Merzouga Rally

The logo of the Merzouga Rally

Merzouga Rally is a rally raid that takes place in Morocco every year since 2010 at the beginning of October in the big dunes of Merzouga. It’s a five-day race plus prologue and a marathon stage in the desert. The stages are varied and round 2–300 km long. Navigation is the key and the competitors use the GPS Unik2, the same used on the Dakar Rally. Safety is important as well with the competitors using the Iritrack, the tracking system studied for the African rallies. Plus a professional medical staff with 4x4 ambulances and doctors on bike and quad along the track and heli-ambulance service. To meet the needs of the professional riders but also the necessities of amateurs, the Merzouga Rally features the division of the route in 2 categories: PRO: open to pro riders and those competitors ready for an ultimate challenge EXPERT: a technical and navigated route but less extreme stages as the Expert riders will cover the 75% of the complete route of the Pro riders. The Merzouga Raid: Ideal for those who face the desert for the first time. At their own pace, riding on the same route of the rally in small groups with an expert guide. The vehicles will be equipped with world track, the satellite system that allow to follow the vehicles on track in real time. (for the rider no sports licence is required).

History

Landscape of a stage

In 2010, 40 competitors took part to the first edition of the Merzouga Rally. Every year the rally grows reaching an average of more than 120 vehicles on track. Studied by Italian Promoter Edoardo Mossi, the Merzouga Rally formula is addressed to all amateurs that challenge the desert for the first time, but also for the professional riders who wish to train in preparation of the Dakar Rally.

Edition

The Merzouga Rally is open to the bike, quad and SSV categories. The winners of the past editions of the Merzouga Rally in the bike category are: Helder Rodrigues 2010 (PT) Yamaha, in 2011 Jakub Przygonski (Pol) KTM, 2012 Jaceck Czachor (POL) KTM, in 2013 the Honda HRC factory riders Sam Sunderland (UK) and in 2014 the experienced Pal Anders Ullevaalster (Nor) onboard of a KTM.

Edition 2010

BIKE Rally

  1. Helder Rodrigues (PT) Yamaha
  2. Paolo Ceci (ITA) Beta
  3. Mauro Sant (ITA) TM

QUAD

  1. Camelia Liparoti (ITA) KTM
  2. Patrick Marto (FRA) Polaris
    Category SSV

SSV Raid

  1. Roustan / Pernot (FRA) Polaris
  2. Roustan / Bersey (FRA) Polaris
  3. Zmantar /Zmantar (FRA) Polaris

Edition 2011

BIKE Rally

  1. Jakub Przygonski (Pol) KTM
  2. Paolo Ceci (ITA) Alfer
  3. Jordi Viladoms (ESP) Alfer

BIKE Rally Lite

  1. Ivo Zanatta (ITA) KTM
  2. Giovanni Sala (ITA) KTM
  3. Sandro Calesini (ITA) KTM

QUAD

  1. Michel Scarcella (FRA) Can Am
  2. Patrick Marto (FRA) Polaris
  3. Federico Gamba (Ita) Can AM

SSV Regularity

  1. Abel / Manez (FRA) Polaris
  2. Roustan / Lefebvre (FRA) Polaris
  3. Costa Thierry Henricy (FRA) Polaris

Edition 2012

BIKE Rally

  1. Jaceck Czachor (POL) KTM
  2. Pedro Bianchi Prata (PT) Husqvarna
  3. Nicolas Cardona (VEN) Yamaha

BIKE Rally Lite

  1. Maurizio Micheluz (ITA) KTM
  2. Alex Busquets (ESP) KTM
  3. Davide Corradini (ITA) KTM

QUAD

  1. Patrick Marto (FRA) Polaris

SSV Rally

  1. Henrichy / Costa (FRA) Polaris
  2. Rinaldi / Carol (FRA) Polaris
  3. Connel / Whytlly (AUS) Polaris

SSV Rally Lite

  1. Culus /Adam (FRA) Polaris
  2. Abel /Carillero (FRA) Polaris
  3. Abel / Manez (FRA) Polaris

Edition 2013

BIKE Rally

  1. Sam Sunderland (UK) Honda
  2. Helder Rodrigues (PT) Honda
  3. Olivier Pain (FR) Yamaha

BIKE Rally Lite

  1. Arnold Brucy (FR) KTM
  2. Cesare Zacchetti (ITA)
  3. Giorgio Papa (ITA)

QUAD

  1. Fernandez Covadonza (SP)
  2. Marcos Echaniz (SP)
  3. Patrick Marto (FR) Polaris

SSV Rally

  1. Connel / Seel (AUS - ) Polaris
  2. Laverdant / Rafart (FR) Polaris
  3. Henrichy / Borsay (FR) Polaris

SSV Rally Lite

  1. Abel / Montagne (FRA) Polaris
  2. Culus /Bonneaudeau (FRA) Polaris
  3. Busquets / Torre (SP) Polaris
    Laia Sanz and Arnold Brucy in action

Edition 2014

BIKE Rally Pro overall

  1. Pal Anders Ullevaalseter (NOR) KTM
  2. Johnny Aubert (FR) Beta
  3. Denny Philippaerts (ITA) Beta

BIKE Rally Lite Pro

  1. Arnold Brucy (FR) KTM
  2. Rosa Romero Font (SP) KTM
  3. Giorgio Papa (ITA) KTM

BIKE Rally Expert

  1. Oscar Polli (ITA) KTM
  2. Andrew Newland (UK) KTM
  3. Andrea Gaggiani (ITA) KTM

QUAD Pro

  1. Diego Ortega Gil (SP) Yamaha
  2. Alejandro Feliu Sola (SP) Can Am
  3. Eduardo Marcos Echaniz (SP) Can Am

QUAD Expert

  1. Stefano Della Valle (ITA) KTM
  2. Francois Sebastien (BEL) Honda

SSV Rally Pro

  1. Henrichy / Bersey (FR ) Polaris
  2. Abel / Montagne (FR) Polaris
  3. Duclos / Lichtleuchter (FR) Polaris

SSV Rally Lite

  1. Abel / Montagne (FRA) Polaris
  2. Culus /Bonneaudeau (FRA) Polaris
  3. Busquets / Torre (SP) Polaris

See also

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