Morocco rally: the home straight

Saturday 3 October and Sunday 4 October
Administrative and technical checks at Zagora

On Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 October, the motorcycling competitors went through the administrative and technical verifications in Zagora, in the south of Morocco. There will be 50 motorcycles and 6 quads at the start tomorrow. The Oilybia Morocco Rally is the very last event in the FIM calendar and the race for the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship titles for motorcycles and quads will culminate in Agadir on Friday 9 October after 2'255 km, 1'350 of them making up the Specials.

Today, Marc Coma (KTM) is still in the lead with 70 points but the five times winner of the Dakar has put an end to his career this year to join the organisers of the toughest rally of them all. He is therefore leaving the door open to the young recruits like Austria’s Matthias Walkner (KTM), currently on 67 points, Chile’s Pablo Quintanilla (KTM) with 65 points, Sam Sunderland (KTM) with 55 points and Paulo Gonçalves (Honda), who, with 53 points, is still just in the running.

In quad, in the absence of Mohamed Abu Issa, there is a good chance that Poland’s Rafal Sonik will take the title again. 

The 56 FIM competitors will be striking out tomorrow for a first loop over 463 km  including a timed section of 330 km around Zagora. On Tuesday and Wednesday, they will attack two further loops before setting out westwards towards Agadir where they will cross the finish line on Friday.  The race will see some tough racing and plenty of suspense and will certainly constitute a splendid finale for the 2015 season!