The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team has continued its strong start to the 2026 Addax Rally in Morocco, with Kevin Gallas winning Tuesday’s 370km second stage ahead of teammate Gautier Paulin, extending his overall lead to more than 28 minutes.
Following Monday’s Yamaha podium lockout, defending champion Gallas started first on the road but was quickly caught by Paulin. The pair then worked together across the demanding desert terrain around Merzouga, sharing navigation duties aboard their Ténéré 700 Rally machines.
Paulin led the way through several dune sections and appeared on course for the stage victory before a heavy impact approximately 40km from the finish caused a technical issue with his motorcycle.
Gallas went on to claim victory in 5h45m39s, with Paulin finishing second, 7m43s behind. However, Yamaha has confirmed Paulin will sit out Wednesday’s third stage to allow repairs and further testing, with plans to return for Stages 4 and 5.
It was a tougher day for Alessandro Botturi, who suffered problems with his navigation tablet early in the stage. The two-time Africa Eco Race winner finished fifth in 6h01m10s but retained second place in the overall standings.
After two stages, Gallas leads with a combined time of 10h42m56s, extending his advantage over Botturi to 28m33s. Paulin has climbed from 23rd to 11th overall despite the significant penalty incurred after failing to finish Sunday’s prologue.
Wednesday’s third stage will take riders back into the dunes of Erg Chebbi and the rocky terrain surrounding Merzouga, with Gallas looking to extend his advantage as Yamaha continues its preparations for the 2027 Africa Eco Race.
