Challenging Day for Aprilia Tuareg Racing in Africa Eco Race 2025 Stage 6: Menichini Secures Sixth, Cerutti Faces Setbacks

The Aprilia Tuareg Racing Team encountered a tough day in the sixth stage of the Africa Eco Race 2025, which took the riders from Dakhla to Benichab in Mauritania. Following the rest day, the rally resumed with a dawn trip to the Guerguerat border post, where the riders crossed into Mauritania for the 172.19-kilometer timed section. The route offered a demanding mix of rocky tracks and sandy stretches, skirting the renowned Banc d’Arguin, testing both endurance and navigation skills.

Marco Menichini maintained a steady pace throughout the stage, finishing in sixth place, 7 minutes and 53 seconds behind the winner. Despite the challenging conditions, Menichini was pleased with his performance, particularly his ability to adapt to the tricky navigation. “It was a positive stage,” he said. “I tried to find my pace from the start and established a good connection with the bike. Navigation was tricky because it’s hard to see the tracks in Mauritania, which are heavily covered by sand, so you must be careful. All in all, I’m satisfied with my performance.”

The stage proved to be more difficult for defending champion Jacopo Cerutti, who suffered a tyre issue due to the high temperatures. His rear mousse failed, disrupting his ride and forcing him to make an emergency stop. Drawing on his experience, Cerutti quickly handled the situation by ripping off the tyre and continuing the race on the rear rim. Although this setback cost him valuable time, he limited the damage, finishing in 26th place. Despite the adversity, Cerutti remains in second place overall, 15 minutes and 30 seconds behind the leader.

Francesco Montanari also faced the difficult terrain, completing the timed section in 33rd place, 20 minutes and 56 seconds behind the stage winner. The team, though challenged, remains determined as the race heads into the final stages. With four decisive stages remaining, Menichini, Cerutti, and Montanari are focused on making up time and continuing their push toward the top positions in one of the world’s toughest desert rallies.