The 15th edition of the Africa Eco Race will be remembered for the challenges that the riders encountered in the twelve stages from Nador to the Lac Rose near the city of Dakar, and above all, for the all-Italian victory of Jacopo Cerutti aboard the official Aprilia Tuareg.
The official rider of the brand from Noale has written another page in the history of Italian motorcycling and will be remembered as the second Italian rider to clinch victory in an African rally on an Italian motorcycle, just as the legendary Edi Orioli last did in 1994, riding the Cagiva Lucky Explorer.
Taking the lead right from the first stage, from Nador to Boudnib, the Aprilia rider covered 598 km, establishing an incredible race pace from the outset and distancing himself from his direct competitors.
Despite a 4-minute penalty and a few falls, the Eleveit rider was first across the finish line, navigating the classic final stage along the shores of Lac Rose near Dakar, Senegal’s famous capital.
Throughout the twelve total stages of the event, Jacopo Cerutti faced the challenges of the desert, while donning the X-Legend boots. Events like the Africa Eco Race not only put the participating riders and their bikes to the test but also, and above all, the technical equipment with which they are kitted out.
In his first outing with Eleveit X-Legend boots, which employ a dual ankle torsion control system for both lateral and forward movement, Jacopo Cerutti not only admired their light weight and breathability but also their impressive durability and unique comfort.
Jacopo Cerutti: “As a start, I must say it was fantastic. My first experience wearing Eleveit boots, and a victory first time around. It looks like Eleveit brings good luck. If memory serves me right, Steve Holcombe was also wearing Eleveit boots when he clinched the EnduroGP title and the E2 class in his first year. As far as the race is concerned, what can I say? We tackled twelve stages wearing the X-Legend boots, which proved to be extremely comfortable and lightweight. They withstood many hours of riding and remained intact until the final stage, where they encountered the salt of Lac Rose near Dakar. They were raised to the sky along with the trophy, to celebrate victory in this fifteenth edition of the Africa Eco Race.”