Penultimate Day in Portugal: More Crashes and Technical Challenges

The BP Ultimate Rally Raid World Championship round is nearing its end – today the riders returned from Spain back into Portugal, covering more than 500 kilometers. Both CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team riders crossed the finish line, recording the first and second fastest times in the quad category. However, the day was not without risky moments.

“It was a good day, we were riding fast until the 70th kilometer when I missed a corner, hit sideways, and bent the rear suspension arm. Some of the bodywork was damaged too. With a quad not fully fit for the track, I kept going. I had to fight in every corner not to lose too much time. Honestly, I still wanted to take the fastest time of the day, because my speed didn’t drop much – I just had to ride extra carefully,” said Antanas Kanopkinas at the finish, admitting that the plan he had in mind in the morning didn’t fully work out.

At the same time, Kanopkinas expressed joy for his teammate, who on Saturday claimed his third daily victory in the quad category and will receive another medal in the evening.

“Today we came back from Portugal into Spain. The tracks were similar to those we had already ridden on previous days, just a bit slower and winding more through the trees. I managed to pass one rival, but couldn’t get past another because of the heavy dust, so my pace wasn’t as strong as it could have been,” explained Gaetan Martinez after finishing.

On Sunday, competitors will face just under 300 kilometers to the end of the rally. For the quad riders, it will also mark the finish line of the World Championship. Before this rally, both CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team riders shared first place in the standings – and here they continue to hold the top two positions.