Yamaha has broken the news of its withdrawal from both the Dakar Rally and the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship in a surprise announcement this Friday. The last edition of the toughest raid on the planet (2022), which was held in Saudi Arabia, has thus become the sporting epilogue of the Japanese manufacturer. 

At that round, which will go down in history for being Yamaha’s last, the Monster Energy Rally Team drivers, Adrien van Beveren and Andrew Short, finished in fourth and eighth place, respectively. 

The faithful and solid association between the Japanese firm and the legendary raid has, therefore, concluded in this unexpected and sudden way. The partnership has been sustained continuously since the race’s inception in 1979 and during which time, Yamaha has never missed a date with the desert race. 

Its 44 participations in the legendary raid, which include nine absolute wins in the motorcycle category, have not been enough to prevent the cancellation of the Dakar programme by the manufacturer from Iwata. 

The press release, which hit the sport like a bombshell, has also reassured of Yamaha’s continued presence at the Dakar in the SSV buggy category with its YXZ1000R prototype, with which they finished second in 2021. 

A legendary track record after four decades in the Dakar  

The outstanding track record of the Asian team in the Dakar Rally started in its debut edition in 1979. That year, the Frenchman Cyril Neveu became the first-ever winner on two wheels aboard an XT 500,  a feat that he repeated the following year. 

In everyone’s memory, however, will always remain the six Tuareg trophies won by Stephane Peterhansel during the 90s, which set an impressive record for Yamaha. In 1997 and still in Africa, the Italian Edi Orioli won for the Japanese squad too. 

At the start of the 21st century, and following several promising results, Yamaha dreamed of returning to the top of the podium. During the first South American edition in 2009, for instance, David Fretigne took the WR450F 2-Trac to third overall. Also, Helder Rodrigues finished on the podium in 2011 and 2012, followed by Olivier Pain, who rode the bike to third in 2014. 

In the subsequent edition, Yamaha released a new machine, the WR450F of the Monster Yamaha Rally Team which brought them close to the podium on several occasions. The ultimate prize, however, still eluded the team, like in 2018 when Adrien van Beveren was left on the verge of conquering the victory with just a few kilometres to go before the checkered flag. 

Victory drought in the XXI century 

Over the last few seasons, Yamaha has been subjugated by KTM’s dictatorship and the resurgence of Honda, with both teams preventing it from reliving its old feats. Faced with a complete absence of victories, and despite its historic and distinguished participation in the Dakar, Yamaha has therefore decided to abolish its factory programme.

This is bad news for motorcycling in general and for the famous raid in particular, which has lost its most faithful partner, not to mention the fans, who have been left stunned by the news. Yamaha is in fact the only factory that has featured in every single Dakar Rally to date.  

President & Chief Executive Officer of Yamaha Motor Europe, Eric de Seynes

“Yamaha has a long and storied history with the Dakar Rally, starting in 1979 at the first ever edition and running unbroken into the modern era. It’s also an event that I personally have a real passion for, having twice contested the event and for many years worked closely with Jean-Claude Olivier, who not only raced and won stages at the Dakar but also oversaw Yamaha’s most successful pioneer period in the rally”.

“However, while the Dakar Rally has mainly succeeded in remaining close to its roots, even when it moved out of its spiritual home of Africa, the world in which it exists has changed considerably. Our off-road customers now have different expectations and they look for different products, and we must cater for these if we are to stay connected”.

“It is for this reason we have decided to end our long history on two wheels at the Dakar Rally and in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship, while simultaneously strengthening our commitment to racing the Dakar on four wheels with the Yamaha YXZ1000R SSV”.

“However Yamaha’s commitment to Rally Raid events with motocycles is not over, but our future engagement must have a closer connection to our customers and their aspirations, developing further the Ténéré 700 potential towards a direction which will enable them to rediscover the more adventurous side of Rallies”.said Eric de Seynes.

Images: Yamaha Racing.com.