Summer break is over – CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team returns to the World Championship

Schoolchildren are not the only ones who get a summer break – competitors in the World Rally-Raid Championship also have a chance to take some time away from racing. Although CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team spent the break improving its machinery and taking part in various events, the team has already started missing the thrill of competition. On September 28, one of the toughest rounds of the championship, the Rallye du Maroc, gets underway.

“This year, Marc Coma designed the routes, and we’ve been promised four days in the dunes. I’m very curious to see what they have in store for us, because there aren’t that many dunes in Morocco and the stages won’t be particularly long either. But at the Rallye du Maroc, every kilometre is tough, and the organisers are promising major challenges for both experienced competitors and newcomers this year,” said Antanas Kanopkinas ahead of the upcoming start. He currently leads the quad standings in the World Championship.

That is precisely why, the rider says, it will be essential to remain fully focused and aim for the best possible result, with a chance to secure the championship title at this very round.

“There are still a lot of questions surrounding the final round of the championship in Abu Dhabi. It may well take place, but there is a chance the logistics may not work out, so there are still plenty of ‘ifs’. That’s why we want to settle everything as early as possible.”

A victory in Morocco could allow Kanopkinas to secure the World Championship title, although a very favourable set of circumstances would be required. His closest rival who will also compete in Morocco currently trails the CFMOTO Thunder Racing Team rider by as many as 18 points. If that rival were to finish third, the World Championship title would once again go to the team. However, Kanopkinas expects that despite the relatively small field, the competition will be extremely strong and the battle far from easy. If the championship is not decided in Morocco, everything will come down to the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

“We feel very well prepared for this event, and the quad is ready too. In fact, we’re transporting our equipment for three races at once. We’ll take the ferry to Morocco, but before that we’ll unload the equipment destined for Abu Dhabi in Barcelona. Abu Dhabi will host both the final round of this season and the opening round of next year’s championship. That means we will definitely be back in the championship next year as well,” Kanopkinas said, outlining the team’s upcoming plans.

In Morocco, the team will face five days of racing as well as a prologue. The competitors will start in Agadir and, on the very first day, make their way to Zagora, where the remainder of the rally will take place.