Xtremeplus is delighted to announce the renewal of the partnership with Polaris for the 2022 racing season and the 2023 Dakar Rally.
The partnership between the French Team run by Marco Piana and Polaris dates back to 2005 when the Italian racer and team owner decided to enroll a team of quads in the Morocco Rally before entering the Dakar.
With the Dakar Rally moving in South America, Piana enrolled 4 quads. It was the start of a successful and long lasting adventure. Three out of the 4 quads finished the race and Betty Kraft won the female category. Xtremeplus returned on the Dakar, always with Polaris also the following years.
From 2 to 4 wheels, in 2011 the Xtremeplus team competed also in the Silk Way finishing 29th with Thierry Magnaldi and the Polaris RZR 900 XP40. In 2012 Willy Alcaraz tackled the Dakar Solo and won the T3 and the Solo Categories, finishing 42nd overall. On the 2013 Dakar he returned to defend the crown: behind the steering wheel of RZR Turbo, Alcaraz confirmed himself the winner of the T3 and Solo categories finishing 40th. He will win the category 3 times.
With Alcaraz paving the way, it’s worth to mention also the Italian duo of the former WRC driver Michele Cinotto and Maurizio Dominella, winner of the Side Side category on the 2016 Dakar Rally. In 2017 it was the turn of Leandro Torres to win the Dakar in the Side by Side category.
Xtremeplus and Polaris can boast many successes also on the FIA world champion with 4 victories and a second place. The successes were signed by Saedan in 2013, Aron Domzala in 2014, Claude Fournier in 2016 and Peña José Luis in 2018. The following year the Italian duo Michele Cinotto and Maurizio Dominella finished second.
« It’s with great satisfaction that we can announce the renewal of the partnership with Polaris », states Marco Piana, « we are proud to be a satellite team with factory support, a reference for Polaris USA and Polaris France on the rally scene. Together we can boast 6 wins on the Dakar and several titles in the FIA T3 world championship. »
Regarding the racing calendar Xtremeplus and Polaris will tackle the 2022 FIA European Cup for Cross-Country Bajas in the following rounds with a Polaris RZR Pro XP:
Italian Baja (8-10 July)
Spanish Baja (22-25 July)
Hungarian Baja (1-3 August)
Baja Poland (2-6 September)
They will compete in the Africa Eco Race from the 16th to 30th of October and they will be at the start of the 2023 Dakar in Saudi Arabia.