Bringing the Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team’s participation in the penultimate round of the 2017 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship to a highly positive end, Xavier de Soultrait has secured third overall at the Desafio Ruta 40 Rally. Claiming a third-place result in the event’s fifth and last stage, Adrien Van Beveren wrapped up his week-long adventure in Argentina on a high note.
After five brutal stages and more than 2000km in the northern part of Argentina, the 2017 Desafio Ruta 40 has come to a close today in the city of Tucumán. Focused on making sure he stayed away from any costly mistakes, Xavier de Soultrait raced a cautious stage that saw the WR450F Rally mounted rider claim a ninth pace result in the event’s final stage.
Retaining his third place in the event’s overall standings, Xavier put Yamaha on the final podium of an international multi-stage event for the second time this season. Following his win at the Merzouga Rally in May and his top five result two weeks ago at the Atacama Rally, the Frenchman is making impressive progress ahead of the big annual challenge that is the Dakar Rally in January, 2018.
The event also ended on a high note for Xavier’s Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team partner Adrien Van Beveren. Securing a third-place result on the final day, Adrien earned a second consecutive top three stage result at this year’s Desafio Ruta 40.
Following their positive outing in Argentina, the Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team will now head to Peru to contest the Baja Inka Rally on September 14 to 17, 2017. With Aussie Rodney Faggotter joining the team for the first time this season, the Baja Inka will be the last big challenge for the four-man team ahead of the coming Dakar Rally.
Press Release Yamaha,