On Wednesday afternoon, competitors in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge finished the second part of the marathon stage. Over two days, participants covered nearly 800 kilometers, with more than 450 of them consisting of special stages. The biggest challenge was keeping their machines in good condition, as riders spent the night away from their teams and mechanics.
CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team rider Antanas Kanopkinas noted that no competitor finished without any difficulties: "The two marathon days were really tough. Everyone had problems—some more, some less. Our main challenge was fuel consumption, while other competitors faced issues with fuel supply, punctured tires, or mechanical failures. In the end, the results depended on how well each of us managed those problems. We handled ours in a way that put us in first and second place."
"The first hundred kilometers, I saved fuel. The second hundred, I pushed as fast as possible. The third hundred, I just tried to reach the finish—my exhaust fell off, burning my leg and melting the surrounding plastic. I’ve brought back plenty of work for the mechanics. Personally, I feel extremely exhausted."
According to provisional results, both team riders are on the quad category podium today. Gaëtan Martinez finished about two minutes behind Antanas Kanopkinas and shared that over the past two days, he tackled the largest dunes he has ever seen: "Both yesterday and today, we rode through massive dunes. Some of them are a joy to ride, while others are so steep and high that as you climb to the top, you feel anxious about what’s waiting on the other side. I’m happy everything went well. Today, we rode at a slower pace to save fuel. On the track, I met up with Antanas, and we rode the last hundred kilometers together so that if a serious issue arose, we could help each other reach the finish."
Tomorrow marks the final day of the rally, where competitors will have to complete a 167-kilometer special stage and nearly 200 kilometers of liaison. The rally will conclude in Abu Dhabi with a grand awards ceremony. Preliminary results indicate that CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team riders hold the first and second positions in the quad classification.
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