It's official, the first edition of the Tunisia Road Rally, an entirely new 100% road motorbike rally put together by Even Moto and supported technically by Motul, started off from Marseille on 22 October! After the customary technical inspections and a 20 hour crossing of the Mediterranean, the sixty or so participants arrived in Tunis on Sunday, a historic day for Tunisia. What a symbol for the Tunisia Road Rally to set off on the very day when the Tunisian people voted massively for the MPs who will form the Assembly tasked with drafting their country's future Constitution!
The rally could therefore begin, but there was a slight change to the programme: as stage 1 of the rally was neutralised, the drivers had to wait until Monday 24 October before zooming along the Tunisian roads with a Tabarka – Tabarka loop on the programme.
A first stage without any particular problems since, apart from when the Tunisian driver Bodis Euchi left the road but fortunately without injury and a few mechanical glitches for other teams, the Tunisia Road Rally roadshow enjoyed a pleasant and real first day of competition in a breathtakingly beautiful setting.
As for the results, Serge Nuques (Yamaha 450 WRF) lived up to his reputation by winning the day's 200 km stage comprising four specials. Respectively second and third, Frédéric Lejeune (BMW) and Patrick Curtat (KTM) also adapted particularly well to the relatively slippery Tunisian road surfacing.
Note should be made of Motul's presence: throughout the week it will provide Motul Racing Service technical assistance to the greatest pleasure of the drivers present.
The next stages will take the participants to the desert Tunisia of the south via Tozeur, Douz and Matmata. Then return to the north passing through Kairouan for an arrival scheduled on 30 October in Hammamet.
