Moto

Six Japanese riders ranked in the overall top 10. Although it was expected to be a long race, the eight days flew by in the blink of an eye.

On the eighth and final day of the race, LEG.8, the morning was not particularly intense, but the rain that had started the night before continued to fall. The red clay flat dirt track along the lakefront in the first half of the SS route was damp with moisture, waiting for the riders to start. In Thailand during the rainy season, thunderstorms are a common occurrence every night, but as dawn broke, the rain gradually subsided, and by midday, strong sunlight streamed through the gaps in the clouds.

Describing the unpaved roads of Thailand as ‘red soil’ has become a cliché, but once you see it, you can't help but agree. The roads are truly ‘red soil,’ a brick-red colour mixed with fine gravel, stretching on endlessly.

With the finish ceremony scheduled for the afternoon, this day's total distance of approximately 327 km was slightly shorter than usual, with about 120 km designated as SS. The first half of the route, spanning approximately 60 km, featured straight sections, gentle curves, and sharp corners, with occasional glimpses of a lake on the right-hand side. Though it may seem monotonous due to the lack of elevation changes, this terrain allows riders to clearly feel the machine's handling through throttle work and weight transfer, making it an enjoyable stage for riders.

One characteristic of this red clay surface is that there are areas that grip even when wet, and others that offer no grip at all, resembling a sheet of iron coated with grease.

This is likely due to the texture of the soil—whether it is sandy or powdery. Powdery soil, when dry, forms a fine, light powder that hardens like foundation makeup, and when scraped by tyres, it turns into dust that swirls in the air and lingers for a long time. Conversely, when moist, it transforms into a sticky, slippery paste.

On wet red clay dirt roads, it's hard to tell at a glance whether the surface is sandy or powdery, making it a tricky spot, especially when accelerating. Among them, the aggressive riders who charged past the camera at the filming point were Sumaetee (#17/ Team Musashi International / KTM 250 XCW), and Izumoto, who is making his second appearance from Japan (#22 / TEAM JISOK-RR / HUSQVARNA FE450). In fact, the two riders' section times were several minutes faster than the others.

Apart from these two, I don't think there were any other riders who showed off counter steering (cornering by turning the handlebars in the opposite direction). This is a dynamic move that is visually appealing and gets the camera crew excited. Incidentally, Izumoto checked the tension of the wheel wires every day, but it seems that one of them broke. That shows how much stress was being put on them.

The latter half of the SS took place on a rough road between vast forests and plantations, with ‘water holes’ deep enough to completely submerge the tyres.

Looking at the final day's overall standings, the top contenders who had been competing for the lead every day were once again in the top positions.

Ikemachi (#16/Team Musashi International/HUSQVARNA FE350), who first participated in the Asian Rally in 2001, secured his fourth overall victory, while Jakkrit (#46/JC DIRT SHOP/KTM 500 EXC-F), the champion from Thailand, finished in second place. Similarly, Sumaetee (#17/ Team Musashi International / KTM 250 XCW) finished third, while Izumoto (#22 / TEAM JISOK-RR / HUSQVARNA FE450) remained in fourth place, and last year's winner Matsumoto (#1 / Indonesia Cross Country Rally Team / KTM 250 EXC-TPI) followed in fifth.

For details, please refer to the official results, but six out of the top ten riders were from Japan. There are also other Japanese riders of high calibre besides the aforementioned riders.

This year, perhaps due to it being the 30th anniversary event, there were a large number of Japanese participants, including some first-timers. When asked about their impressions of the Asian Rally after it concluded, they said, "I understand why people want to come back. The festive atmosphere here is unmatched and very enjoyable. Of course, rallies in Mongolia and Africa are also fun. Each has its own charm, which is great."

Participants with extensive rally experience both domestically and internationally said, ‘I like racing with friends who I can compete with, so if there is such a place and I have friends to go with, I would like to participate again.’

Originally, the competition was scheduled to last eight days, but due to various circumstances, two days of rest were inserted. Some participants mentioned this.

‘There's a bit of a sour taste, but it can't be helped. Unlike motocross, where you compete at full speed for a short time, rallying is about sustaining the load on the rider and machine over several days to create a difference in the competition. Continuing to race even as others drop out is what leads to victory, so it's regrettable that the rest days relieved that load. I think we could have gone further up the rankings.’

One participant who has been involved in the Asian Rally since its inception in 1996 says this year will be his last due to his age. It is already remarkable that he continues to participate in this gruelling rally despite being well over 70 years old, but he has also had nearly annual crashes resulting in injuries, sometimes requiring hospitalisation, followed by a return to Japan for surgery and treatment.

Among his peers, there were many voices of genuine concern mixed with jokes, such as, ‘Please don't get injured this year!’ and ‘If you die, I'll xxxx you!’

Naturally, there were many repeat participants and veterans among the participants, but this year, there were also some newcomers who were participating for the first time and had never competed in a rally before, which was a refreshing development.

The Asian Rally has a unique atmosphere that differs significantly from other competitive rallies, but it remains a competitive event. Simply saying it's ‘fun’ doesn't truly capture the essence of enjoying it.

In fact, while it encompasses such rigour, the ‘low barrier to entry’ is a crucial factor. With your own motorcycle, the entry fee and securing a long Obon holiday, the door to the Asian Rally is opened.

Over 30 years, people, countries, and politics change, and this applies to the main event as well. I hope that the cross-country rally centred around Thailand will continue to inspire the challenge spirit of riders (and drivers, of course) in the future. Even though it has just ended, I am already looking forward to next year's event.

On this website, you can read about past races in booklet form. Please check it out as well.

(Photographs and text by Zensuke Tanaka)