With the challenge of racing and finding the right route alone, the participants on two will wheels face the longest Sertoes Rally ever, starting on August 26th at Foz do Iguaçu/PR. The battle for victory includes former winners, top riders and newcomers
Facing the BRB Sertões on two wheels is a difficult and demanding mission. After all, on motorcycles the riders are forced to race and navigate on their own, with maximum concentration from the beginning to the end of the each special stage. Imagine then in the 30th anniversary edition of the off-road challenge, which reserves the longest race course in the history of the race - 7,202 kilometers in total, 4,378 in timed sections, making 60% of the route.
This year's edition of Sertões BRB 2022, will make from the Sertoes the biggest rally in the world, celebrating a trajectory started in 1993 by 34 brave motorcyclists, which has grown, gained other modalities and international relevance. And it will also pay tribute to the Bicentennial of Independence, crossing five regions of Brazil between August 26 and September 10, starting in Foz do Iguaçu (PR) and ending in Salinópolis (PA).
For all these reasons, facing the prologue, the 14 stages, and receiving the finalist medal on the sands of Pará will be an even harder task than usual. Winning will represent the consecration of a perfect combination of man and machine, with the certainty that they have overcome the toughest Sertões in these three decades.
There are five former winners in the entry list, ready to increase their number in the gallery. Starting with the most recent: Frenchman Adrien Metge (Yamaha), who recovered from a penalty at the beginning of the 2021 edition to make the party. His teammate Ricardo Martins is another one looking for a second championship, after being the best in 2020.
The biggest winner in history (in all categories) also lines up in Foz with the expectation of doing well. Jean Azevedo (Honda) has won seven titles - 1995/2000/2002/2004/2005/2015/2017 - and, at the age of 48, is still fast and competitive. He is one of the riders with the mission to put the red bikes back on the top of the podium. Tiago Fantozzi, winner in 2001, is missing the competition in the Sertões after a few years behind the scenes.
And there is still a five-time champion who returns to his origins to do the second half of the race (the Sertões Norte) on a motorcycle: Zé Hélio Rodrigues (1999/2003/2007/2008/2009). The pilot from the state of São Paulo will live an unprecedented double journey: he will drive a UTV in the Sertões Sul (from Foz to Palmas), and then change the four wheels for two.
For the first time
But there are also those who seek to experience for the first time the emotion of an overall victory. Names like Bissinho Zavatti (Honda) from São Paulo and Túlio Malta (Yamaha), from Minas Gerais, stand out in the Baja and Cross-Country Rally competitions. Besides two newcomers who promise to arrive twisting the cable. The Argentinean Martín Duplessis, with experience in the Dakar, reinforces the official Honda team and has already shown his ability at the beginning of the season. The same goes for Gabriel Soares, Tomate, from Minas Gerais. One of the main names in the country in Enduro FIM (speed) in recent years, he decided to bet on rallies, with good results right away.
There are also those who start with the objective of completing the challenge, which, in itself, is already a victory. Among them, a very well-known name stands out: Olivier Anquier. The French chef and presenter living in Brazil completed the race in 2020 and wants to repeat the feat in a special year for the Sertões.
Two women are also on the entry list, with no fear of what lies ahead. Moara Sacilotti is a veteran of the Sertões, used to facing all kinds of difficulties on two wheels. Laura Lopes competes for French Guiana. With a background in motorcycle racing, she faces the race for the third year in a row with her husband, Gerard Pauchet. She completed the rally both in 2020 and 2021.
Self by Motul
And then there is the group that, once again, faces the adventure with an extra degree of difficulty: the 10 entries in the Self by Motul category. It requires riders to be the only ones to maintain the bikes, with the help of tools provided by the organization. The group stays together in the same box throughout the race (everyone sleeps in tents) and, as soon as the day's competition is over, the rivalry gives way to a healthy spirit of integration and companionship. Here, the name to beat is that of Marco Antônio Pereira, from Minas Gerais, winner in 2020 and 2021.
Selected Quotes:
Adrien Metge, Yamaha , current title older: "The expectation is very good. I have been training well since the beginning of the season and racing rallies in Brazil. I know it will be quite challenging, there are 14 stages plus the prologue, more than 7,000 kilometers, with different terrains from the South to the North of the country. It will be very hard physically and mentally. We have to be well prepared. It will certainly be very cool and beautiful to cross Brazil. I can't wait to start the race."
Jean Azevedo, Honda Racing : "The Sertões Rally this year will be a different race, with 14 long and hard stages, all with high mileage and with different characteristics crossing various regions. I'm used to rallies like this, I've done the Dakar 18 times, I know that it's necessary to manage it well and to have a good strategy. There are several strong riders with conditions to win. I am very happy to be part of this epic edition, I, who have been part of this story almost since the beginning. I really want to look for my eighth title and work to put Honda on the top of the podium".
Ricardo Martins, Yamaha: "I expect a very difficult rally, with quite long and exhausting days. My strategy is to focus day by day, working each stage at a time, without thinking about the whole race. I have 11 Sertões, so I will use this experience for each step. I have just won in 2020, and in 2021 I was doing well in the race, but I had an accident that took me out of the race. Now I want to spend every day without accidents, so I will certainly have a good result at the end. The bike is ready; the team is aligned. Let's go up. Everything is going to work out fine."
Martin Duplessis : "I feel very motivated. It will be my first Sertões, but I have adapted very well to Brazilian rallies, very different from what I was used to. I have trained a lot with Tomate (Gabriel Soares). It will be 15 days of strong work in the team. I'm very happy to be part of the race, and we'll take these positive emotions with us to achieve a great result.
Automatic translation from the original Portuguese (Brazilian) version
Source Rali dos Sertoes
