Another positive day for Aprilia in the Africa Eco Race

IN MAURITANIA JACOPO CERUTTI COMES BACK TO TAKE AN IMPORTANT SECOND PLACE AND CONFIRM HIS SPOT AT THE TOP OF THE OVERALL STANDINGS

FRANCESCO MONTANARI IMPROVES EVEN MORE, SIXTH AND CLOSER THAN EVER TO THE PODIUM

Aprilia continues its ride to Dakar, finishing out another extremely positive day in the Africa Eco Race. Both of the Aprilia Tuaregs participating finished the seventh leg among the top positions, with Jacopo Cerutti second and Francesco Montanari, in third place for a long time, sixth at the end of the 452 km of special trials along a looping route that started and ended in Chami, Mauritania. Another extraordinary team result which confirms the outstanding work done by Aprilia Racing and GCorse.

Thanks to yesterday’s important second place, earned with a comeback ride after a fall in the early stages, Cerutti and his Aprilia Tuareg remain in the lead of the overall standings with a one-minute advantage over Alessandro Botturi, whereas the other direct rival for the final win, Pol Tarres, who finished third today, is now 13 minutes behind.

Leg after leg, Francesco Montanari has improved constantly, competing astride the second Aprilia Tuareg. The Como native, sixth in this leg, held third place until just a few km from the end of the special trial, barely missing his first extraordinary podium placement in an African rally raid due to a slight navigation error. Montanari remains in sixth place in the overall standings, now closer than ever to the top five.

The eighth leg, scheduled for today, will have the riders tackling 395 km of special trials on the route which will take them from Chami to Amodjar.

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JACOPO CERUTTI
“I'm satisfied because once again today, we managed to bring home a good result which keeps us in the lead in the overall standings. Right after the start I fell and was afraid that I had damaged the radiator, so at the one hundredth km I stopped to check and make sure everything was okay. Fortunately, there was no damage and, once I was back on track, I was able to set my pace, catching the leaders and finishing along with Botturi, whereas we gained a bit of ground on Tarres, who had a problem with his bike.”

FRANCESCO MONTANARI
“Up to a few km from the end, I was on the podium. Unfortunately, then I made a mistake. I didn’t see a track and had to go back to hit the waypoint I had missed, losing a few minutes. It’s a pity, but I'm still pleased with the way I rode and navigated. It went very well and I can’t wait to get back at it!”