X-raid Yamaha Racing Rally Team revved up for Dakar Rally

The X-raid Yamaha Racing Rally Supported Team is ready for the challenge of the 2021 Dakar Rally, having completed a successful final shakedown test in which Mattias Ekström and Emil Bergkvist put the #385 YXZ1000R prototype through its paces alongside the #391 SSV of Camelia Liparoti and Annett Fischer.

The two X-raid crews head into the Dakar Rally off the back of a successful first outing at the recent Baja Hail event, in which Ekström and Bergkvist raced the YXZ1000R prototype to the win in the T3 National Class on its debut, with Liparoti and Fischer making it a one-two for the X-raid team by finishing a close second.

“It was great to be back behind the wheel of the YXZ1000R prototype during yesterday’s shakedown test,” said Liparoti in the #391 Yamaha YXZ1000R prototype. “We used the time to make the final adjustments to the vehicle and further improve the cooperation in the cockpit. Now we cannot wait for the start! In tomorrow’s prologue, we will push without taking too many risks. I feel very comfortable in both the YXZ1000R and the X-raid team. For me, it’s the first time I’m competing at the Dakar Rally as part of a professional team and both Annett and I want to do our best. We had some bad luck last year, but the lessons learned then will certainly help us this year.”

“Over the past few days, we have made some last adjustments to our YXZ1000R prototype,” said Ekström in the #385 Yamaha YXZ1000R prototype. “Tonight, we will do the final administrative checks, but now I just can’t wait for the Dakar to finally start, as it feels like the preparations have taken forever!”