All seven riders supported by the Italian brand successfully completed the gruelling 48-Hour Chrono aboard their Fantic XEF 450 Rally machines.
Stamina, determination and genius. The 48 HR Chrono was a true test of survival: 947 km to be tackled in two days without assistance. The goal was to get to the end, and that is exactly what the Fantic Racing Rally Team achieved, with all seven riders successfully completing the two gruelling days and returning to the Bisha bivouac, where the assistance team was waiting for them.
The first to arrive was Fantic Factory Rally rider Jeremy Miroir, who delivered another strong performance to finish 33rd overall and 15th in the Rally 2 class. Sandra Gomez, the only woman in the competition, completed the stage in 61st place overall (42nd in the Rally 2 class).
There were plenty of twists and turns for all competitors, and the Fantic riders had their fair share of adventures—stories they will no doubt share with their grandchildren one day. Because this is the Dakar: a blend of dreams and dust to experience on two and four wheels.
There was no shortage of crashes for Fantic Factory rider Tommaso Montanari, who was already riding in pain, as well as for supported riders Mohammed Balooshi and Rafic Eid. Tomas de Gavardo got lost and wandered for about an hour and a half looking for the right direction when night fell. Fortunately, a Side-by-Side vehicle appeared, and the Chilean rider followed the Buggy’s headlights to the first bivouac, where he spent the night.
Rafic also showed remarkable ingenuity to complete the stage. After a fall yesterday, he broke his fuel tank, making it almost impossible to continue. With a pocket knife, he salvaged what he could and used plastic bottles to create an improvised tank.
Jeremy Miroir, P33 – P15 Rally 2:
“A gruelling double stage, but luckily everything went well for both me and the bike. My Fantic felt very good. The terrain was varied, with a lot of dust: fast tracks, rocks, dunes, and small dunes with soft sand. Physically, it was very demanding. It was also great to cover some kilometres with Balooshi. With six bivouacs along the route, we found ourselves together at bivouac D. Even spending the night in the desert under a starry sky was beautiful—a memory we will cherish.”
Tommaso Montanari, P56 – P37 Rally 2:
“I am happy to have reached the finish, but it was very tough. I fell at kilometre 140 because there were some deep unmarked bulldozer excavations and I ended up in them. The blow was strong and I was left breathless. I was afraid I wouldn’t be able to continue. Thanks to the help of another rider, I managed to get back up and reach the refuelling station where the doctors examined me and gave me medication. I still don’t know how I managed to ride the bike for another 800 km! I gritted my teeth through the pain and still struggle to breathe. But this is part of the Dakar.”
Sandra Gomez, P61 – P42 Rally 2:
“It was a long and exhausting stage — as expected, though reality often proves harsher. For everyone, it was a matter of survival, and I am happy to have made it to the end.”
Mohammed Balooshi P43 – P19 RallyGP:
“I am happy to have finished the 48-Hour Chrono. A thousand-kilometre special filled with many contrasting emotions: from the adrenaline and fun of surfing the dunes with my Fantic to crashes and even the challenge of dealing with the road book, which stopped working.”
Tomorrow’s stage 3 will lead from Bisha to Al Henakiyah. Due to heavy rain, the programme was adapted. The finish of the special will be situated after 327 km of the initial route (whose distance was 496 km), removing 169 kilometres of zones affected by the storms.
