Yamaha rider very motivated for another participation in the toughest off-road marathon in the world
António Maio, The multiple Portuguese Cross-Country Champion, is actively preparing for his fifth participation in the Dakar Rally, the world's toughest cross-country marathon. He has successfully overcome the great challenge of taking part in yet another edition of the race and is now preparing to overcome yet another stage, which is to reach the end of the race.
The Yamaha rider, who recently won his eighth National Cross-Country Champion title, had a very positive 2023 season full of good results. In January he will start the 2024 season with another appearance at the Dakar, where he will be at the controls of a WR450F Rally with the support of Drag'on, the official French structure for Yamaha customers. The big news in this edition of the race is the support of the Automóvel Clube de Portugal, which will be with the driver throughout the 2024 season.
António Maio has prepared intensively in physical and logistical terms for this edition of the Dakar and believes he can achieve an outstanding result.
"The Dakar Rally is always the most eagerly awaited event of the sporting season and it's where we want to show our worth. The aim is always to improve on previous performances, but we mustn't forget the difficulties inherent in this race. That's why I'm going to do my best to achieve a good result, always taking the necessary precautions. In my fifth participation in this competition, I'll be counting on the support of the Automóvel Clube de Portugal and I'm extremely proud to be able to represent this brand trusted by the Portuguese. I'd like to thank President Carlos Barbosa and the ACP for their confidence in me. I would also like to thank Filipe Almeida, YAMAHA Motor Europe's Country Manager in Portugal, who is unfortunately no longer with us, for all the support he has always given me and for believing in me and in the Fino Motor Racing team project. I would also like to thank all my other sponsors, because without them none of this would be possible," António Maio said.
In its fifth edition in Saudi Arabia, which will start on January 5 and end on January 19, the Dakar Rally promises to continue to be challenging, having now introduced a completely new concept: a 48-hour stage over two days in which the competitors, spread between eight camps, will be left to their own devices. In total, the race will cover a distance of around 5,000 kilometers over 14 days.
Source Antonio Maio official press release
Automatic translation of the original Portuguese version available on www.todoterreno.pt
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