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Pol Tarres and Yamaha Ténéré 700 Triumphs in Moroccan Desert Challenge 2024

Pol Tarres and the Yamaha Ténéré 700 triumphs in Moroccan Desert Challenge 2024.

The victory goes into the record books as the first rider to win the rally on a twin-cylinder adventure motorcycle, by beating out specialised single-cylinder 450cc Rally entrants. Tarres won in six of the eight stages, including the last special stage.

This was the rider’s maiden desert rally win. He led from the start by attacking the stages despite being the “sweeper” and trailblazer being in front. By doing so, he won the first four stages. A sandstorm swept in during the fifth stage, so Tarres waited it out before finishing in second.

The sixth stage saw him finishing in fourth despite errors in his roadbook which missed two waypoints.

He came back to winning the seventh and penultimate stage, and gassed through the final stage to win the crown.

Another amazing fact is that Tarres had been competing in Rally Raids only since 2022. He had been on the podium of the Morocco Desert Challenge in 2023. This victory is another notch in his cap after the 2023 TransAnatolia, and the third place at the Africa Eco Race this January.

His performance meant he took the overall victory by an astounding margin of 2 hours, 21 minutes, and 6 seconds, a feat made all the more remarkable due to the fact he was competing on the Yamaha Ténéré 700 against lighter single-cylinder 450cc purpose-built machines.

This year’s Morocco Desert Challenge covered more terrain this year, despite an extremely tough 2023 edition that took the life of two participants. The 3,000 km route connected the Mediterranean sea and Atlantic ocean through some of the toughest terrain on the planet.

Closer to home, the Yamaha Ténéré 700 has been reigning supreme in the Rimba Raid rally races, particularly among the Thai participants.

Yoshimura SERT Suzuki Wins Le Mans 24 Hours for the 10th Time

The Yoshimura SERT Suzuki team won the Le Mans 24 Hours endurance race for an unprecedented 10th time over the weekend.

The team had an early scare when one of their riders, Greg Black, was chucked over the handlebars and crashed at the exit of Les Esse Blue. It was later learned that the bike had traction control issues. Black managed to nurse the bike back to the pits for repairs and they rejoined the race far behind the field.

Black’s crash meant that the YART Yamaha racing team took over the lead, and built it up to being in front by several laps. However, Karel Hanika also crashed at the same corner as Black on early Sunday morning. Luckily, the corner was just next to the pit lane, so Hanika brought the bike back to the pits for repairs. Unfortunately, they were already laps behind when they rejoined.

Yamaha’s misfortune handed the lead to the MRP BMW team but they suffered a slow pit stop, which saw Suzuki back into the lead.

Suzuki’s rider Black, who crashed 20 hours earlier, seemed to redeem himself by riding a steady final stint to the victory flag, the Yoshimura SERT Suzuki’s 10th victory at the event. It was also the rider’s third Le Mans 24 Hour win.

YART Yamaha riders Marvin Fritz and Niccolo Canepa made their way up the field and back on the podium in third, behind the BMW team.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans (24 Heures Motos) was the first race in the 2024 FIM Endurance World Championship. There are only 4 races this year, and unfortunately, they will not visit the Sepang International Circuit.

Detained Traffic Policemen in Extortion Case Back on Duty

The two traffic police officers who were detained for assisting in the extortion case against the public at Bangunan Sultan Ismail (BSI) in Johor Bahru have returned to duty as the remand order against them expired today.

South Johor Bahru District Police Chief, Assistant Commissioner Raub Selamat said they were on duty as usual because no work stoppage order had been imposed.

“They are now back on duty under the Johor contingent as usual until there is a stop work order (if any),” he said when contacted by Berita Harian.

Yesterday, the Johor police stated that they would submit a letter to Bukit Aman to obtain a suspension order against the two policemen.

The two policemen on duty at the BSI were arrested on April 5, to assist in the investigation of an extortion case involving a victim by asking for a payment of RM2,000 to avoid being prosecuted for having a record of past offenses in an incident earlier this month.

They were arrested again last Saturday for a complaint submitted by a 50-year-old victim who was allegedly threatened by the two suspects while at BSI, on January 4.

JPJ Penang Concerned about Increase of Foreigners Breaking Laws

The Penang Road Transport Department (JPJ) raised concerns regarding the increase in road offenses involving foreigners. The main and increasingly serious offense is not having a driver’s license.

The state JPJ director, Zulkifly Ismail, said that since the beginning of January until today, a total of 267 summons notices were issued to foreign drivers and 124 vehicles were confiscated, all due to not having a driving license.

He said, that does not include last year where 534 summons notices were issued to foreign drivers of which 416 vehicles were seized.

“We have noticed a trend in recent times of offenses committed by foreigners being quite serious and increasing.

“So I would like to remind vehicle owners to be careful not to arbitrarily let their vehicles be driven by foreigners who do not have valid driving documents.

“Otherwise they will also face action especially under Section 26 of the Road Transport Act 1987 if their vehicles are detected being driven by individuals who do not have a valid driving document,” he said when met while inspecting a special operation in conjunction with Aidilfitri at the JPJ Enforcement Station in Valdor, here. today.

In the operation, a total of 670 vehicles were inspected with 181 being taken action, while 213 summons notices were issued and six vehicles were seized for various offences.

The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) who were also involved in the same ops issued 30 summons notices, followed by the Immigration Department who arrested eight foreigners.

The Department of Environment (JAS) and Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) issued two and six compounds respectively, while the National Anti-Drug Agency (AADK) conducted urine tests on 15 drivers, six of whom were found to be positive for drugs.

Hafizh Syahrin Wins at ARRC Zuhai 2024

Malaysian rider, Hafizh Syahrin won at ARRC Zuhai yesterday, and subsequently gave Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) Racing Team their maiden victory.

It was the first race session, in the second round of the Asian Motorcycle Championship (ARRC) 2024. Hafizh rides a Ducati V4 R machine in the ABS1000 category for superbike machines 1000cc and above.

Hafizh who started in the front row showed a consistent ride to be the first rider to cross the finish line.

He beat Honda Asia-Dream Racing Astemo team rider, Andi Farid Izdihar who was satisfied to finish the race in second place while another national rider, Azlan Shah Kamaruzaman representing TKKR BMW Racing Team was third.

For the record, this is the first victory for the JDT Racing Team, who are appearing in their first ARRC season. On his previous debut at the Buriram International Circuit, Thailand, Hafizh took third place in the second race, after experiencing technical problems in the first race.

Hafizh who uses a Ducati Panigale V4R machine dedicated the inaugural championship to the Acting Sultan of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail who is also the owner of the team.

Yamaha MT-09, Yamaha XMAX Wins Red Dot Award

The new Yamaha MT-09 and Yamaha XMAX each won a Red Dot Design Award for 2024.

The 2024 MT-09 is in its fourth generation. Yamaha redesigned the bike as the previous 2021 MT-09 with the “cyclops” (one-eyed monster) headlight proved unpopular. The new version also has a new front screen, fuel tank, and tail section. Additionally, the redesigned fuel tank includes acoustic ducting to channel the bike’s engine sound to the rider. The new tank was also designed to allow for a freer riding position.

While the MT-09 won the award for its design, the XMAX won on practicality. Yamaha says the functionality of the front fork and engine, “are visualised in the tight silhouette, expressing an attractive sense of exuberance.” As a footnote, although it was the XMAX 300 that garnered the accolade, it has the same design as the XMAX 250 in our country.

Yamaha has picked up Red Dot Design Awards in each of the last 13 years, having won one at least every year since 2012.

Two of Honda’s motorcycles had also won the Red Dot Design Award, earlier. One was the EM 1e:, together with the Motocompacto. Both are electric scooters.

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Latest News

Pol Tarres and Yamaha Ténéré 700 Triumphs in Moroccan Desert Challenge 2024

Yoshimura SERT Suzuki Wins Le Mans 24 Hours for the 10th Time

Detained Traffic Policemen in Extortion Case Back on Duty

JPJ Penang Concerned about Increase of Foreigners Breaking Laws

Hafizh Syahrin Wins at ARRC Zuhai 2024

Yamaha MT-09, Yamaha XMAX Wins Red Dot Award

Pol Tarres and Yamaha Ténéré 700 Triumphs in Moroccan Desert Challenge 2024

Yoshimura SERT Suzuki Wins Le Mans 24 Hours for the 10th Time

Detained Traffic Policemen in Extortion Case Back on Duty

JPJ Penang Concerned about Increase of Foreigners Breaking Laws

Hafizh Syahrin Wins at ARRC Zuhai 2024

Yamaha MT-09, Yamaha XMAX Wins Red Dot Award

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