Aprilia started its Back to Africa project with one purpose in thoughts: To take the Tuareg 660 to the Africa Eco Race and check its would possibly in opposition to all the things that one of many world’s main rally raid occasions may throw at it. Fast ahead to January 2024, and Aprilia’s Jacopo Cerutti stood proudly on the high of the 2024 Africa Eco Race podium.
He and teammate Francesco Montanari each took their rally-prepped Aprilia Tuareg 660s to contest one of many world’s hardest occasions. Modifications from the inventory bike embrace an Öhlins by Andreani suspension, an SC-Project titanium exhaust, and a Sprint Filter air filter.
Both Cerutti and Montanari put in a formidable displaying, with Cerutti beginning out because the veteran within the pairing and Montanari because the rookie. Throughout the occasion, Cerutti persistently stayed within the high three with Yamaha Tenere World Raid Team riders Alessandro Botturi and Pol Tarrés.
Together, the trio swapped locations within the high three throughout every stage, and the occasions have been fairly shut between them. When all was stated and completed, in any case 12 phases of the 2024 AER, lower than 26 minutes separated the highest three riders.
2024 Africa Eco Race Top 10 Finishers Overall
Once all of the occasions have been added up and any relevant time penalties assessed, here is how the highest 10 riders fared based on the official outcomes.
| Rider | Team | 2024 AER Total Time |
| Jacopo Cerutti | Aprilia Racing GCorse | 39:52:49 |
| Alessandro Botturi | Yamaha Tenere World Raid Team | 39:59:27 |
| Pol Tarrés | Yamaha Tenere World Raid Team | 40:17:58 |
| Alexandre Vaudan | Casteu Trophy | 44:22:39 |
| Attilio Fert | France Road Book | 45:27:52 |
| Marco Aurelio Fontana | Honda Genuine Oil | 45:47:08 |
| Marco Menichini | Solarys Racing | 45:55:33 |
| Francesco Montanari | Aprilia Racing GCorse | 47:46:06 |
| Nicolas Charlier | Yamaha Tenere World Raid Team | 47:48:57 |
| Nicola Quinto | Jacque De Molay Team Solarys | 48:15:33 |
“I had quite a scare today, because at the 20th kilometer there was a bit of a mix-up on a note and I thought my rivals had dropped me. But then I found the track again and it was me who caught Botturi,” Cerutti stated after the race.
“From that moment on, we went on together and I brought the result home. I must compliment my opponents for the fairness they showed throughout the race, it was really an honor to battle with them,” he added.
“It was a very tense Africa Eco Race for us, leading from the start with Botturi and Tarres putting pressure on us, but we managed it. Thanks also to a great bike; the Tuareg proved itself equal to a demanding marathon like this. I can’t wait to celebrate together with the team!”
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