I've just been selected

[Sp!ke]

I have just had a call from Yamaha confirming that I am one of the 5 people selected to do this.

Looks like it will be an extremely good month. :bannana:

On the 4th of May the trip begins in Paris at the Eiffel tower, original starting point for the Dakar Rally. From there 24 Super Ténéré bikes will be ridden in three stages from Paris to Lisbon, led by famous Yamaha adventure riders. In Lisbon we will select 5 Super Ténéré bikes to go in a caravan to Marakech to donate them to the riders for health organization

A team of five selected people guided by Helder Rodrigues, will be tasked with delivering the bikes safely to Marrakech, Morocco.

~ Day 0 – Wednesday 12th of May – Lisbon, Portugal ~

Today the riders will arrive in Lisbon and will attend the official kick off lunch with Riders for Health and the Yamaha VIP Riders who will join you in the Raid.


~ Day 1 – Thursday 13th of May – Lisbon to Jerez, Spain ~

After a full safety briefing, the Ride for Life group will head out through the streets of Lisbon towards the sunny Andalusia. After a full day of riding they reach Jerez de la Frontera, the fifth largest city in Andalusia and also home to the impressive Circuito de Jerez where the famous Jerez MotoGP race is held every year.


~ Day 2 – Friday 14th of May : Jerez to Ceuta to Fes, Morocco ~

After a short morning ride, the group reaches Algeciras where they will board the ferry to Ceuta, Morocco. They keep on heading south till Fes, a former capital of Morocco and today a UNESCO world heritage site.


~ Day 3 – Saturday 15th of May : Fes to Merzouga, Morocco ~

The city of Fes will quickly fade from side mirrors as they ride past the hectic city streets. This will be a challenging day as the riders will be riding through the extraordinary, craggy beauty of the Atlas Mountains to ttheir final destination: Merzouga; the gateway to the Sahara.


~ Day 4 – Sunday 16th of May: Merzouga to Ouarzazate, Morocco ~

Today will take the Ride for Life group from the serenity of the Merzouga sand dunes to the city of Ouarzazate in southern-central Morocco. The name Ouarzazate comes from a Berber phrase meaning “without noise” or without confusion”, due to the closeness to the Atlas Mountains.

~ Day 5 – Monday 17th of May: Ouarzazate to Marrakech ~

After four intense riding days, today the riders have an easy morning ride into the trendy city of Marrakech, also known as the “Red City”. Later in the day they will officially hand-over your Super Ténéré bikes to Riders for Health.


~ Tuesday 18th of May – Departure day ~

The mission to deliver the bike to Riders for Health has been accomplished so now it’s time to head back home and share this experience with your family.

 

[Supacool1]

Can you get a Fez from Fes please? :bannana:

 

[swannymere]

How and Why? Lucky bugger

 

[Sp!ke]

Here's what it is, I've been holding off posting the details for now until the winners were actually announced.

Super Ténéré - RIDE FOR LIFE

 

[st13phil]

Congratulations, Sp!ke - looks like a great adventure ride

Riders for Health is a very effective charity operation that seems to be little known outside motorcycling circles and is well worthy of support. Don't forget to take plenty of piccies

 

[Ratz]

Fantastic, what an opportunity.

Enjoy!

 

[Charles Morgan]

sounds fantastic, and for a great cause. Hopefully all the planes will be flying again by then!

 

[Sp!ke]

sounds fantastic, and for a great cause. Hopefully all the planes will be flying again by then!

I sure hope so as I have to travel to the US twice between then and now.

I saw a small light aeroplane flying repeatedly back and forth across west london today, presumably checking air quality and such around the heathrow flight path. It looks like flights will resume from LHR tomorrow.

 

[EDZ649]

I used to have an XTZ750 Super Tenere, great bikes, loads of grunt. Hope you have a great time!

 

[martin_a]

Sounds like a great trip. I did the whole of the UK on an R6 for cancer care but riding through some of those places is a tad more exotic.

Good on you.

m.

 

[Mactech]

Well done that man!
I've done 300 miles on my bike today....but that is a long way
Hope you enjoy every minute of your adventure

 

[bigyin1]

WOW looks like heaven, enjoy you lucky lucky man.

 

[IanA2]

I did London to Matera many years ago on an old Guzzi T3......I think your trip will be much more fun...Auguri!!

 

[SpikeUK]

Sounds amazing, I am very envious! Can I follow on the Harley please ?

 

[Brian WH]

Well done Mate, couldn't have picked a nicer feller for the job.

 

[Sp!ke]

Currently sitting at home, checking the BA site and hoping that my afternoon flight to lisbon wont be cancelled due to this ash cloud.

I'll be starting my 5 day ride on Thursday morning - you can follow the event day by day here.

Ride For Life 2010 – Super Ténéré Expedition

I'm not excited... no, not even a little bit.

 

[Sp!ke]

Yesterday everything went to plan, the flight arrived in Lisbon on time and apart from the chaos cause by the security measures and road closures caused by the Papal visit, getting to the Hotel in Lisbon was relatively painless.

Prior to flying, I received a text from Yamaha warning me that the Yamaha provided clothing got caught up in the travel chaos and may not make it in time for our departure so best to take my own gear just in case but also to save room in my luggage in case it did arrive in time... So I re-packed, reducing my non bike clothing to absolute minimal, only three T-shirts, one pair of jeans, couple of pairs of socks and my trusty pair of reversible self cleaning yellow fronted brown backed underpants.

After dinner myself and the other winners decided to sneak down to the basement and check out the bikes. In the basement we found about 20 XTZ1200s (mostly the blue and silver ones) and one rather tasty one painted in IXS colours (a sponsor) and a handful of 660 models.

So after drooling over the bikes for a while it was back to the bar for a few more shandys. It was only after the third of fourth that I realised that the man to my left was none other than Stefan Peterhansel himself... WOW!

Today is the official press launch, top brass from Yamaha in attendance and also Randy Mamola (Founder of Riders for Health).

It turns out Randy will be riding with us tomorrow along with our guide Helder Rodriguez, where our adventure really begins with a brisk 650km ride down to Hereth.

itching to get started now....

 

[Kendon]

All the best for a safe trip. Lucky guy and for a great cause too.

 

[Sp!ke]

Just a small bit of left handed video from the trip. (best with volume)

Cant seem to embed it so the link will have to do.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/105628219438728253701/RFLJG#5478848369477927010

 

[SL300-24]

Well done mate.......I would love to do that!