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Africa Race 2026: António Maio enjoys a successful debut at the Africa Eco Race
Yamaha Ténéré rider secures sixth place overall
Portuguese rider António Maio successfully completed his debut participation in the 17th Africa Eco Race, achieving an outstanding result in what is considered one of the toughest African off-road marathons.
Riding the Yamaha Ténéré 700 GYTR, the seven-time national champion finished the event in fifth place in the +650cc class and sixth overall, after tackling 11 demanding stages across Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal.
This performance represents an important achievement for António Maio, who adds another significant result in international competition to his sporting career.
“It was 11 long, tough, demanding and very diverse stages that really put our Yamaha Ténéré 700 GYTR to the test. The result was very positive for me, considering all the constraints I faced during some stages, and it was also a historic result for Yamaha, which completely dominated the race. I would like to thank the entire team and sponsors who contributed to helping me reach Dakar with a historic result,” said António Maio.
António Maio now returns to Portugal, where he will begin preparations for the next sporting season.
Official press release





