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TUAREG TOUGHEST
The 2025 Hellas Rally Raid, held in the rugged heart of central Greece, will be remembered as the year Aprilia stamped its authority on the world of rally raid with an emphatic overall victory. Factory rider Jacopo Cerutti, aboard the Aprilia Tuareg 660, not only took the win in the competitive M5 class for twin-cylinder machines but also clinched first place overall, besting a field of both lightweight enduros and seasoned rally racers on singlecylinder race bikes.
The Hellas Rally Raid is considered one of the most demanding events in the European rally scene. Spanning seven grueling stages( one of which was cancelled due to severe weather), the rally covered over 1,800 kilometres of rugged terrain— everything from rocky mountain switchbacks to deep river crossings and high-speed dirt sections.
Cerutti’ s performance was nothing short of dominant. He won every timed stage in his class and managed to maintain a blistering overall pace that left many seasoned rally riders trailing. His final time of 19 hours, 57 minutes placed him more than 16 minutes ahead of second-place finisher Julien Jagu, who rode the newly developed Triumph TF 450X— a purpose-built rally bike from a brand also trying to make waves in the off-road world.
This wasn’ t Cerutti’ s first time on top at Hellas— he won the 2024 edition as well— but doing so again, and against an even stronger field, confirms his status as one of Europe’ s top rally riders and underscores the competitiveness of the Tuareg 660 platform.
The win is a major validation for Aprilia’ s off-road racing program. The Tuareg 660, initially introduced as an adventure bike, has quickly transformed into a genuine rally weapon thanks to the efforts of GCorse, the rally racing specialists headed by the Guareschi brothers. Their collaboration with Aprilia Racing has led to significant improvements in suspension tuning, weight distribution, and electronics optimization, making the Tuareg a versatile and highly capable machine in rally conditions.
Aprilia’ s Tuareg 660 is notably not a purpose-built rally bike like many others in the field. It remains close to the production model available to the public, which makes its success even more significant. Its 659cc parallel-twin engine is tuned for torque and reliability, key factors when racing over long distances in unpredictable terrain. Aprilia didn’ t just win the rally— they dominated it.
Alongside Cerutti, teammates Marco Menichini and Francesco Montanari finished second and third in the M5 class respectively. Menichini also secured third overall, while Montanari landed an impressive fifth overall, giving Aprilia three riders in the top five of the overall classification.
Both riders demonstrated consistent pace and navigational precision, each scoring multiple podium finishes across the rally’ s stages. Their performance cemented the Tuareg 660’ s status as not only fast but reliable— a trait vital to any rally platform aiming for long-term success.
Aprilia’ s performance at Hellas signals a broader shift in the rally raid landscape: twin-cylinder adventure bikes are no longer just adventure tourers— they’ re becoming a serious threat in professional off-road racing. With regulations evolving and riders seeking platforms that blend rally speed with real-world durability, bikes like the Tuareg 660 are carving out a new niche.
The success also mirrors Aprilia’ s performance in other major events. The Tuareg 660 previously scored wins at the Africa Eco Race and dominated rounds in the Italian Motorally Championship, showing that its rally pedigree is no fluke.
For Aprilia, this victory is a key milestone in what has become one of the most exciting expansion stories in the motorcycle world. Traditionally associated with tarmac and circuit racing, the Italian manufacturer is now forging a new identity in the dirt, and doing so in style.
The win will likely inspire other manufacturers to double down on their midweight platforms. It also showcases the growing appeal of rally raid as a proving ground not just for elite riders but for production-based adventure bikes that can win races on Sunday and sell on Monday.
Aprilia’ s sights are now set on bigger stages. With momentum behind them and a race-winning platform in the Tuareg 660, eyes are turning toward even more demanding rallies like Rallye du Maroc, the TransAnatolia, and possibly even the Dakar Rally in the near future.
If this trajectory continues, the Tuareg 660 may soon become one of the most successful rally bikes of the modern era— proof that with the right mix of development, rider talent, and innovation, a dual-sport adventure bike can conquer the toughest terrain the world has to offer. TRAVERSE
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