Wei Han, Neels Theric dominate 2024 Taklimakan Rally

Even with their reorganisation over the spring, Kove Moto was not going to overlook a beat when the 2024 Taklimakan Rally rolled round. Neels Theric and Deng Liansong, the remaining members of the manufacturing facility staff, received practically all the 9 bike levels with the previous claiming six en path to his first profession rally raid win.

Theric, a factory rider for Kove since 2023 who has competed within the World Rally-Raid Championship, set the tone early by profitable three of the primary 4 levels (Stage #2 was cancelled for bikes after many opponents struggled on the primary day) earlier than Liansong had his time within the highlight. The victory is the primary in an main rally for Kove, whose CEO Zhang Xue departed in March and prompted a restructuring of the corporate; 5 riders raced a Kove 450 Rally, with Theric and Liansong on the brand new 450 Rally EX.

Off-road legend Robby Gordon and his son Max Gordon returned to China to compete within the T3 class with their burgeoning SPEED UTV model. Max was the quickest within the Prologue and ran high ten within the class earlier than rolling right into a ditch in Stage #9. 2023 T1.2 winner Tao Pengfei pulled him out and he was unhurt, although his race was rendered null. The elder Gordon completed ninth in T3.

“The Taklimakan is similar to a Dakar,” mentioned Robby, a Dakar veteran. “Levels #1, #2, and #3 had been had been very, very, very powerful. Final couple of levels actually match our car. That is extra of Arizona-, California-style using. The primary three days had been very silty and really, very deep delicate sand; I feel the primary three levels of the Taklimakan was more durable than the Dakar. The final couple levels had been fairly simple, was type of cool with the ice and the snow yesterday.

“Sadly, we bought all of the vehicles actually muddy and soiled earlier than the ultimate particular, however apart from that, it was some nice terrain up there, some nice villages up on high of the hill. That was loads of enjoyable. I feel it’s run for us. We’re very, very proud of with our outcome. It’s nice that [the rally] has twenty years going. We’re excited to be a part of it. I stay up for come again subsequent yr and competing. I feel we’ll convey an enormous automobile.”

T1+, the very best subcategory in rally raid, swept the highest 5 and occupied seven of the highest ten spots. Wei Han notched his fourth Taklimakan triumph in a Crimson-Lined REVO, a brand new T1+ automobile introduced in late 2023; Wei has a partnership with producer Crimson-Lined Motorsport, which entailed building a new T1+ for the 2024 Dakar in January. Solar Ping, a fellow Dakar competitor, was runner-up in a Prodrive Hunter forward of a fleet of JJ3 vehicles. Not like the international Prodrive and Crimson-Lined manufacturers, the JJ3 is in-built China by JJsport.

“It is a main win for us as a producer and a very rewarding one. Our REVO T1+ V8 received in a brilliant aggressive discipline of Final rally raid vehicles, which included 22 T1+ machines from a lot of the main worldwide producers,” commented Crimson-Lined boss Terence Marsh. “The Taklimakan Rally is considered the second largest rally raid race on the earth after the Dakar, so a large shout-out as soon as once more to Wei Han and his HanWei Motorsport staff on what’s a really unbelievable achievement. We’re extraordinarily proud, to say the very least.”

JJ3 driver Tao Yongming briefly took the general lead with a Stage #3 win earlier than dropping it again to Wei the following day, the latter profitable regardless of getting caught thrice and having to drive with out a clutch. The CR6 of Zhang Huijun received Stage #9; Century Racing, one other worldwide rally raid producer, additionally despatched three of their premier CR7 T1+ vehicles, with Liu Yatuan scoring a high ten.

The race spanned 4,377.5 kilometres from Kashgar to Aksu. Stage #6 was cancelled resulting from large sandstorms. The day earlier than was the longest leg distance-wise at practically 700 km because it ran alongside the Keriya River, whereas the ultimate day was solely 23.35 km by way of timed sections as Wei and Theric iced their victories.

“There was no suspense on this stage,” Wei acknowledged concerning the closing leg, “however I feel the largest allure of cross-country racing is that it’s all the time stuffed with unknowns till the final one, so we nonetheless needed to be very cautious to finish the final stage at the moment.”

Stage winners

Class winners

Last outcomes

Automobile

Bike