“That front sprocket isn’t standard and you’ve got 30psi in your rear tyre.” It only took Yamaha Factory Racing Dakar legend Rodney Faggotter 20 seconds riding Alistair Sadler’s Ténéré 660 to advise on his setup. When you ride a lot of Ténérés it doesn’t take long to pick up small changes. Alistair was just grateful that Rod was on hand to ride the last 30m of Heartbreak Hill, the steep climb out of Bright on day one of the 2025 Yamaha Ténéré Rally. There were a few other riders who benefited from Rod’s presence on the Hill – all part of the service delivered by the Longreach Yamaha dealer and desert racer.
Rod joined his good mate and fellow Yamaha ambassador Stephen Gall on this year’s Rally that took on five days of challenging trails in the Victorian High Country. Organiser RideADV had specced one or two special breakout sections per day to keep the gun riders among the 50 frothing. And the routes delivered… with spectacular views, steep inclines, whooped-out 4WD tracks and rocks. Lots of rocks.
Some riders were doing it easier than others, with well set-up suspension, steering dampers and tyres making a difference. Riding talent and a big pair of kahunas made even more difference. The father and son team of James and Mark Cockerill led the charge. Fast everywhere on a well set up pair of Ténéré 700 World Raids, the Cockerills ride to conserve front tyre wear whenever possible. James is considering entering a desert race on his Ténéré World Raid and who better to advise than reigning Australasian Safari Champion Rod Faggotter?
Factory ride
Rod admitted it was a case of “right place, right time” when he got his gig as a water boy on the Yamaha Factory Racing Dakar squad. But that was after some stellar rides in the event as a privateer in the Malle Moto class. And Rod’s skills as a mechanic were also noted by Yamaha’s race team manger Alexandre Kowalski.
“When all the costs are factored in, you’ll pay around $100,000 just to get to Dakar as a privateer,” Rod told the 2025 Yamaha Ténéré Rally riders. And when you don’t have the cash, then getting to the start line takes a special kind of devotion.
“You need to be real passionate about what you’re doing,” explained Rod’s mate Ben Dickinson. “That passion is what separates Rod from other riders. While some might dream about Dakar, Rod had the desire to get it done against the odds.”
Stepping up from a 450cc desert racer to the Ténéré 700 meant moving away from Dakar and across to North Africa where the big twins are welcomed in their own race class. With Rod’s ability behind the ’bar and on the tools already noted, he scored a guest ride as Pol Tarres’ teammate in the 2023 Morocco Desert Challenge. The pair finished 1-2 in class. A version of that winning race-spec World Raid was on display at Bright Brewery, fully-kitted with GYTR race parts to drool over. Rod explained to the rally-goers what it’s like to race one in the searing North African heat. “Sure, it’s a bit faster with a race ECU, but not massively so. The big difference is how smooth it is to ride with the factory suspension,” he said.
Gally and Allen
2025 Yamaha Ténéré Rally riders also heard from Yamaha ambassador Stephen Gall who is celebrating 50 years with the tuning-fork brand. Gally was on hand to offer riding tips and nutrition advice, something he’s been doing since the 1970s when he formed Yamaha’s Academy of Off Road Riding. Rally riders wanting to learn how to ride smooth and fast could hook in behind Gally’s World Raid to witness the four-times Mr Motocross in action.
A third special guest on the 2025 Ténéré Rally travelled from the US to chat about his experience clocking over 100,000km on a Ténéré in a variety of adventure trails across a number of US states. Brady Allen from @meerkatADV was a guest of Rally organiser RideADV, and was on an expertly set up crew bike. This Ténéré is normally ridden by sweep rider Abby, and the Meerkat was keen not to drop it. Unfortunately Brady fell victim to Heartbreak Hill, but nothing that wouldn’t buff out.
Hard going
Following the carnage of day one, fewer riders opted for the special breakout sections. “There wasn’t much time to relax and you really had to be on it to get around,” explained Rodney. Even so, riders were treated to iconic High Country landmarks such as Woods Point servo, Craigs Hut and for the brave few, Blue Rag Trig. This steep climb had been whooped-out by 4WDs so was a challenge for many on the big twins. The climb was purely optional with the advice that if you look at it and have any doubts, don’t attempt it…
The experience and skill level of the 50 riders on the 2025 Yamaha Ténéré Rally ranged from pro down to those who ride only a couple of times a year, and because the event needs to be fun for all levels, setting the course is always a challenge for the RideADV team. Pleasing all the riders all the time is a tough gig, but GPS-based navigation allows flexibility and the addition of special sections gives more options. And the post-ride bench racing always delivers with like-minded riders keen to share each day’s mishaps and close calls over a beer or three.
They are a friendly bunch and can be classified as no-nonsense – a bit like the bikes they ride. Chatting with owners reveals a familiar story – their passion for the legendary adventure bike is built on a shared understanding that Ténérés have everything you need and nothing you don’t. The 689cc twin is deadset reliable and does everything it says on the tin. Predictable handling and linear power lets the rider focus on the trails and the 700 twin just gets the job done without fuss.
RideADV head honcho Greg Yager told the assembled riders that with more than 500,000 accumulated kilometres on his fleet of Ténéré 700s since their launch in 2019, none of the bikes have experienced a serious mechanical issue. That’s quite the record – a record that is important to these no-nonsense adventure riders. And a record that drives the one model loyalty behind the annual Ténéré Rally.
What is the Ténéré Rally?
Before Yamaha’s Australian Ténéré Rally fired up in 2019, there was an annual ride open to all Ténéré owners from the original 1983 model to the 750 Super Ténéré and right up to both the 700 and 1200 twins. The Ténéré Tragics was the brainchild of former ADB editor Andrew ‘Clubby’ Clubb and kicked off in 2011 with a run down to the Flinders Ranges.
Previously for the 700 twin only, this year’s 2025 Yamaha Ténéré Rally now welcomes all Ténéré owners. The 2025 event attracted one 660 and one 1200 model – the other 48 riders were on the latest 700 twins. “What’s good about these one-model events is you can check out other setups and see what works – because all the parts fitted have been properly tested,” said WA-based Ténéré 700 rider Jason Roser.
New Zealand also hosts a Yamaha ADV event that is organised and run by Ben Townley of BT101 Adventures. This event is called the Yamaha Rally and is open to owners of any registered Yamaha dirtbike. This year’s event took place in the Eastern Cape area of the North Island in February and attracted 60 riders – all on Ténéré 700 twins.
Both rides attract your typical Ténéré owner; a slightly older demographic than an enduro rider, but with plenty of dirtbike experience under their belts. As YMA Marketing Manager Sean Goldhawk – who owns a Ténéré 700 and rode both the 2025 Australian and New Zealand Rally – explained, “The Rallies cover spectacular scenery and epic trails tailored for the 700 ADV twins. But it’s the people who really make the events. Meeting new mates and bonding over shared experiences are what makes these type of events so cool.” He wouldn’t tell us where the 2026 Rally will be though.
