:55 +15:05:00	+33:08:15 +1:35:21
58	26			STRAGLIATI STEPHANE			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	66:56:28 +30:05:00	+45:58:48 +12:50:33
59	69			BESENZONI IVAN			HUSQVARNA 450 FR RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	77:06:37 +39:40:00	+56:08:57 +10:10:09
60	11			BENKO MARTIN			KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	82:19:10 +47:55:00	+61:21:30 +5:12:33
61	25			BUSATTI LORENZO			HUSQVARNA HQV 450 RALLY FACTORY REP	450 CC	XTREME RIDER / VÉTÉRAN	84:13:25 +45:40:00	+63:15:45 +1:54:15
62	99			HELLEMANS LAURENT			YAMAHA RAPTOR	QUAD	GROUPE G	100:52:29 +57:25:00	+79:54:49 +16:39:04
63	83			BIAU VINCENT			SUZUKI 800DE	MULTICYLINDRE	XTREME RIDER	103:37:54 +65:22:00	+82:40:14 +2:45:25
64	45			MORETTO GIANNI			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	104:09:44 +65:22:00	+83:12:04 +31:50
65	62			OSHITAMOTO JUNICHI			HUSQVARNA FE501	+450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	104:58:22 +64:44:00	+84:42 +48:38
66	63			TANAKA AI			HUSQVARNA FE 501	+450 CC	FÉMININE	105:17:35 +65:12:00	+84:19:55 +19:13
67	65			SAITO AKIHIRO			HUSQVARNA FE501	+450 CC		106:18:35 +66:12:00	+85:20:55 +1:01:00
68	44			DAL BEN GIAMPIETRO			KOVE 450 RALLY	450 CC	VÉTÉRAN	115:41:49 +73:09:00	+94:44:09 +9:23:14
69	55			FIORINI CLAUDIO			KTM 450 RALLY	450 CC	XTREME RIDER	130:45:55 +90:44:00	+109:48:15 +15:04:06

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