Adrien Van Beveren currently is at ninth overall as the event passes into Mongolia. Van Beveren’s eighth-place result on stage one was followed by a 10th place. Van Beveren sits just under 13 minutes from the motorcycle class leader.

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

The 2019 Silk Way Rally features a motorcycle class for the first time. The event commenced in Irkutsk on July 6 the event began on July 7 with a short 50km special stage. With the overall stage and special stage lengths increasing as the rally moves through Russia and Mongolia, special stage four – a circular stage starting and finishing in Ulaanbaatar – will be the longest at 470km. The riders will be making it through China on July 13 (stage 7). Stage eight is the longest of the event at 785km total distance. The final stage will be in Dunhuang on July 16.

Franco Caimi (Yamalube Yamaha Rally Team)- As It Happened

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

“Today’s third stage was really tough – very, very long and close to 12 hours on our bikes. The terrain was very different to the first two days and I’m pleased because I finished safe and with the bike working well. As expected, after such a long time away from competition it is taking me a little time to find my feeling again with these long stages. But I’m really enjoying things and know there are many days ahead of us. I think this rally really starts now, after this long stage. Recovering the best I can is the priority now and then I will push again tomorrow, looking to find a good pace and a safe rhythm,” says Caimi as quoted from Yamaha Racing.

Adrian van Beveren (Yamalube Yamaha Rally Team)- As It Happened

Photo credits: Yamaha Racing

“We can see already that the Silk Way Rally is going to be a very challenging and exciting rally, now that we are out of Russia we have already enjoyed some incredible tracks and scenery in Mongolia. I took things carefully during the first two days as this is a long race. The water and mud wasn’t too much fun but the most important thing for me was to get through those stages with no problems. Today’s stage has been really enjoyable – fast and flowing tracks across beautiful countryside. The rally is really just starting now so the next days will be very important.”