The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team, in partnership with Riders for Health (powered by Two Wheels for Life), is proud to announce its three-rider line-up for the 2027 Africa Eco Race (AER), with two-time winner Alessandro Botturi and former MXGP star Gautier Paulin joined by reigning champion Kevin Gallas, who becomes an official team rider following a remarkable series of performances as part of the Ténéré Spirit Experience (TSE).
The announcement follows a historic 2026 AER for Yamaha, in which Gallas and Paulin secured a sensational one-two finish after an incredible battle that went right down to the wire. With just 41 seconds separating the pair at the end of the nearly 6,000 km event across Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal, the result marked the first overall victory for the Ténéré at the legendary rally raid event and highlighted the progress made by the team and its Ténéré 700 Rally machine.
Botturi remains with the team for 2027, bringing his wealth of experience and exceptional rally raid pedigree. The 51-year-old, who won the AER in 2019 and 2020, has been instrumental in developing the Ténéré 700 Rally and helping his teammates adapt to the demanding discipline of long-distance desert racing. At the 2026 AER, Botturi secured an early stage victory before a technical issue ended his challenge for the overall win. He then played a crucial supporting role in helping his teammates secure the historic one-two finish, while fighting back to finish seventh overall.
Away from the AER, Botturi has continued to demonstrate his speed and determination throughout 2026, securing the Italian Motorally Championship title in the G-1000 class and victory at the Swank Rally di Sardegna. Most recently, the Italian finished second overall at the 2026 Addax Rally in Morocco, helping the team secure another impressive one-two result. His knowledge of the African terrain, roadbook navigation and race management will once again be invaluable as the team prepares to take on one of the toughest rallies in the world.
Joining Botturi for his second AER as an official Yamaha rider is 36-year-old Paulin, who has enjoyed an extraordinary transition from motocross to rally raid. A former MXGP rider and five-time Motocross of Nations winner with Team France (2014–2018), the Frenchman first impressed the team during the 2025 Carta Rallye, where he competed as a guest rider and secured third overall. His natural speed, determination, and ability to adapt quickly to the challenges of rally raid earned him a spot as an official team rider ahead of the 2026 AER.
Paulin more than justified that decision, producing an outstanding performance on his AER motorcycle debut after winning the 2024 edition in the car category. Claiming three stage victories and challenging for the overall lead throughout the event, the Frenchman eventually finished runner-up to Gallas by the narrowest of margins. His progress continued at the 2026 Carta Rallye, where he finished third overall, further establishing himself as one of the leading contenders in rally raid. At the recent Addax Rally, Paulin recorded three runner-up stage finishes while contributing valuable feedback to the team’s development programme.
Completing the line-up is 30-year-old Gallas, who has quickly established himself as a front-runner since his introduction to rally raid with Yamaha. The former Junior SuperEnduro World Champion made his rally raid debut at the 2025 Carta Rallye as part of the TSE, immediately impressing with his speed and ability to adapt to roadbook navigation. He went on to claim his maiden overall victory at the 2025 Addax Rally in Morocco, before producing one of the most memorable performances in the team’s history at the 2026 AER.
Competing in only his third rally raid, Gallas demonstrated remarkable maturity and racecraft as he battled Paulin for victory throughout the event. His historic triumph, combined with further success at the 2026 Carta Rallye, where he secured second overall, cemented his reputation as one of the most exciting talents in the discipline. He then successfully defended his Addax Rally title in October, winning three of the five stages and leading the general classification from Stage 1 to the finish.
Having consistently impressed the team with his performances, professionalism and approach to racing, the German has now earned his place alongside Botturi and Paulin as an official rider for the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team.
The three riders have also developed a strong working relationship through competition and their recent testing together in Morocco. Their combined experience, speed and technical feedback have played an important role in the continued development of the Ténéré 700 Rally, with the team constantly refining the twin-cylinder adventure bike to meet the demands of rally raid competition.
With two AER winners and the reigning runner-up in its line-up, the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team heads into the 2027 edition with a formidable combination of experience, talent and determination. Building on the historic achievements of 2026, Botturi, Paulin and Gallas will look to continue Yamaha’s success in Africa and once again challenge for the overall victory aboard the Ténéré 700 Rally.
Alessandro Botturi
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team
“I’m really happy to continue as part of the official Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team for 2027. I have two fantastic teammates in Kevin and Gautier. They are both incredibly strong riders, but also great people, and we have developed a really good relationship throughout the year. We’ve worked very well together, both racing and testing, and made some important progress with the bike. The one-two finish at the Addax Rally was a fantastic result for the whole team, and I want to congratulate Kevin on another great victory. It shows that all our hard work is paying off, but we know the Africa Eco Race will be another big challenge. I’m really looking forward to taking it on together, and I believe we have everything we need to fight for a great result.”
Gautier Paulin
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team
“I’m really excited to return to the desert aboard the Ténéré 700 Rally. To be on the road to Dakar is something special, and it’s a privilege and an honour to be back behind the handlebars for another adventure, especially alongside Kevin and Alessandro, as we all work so well together. When I think about being in the desert, exploring and navigating with the roadbook, I know this is the way I really enjoy riding a bike. I’ve been involved in the development of the Ténéré 700 Rally, and I now feel really comfortable with the chassis. I also love meeting people from the Ténéré Spirit Experience, who share the same passion for rally raid, and getting to spend time together around the Yamaha truck. I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
Kevin Gallas
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team
“Becoming an official Yamaha rider is a really special moment for me. Throughout my professional career, my goal has always been to become an official rider for a manufacturer. Since I chose Yamaha and the Ténéré, that has been the clear objective. I’m incredibly thankful to everyone who put their trust in me and helped me achieve what I have so far. I believe I’ve earned my place in the official team, and I think we demonstrated at the Addax Rally what a difference it makes to have access to the full team and the official bike. I’m very excited for the future, to continue on the path we’re already on and to be part of Yamaha’s incredible legacy in rally racing.”
Marc Bourgeois
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team – Team Manager
“Kevin Gallas joining the official Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team is a true success story and a great source of pride for us. In just one year, Kevin has progressed through every stage of our ecosystem, from the Ténéré Center network and the Ténéré Spirit Experience programme to his role as a Yamaha Germany ambassador and now to becoming an official rally rider. His journey perfectly reflects our vision: making adventure accessible to everyone, from beginners discovering off-road riding to talented riders aiming to reach the highest level of competition. Kevin has demonstrated his potential, commitment and determination. We are proud to welcome him to the official team and look forward to taking on the next challenges together. With Alessandro and Gautier alongside Kevin, we now have an exceptional combination of experience, speed and talent. All three riders bring different strengths to the team, and they have already demonstrated how well they work together. Their commitment and technical feedback have been invaluable in developing the Ténéré 700 Rally, and I believe we have an incredibly strong line-up for the 2027 Africa Eco Race. Our ambition is to build on what we achieved in 2026 and fight for another historic result together.”
