First Race Day in Africa: The Quad Reached the Finish Line on Crooked Wheels

On Tuesday morning, the riders took off into the first special stage of the Safari Rally in the Republic of South Africa. Competitors in the World Championship had to tackle 557 kilometers in total, with 262 of those making up the special stage. CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team riders reached the finish and secured first and second place in their category - though not without incidents along the way.

“Early on, I got a bit lost and not long after that, I managed to damage two suspension arms. From that point on, the goal was simply to survive the day without them breaking completely. For nearly 200 kilometers, I just had to ride - no jumps, no drifting, just make it to the finish. And it seems I managed to do that. The quad made it to the end, and that was today’s main goal after the damage,” said Antanas Kanopkinas after returning to the bivouac. He finished nearly 25 minutes behind his teammate.

Gaëtan Martinez, on the other hand, set the fastest time in his class and claimed victory in the first special stage: “When I started, I told myself I’d just ride at my own pace and see what happens if anyone catches up. But no one did - not once during the entire stage. I made a couple of navigation mistakes at the start, but nothing major.”

The riders noted that the tracks reminded them of the Balkan rallies - narrow roads between cornfields and farmland. There was also some unusual red soil or clay, and the entire route was fast-paced, with challenging and risky sections featuring jumps and dips.

After a tough day for the quads, the mechanics are in for a long evening - and possibly a sleepless night - as Wednesday marks the first part of the marathon stage. For two days, the riders will be without any team support and must handle all technical issues on their own. Wednesday’s challenge includes 620 kilometers, with 352 of them in the special stage. The riders will spend the night away from their teams.