First Kilometers in South Africa: The Real Challenge Begins Tomorrow

CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team riders officially kicked off the second round of the World Championship on Monday, crossing the start arch in the Republic of South Africa. Antanas Kanopkinas and Gaëtan Martinez completed the prologue and got their first taste of Africa’s unfamiliar terrain.

“The prologue was short, but the tracks are different from what we’re used to—bushes, tall grass. Not much more to add at this point, but today’s kilometers felt good. I’m getting used to the quad again and preparing for tomorrow,” said Gaëtan Martinez after the opening stage.

After finishing the prologue, Antanas Kanopkinas said the mood is great, but the track had some very specific characteristics: “It was really slippery. I still need to adapt to the surface. I didn’t want to take any risks in the prologue—I've lost too much time here in the past, and there’s nothing to gain from trying to win it. I rode safely, lost a few seconds, but that doesn’t affect the mood at all. The real racing starts tomorrow.”

He added that his starting position isn’t ideal, as one of his main class rivals, Marek Loj, will be starting just ahead of him—meaning he’ll likely be riding in a cloud of dust. Still, it doesn’t change the team’s mindset or motivation. In total, 42 bikes and quads will line up at the start.

On Tuesday, competitors will cover 557 kilometers, including the first Safari Rally special stage—262 kilometers in length. Both the start and finish will take place in Sun City, a town located just near the Botswana border. Over the course of five special stages, the riders will cover a total of 2,645 kilometers.