Sertões promises intense dispute in Motorcycles and Quads. The event is again valid for the World Cup
- The largest rally of the Americas is once again part of the FIM World Cup calendar - the main Cross Country rally championship on the planet, an added incentive for the pilots. The start date is August 13.
As the largest rally of the Americas, the Sertões Rally is in itself a unique challenge for those who race it, due to the distances, variety of terrains, and high technical level required. For motorbikes and quadricycles, the 2021 edition of the race, from 13 to 22 August, brings an extra spice: it is once again valid for the FIM Cross-Country Rally World Championship after seven years. Therefore, winning it will be synonymous with triumph in a stage of the main championship of the modality. On the 3,615km route through seven states in the Northeast, the promise is of an intense and very technical race, demanding navigation and equipment. In total, there are 65 Motorcycles and three Quads in contention.
If there are several candidates for victory, the favoritism cannot escape the 2020 winner. Ricardo Martins (Yamaha IMS Rally Team) from Santa Catarina showed to be a complete pilot in an edition where rain and mud brought complicated conditions for the caravan. This time, however, he will have a rival to match also in his team. Quite experienced with outstanding results in the main cross-country rally races, Frenchman Adrien Metge saw his participation last year frustrated by the positive diagnosis of Covid-19. This time he's pushing hard to become another foreigner to win the race (the fourth after Cyril Despres, Marc Coma, and Paulo Gonçalves).
The main opposition to the blue bikes comes from Honda's red machines. The team lines up three names capable of taking the overall, starting with the biggest winner in the history of the Sertões, Jean Azevedo (seven titles). Gaucho Gregório Caselani, best in 2016, is back after an injury took him out of the 2020 edition. And the Paulista Júlio Zavatti, Bissinho, showed in his first chance with a bike of the main category to be ready to fight for the top of the podium (vice-champion last year).
Speaking of name that wins space in the dispute, also from São Paulo, Vítor Siqueira is back. Last year, in his debut, he was the revelation, with a consistent rhythm and without mistakes. He went well beyond the first goal, which was to win in Marathon class (which does not allow the exchange of engine and other components), and concluded the challenge as the third-best overall.
Self by Motul
Once again the Self by Motul category will be an attraction apart. In it, the 11 entrants are solely responsible for the maintenance of the machines, in an atmosphere where the camaraderie is as great as the rivalry. Best in 2020, the Mineiro Marco Antônio Pereira returns to seek the biennium, but will not have easy.
Three women line up in the peloton. Moara Sacilotti starts for her 22nd participation. Laura Lopes, from French Guiana, is back, after completing the ride last year. And Janaína Fagundes de Souza is entered on Self by Motul.
Quads
In quads, Marcelo Medeiros, current champion and owner of four Sertões titles will face two of the biggest names in the sport, which promises an exciting rally. Winner of the race in 2010 (when it was also valid for the World Cup), Polish Rafal Sonik is back. And the Dakar 2021 champion is also joining the caravan. Argentine Manuel Andujar leaves Pipa in search of a victory that would make his season even more impressive.
What they said:
Ricardo Martins
"I'm very well physically, the bike quite adjusted and the team prepared. We are in a good rhythm, we raced other races in the season. This year's Sertões will be different, with a different kind of terrain because it will be held in the Northeast, but there is no easy Sertões. I will battle for victory once again. Let's go up!"
Júlio Zavatti, Bissinho
"The race will be hard and difficult. I am very happy and prepared to face this challenge again. I've spent a lot of time training and I arrive very focused and full of desire to win".
Jean Azevedo
"The stages this year will not be so long, but the days promise to be intense and disputed. The key stage will be the first day of the Marathon, arriving in Xique Xique, where we will have a lot of sand. We are training hard to be well prepared for this race, which is the main one of the season".
Marcelo Medeiros
"Every year is a different rally. The logistics were very good with shorter displacements and in a region where I like to ride, more sandy and very technical. I can't wait to be racing!"
Automatic translation from the official press release
Photo: Sertoes Rally / Marcelo Machado de Melo
