The rider from Bayonne wins the 2024 edition on his Fantic XEF 450 Rally.
“An unexpected victory.” Tom Deest, a 32-year-old Frenchman from Bayonne (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), smiled happily upon arriving at the finish line of the FenekRally. Riding his Fantic, after covering more than 1,200 km around Merzouga (Morocco), Deest won the overall title in the motorcycle category with a total time of 22h29’15”.
“The FenekRally was my first rally raid experience. I signed up with the sole goal of discovering this discipline that has always made me dream and to learn the basics of navigation out in the wild! For years, every winter, I watched the Dakar on TV with my father, secretly dreaming of one day taking part in a rally raid,” says Tom. “In the prologue, I got lost and received a penalty… a tough blow and a wake-up call that made me realize there was really a lot to learn. Then came five special stages: my navigation improved a little each day until it became a truly fun challenge, trying to keep a good race pace without penalties. The route was exceptional, with varied landscapes: from fast tracks to technical sections, from rocks to sand, from dry riverbeds to dunes. The only thing I regret is not having had time to take photos to show my friends and family.”
The bad weather conditions in the weeks leading up to the race made the tracks in southern Morocco especially challenging. “At times, the roadbook wasn’t very up to date and we had to adapt; I realized that after a serious crash on the first day,” continues Deest. “But that’s what rally raid is all about: it’s an endurance race where you can’t drive at 100%, and not every hazard can be marked in the roadbook, so you have to stay careful and alert!”
How was the FenekRally organized? “I have to say it was very family-like, with special attention given to the riders. There was always an encouraging word for us, both in good times and in difficult ones… and there were plenty of those! The FenekRally allowed me to learn navigation and fulfill a childhood dream, but above all, it gave me the chance to meet other very kind motorcyclists and SSV/Car drivers. I didn’t expect this kind of competition atmosphere: if this is the rally raid spirit, I think I’ve found the discipline I truly love. And for that: thank you, FenekRally,” concludes the French rider.
Deest, rider of the Pays Basque Aventures team, finished ahead of Geoffroy Lamacier and Frédéric Miramont, both on KTM EXC-F 450 bikes.
| Pays Basque Aventures | Tom Deest | Moto |  | XEF 450 RALLY |  | |
| Geoff’ road | Geofrroy Lamacier | Moto |  | EXC-F 450 | | |
| Team la gazelle | Frederic Miramont | Moto | | EXC-F 450 | |
