PHARAONS 2008 Torino-Cairo

[Breeze]

Hello All, yesterday the Pharaons '08 Rally officially kicked off in Torino with a public show of bikes and cars and with a parade in one of the city's main squares, Piazza Vittorio.

It is a true celebration for the Africa Twin Italia Club as we have one of our club members taking part in the rally.
Francesco Catanese is a 38 year old rider who took part in the national Motorally championship, coming second only to a last generation KTM Super Enduro.
Francesco was riding an almost standard 18 year old Rd04 bought for 1500 euro...
This guy is as nice as people come, so tall that an AT looks like a scooter underneath him and with a natural talent for offroad riding.
He trained for the Pharaons by riding his AT in motocross events and real enduro races: the other riders could not believe their eyes.
But the feat here is that he broke his foot in practice and will undergo surgery on the 30th of september to remove some metal pins and will then start the rally under the pyramids only 3 days later.
Please join us in cheering him forward, because he will symbolically ride for Africa Twin fans all over the world to celebrate 20 years of our beloved motorcycle: FORZA FRANCESCO!!

Here he is:



A big thanks to all the sponsors who made this possible, starting from QUADRAPRO Automotive Design, C.T.R. road works, ONLY BIKE Milano, BOANO, LA BAITA restaurant, HONDA Italia, MICHELIN and LEOVINCE.
And of course I must thank all Africa Twin Italia club members who donated personally and contributed by working endless hours to make all this possible: GRAZIE!

Furthermore, another group of riders from the Italian AT Club is taking part in the non competitive raid: for those who met him during last year's Stella, Alberto is one of them.

Finally, yesterday I saw the two most beautiful Africa Twins ever, both built by a shop here in Milano owned by our Club President, Furio.
One is Francesco's bike, an Rd04 specially built for the rally, while this is the other one, an Rd07a which was the anorexic AT named "La Rossa".
Pictures do not do these bikes justice, they are works of art which have left me drooling since yesterday.
Of course, both are painted in the original Rd03 HRC colours of 1988!





And here is the picture gallery, where you can see more of these two superb Africa Twins, along with other vehicles and images from the event:

http://picasaweb.google.it/vincebree...008TorinoCairo#

[Stormforce8]

Enzo - great pictures - and nice to see the @ is still a competitive bike - just goes to show what they're capable of in the right hands...........

Please wish Alberto the very best of luck when you next see him...........and thank him for introducing us to Nutella Pizza

Assume everything is still running sweetly on your @, and you're getting the chance to use it.

[Stormforce8]

You'll be able to follow the Africa Twins progress on the Rallye des Pharaons - Turin to Cairo 2008 website.

From the Participants List:

#39 FRANCESCO CATANESE - HONDA AFRICA TWIN
#600 ROBERTO BOANO - HONDA AFRICA TWIN
#603 GIUSEPPE ACQUAROLI - HONDA AFRICA TWIN
#604 MARIO BRUSCHI - HONDA AFRICA TWIN
#605 ALBERTO CAPELLARO - HONDA AFRICA TWIN
#606 STEFANO COLUCCI - HONDA AFRICA TWIN
#607 NICOLINO D'ALTO - HONDA AFRICA TWIN
#608 GUIDO GALLO - HONDA AFRICA TWIN
#609 ANGELO MAZZOCCHI - HONDA AFRICA TWIN
#610 FURIO MODENA - HONDA AFRICA TWIN
#611 MAURIZIO MONACO - HONDA AFRICA TWIN
#612 GIULIO NAPOLI - HONDA AFRICA TWIN
#613 MATTEO PARNIGONI - HONDA AFRICA TWIN

#39 Francesco Catanese is running in the 'Open Class' - all the rest of the Africa Twins are running in the 'Private Challenge Class'

[Breeze]

Hello Jonathan, you actually know a few more more besides Alberto.

During our Assietta tour last year, Guido Gallo was the one riding at the very back making sure nobody was left behind.

Mario Bruschi was at the front leading those who wanted to ride faster, while Nicolino D'Alto was the one riding the white XR 600 and who climbed the hill at one point!

[AIRWOLF]

Nice report Breeze

Just spent age's looking thro the gallery

[stanbloke]

Great pics .

Love the Aprilia RXV 450 Rallye, awesome.

Good luck and best wishes to your friends Enzo.

[meljordan]

Lets not forget no 600, pritty good with @'s as well.

[Stormforce8]

Lets not forget no 600, pritty good with @'s as well.

Well spotted Mel - I've updated the running list as the organisers have changed the running numbers.

[kitped]

Great report & pics.

That RD07a in RD03 HRC colours looks fantastic may have to start to plan my next project

[Stormforce8]

Hello Jonathan, you actually know a few more more besides Alberto.

During our Assietta tour last year, Guido Gallo was the one riding at the very back making sure nobody was left behind.

Mario Bruschi was at the front leading those who wanted to ride faster, while Nicolino D'Alto was the one riding the white XR 600 and who climbed the hill at one point!

Yup - I remember Guido was the leader of Annette's entourage, and ensured she had a spectacular and memorable day - I think she has a soft spot for him

And how could we forget Nicolino - that wasn't so much a hill, it was a cliff face. I'm still confused that after his first attempt failed, he came back down, removed his CamelBak - and then cleared the climb........... - how does removing your water rucksack make a difference

Good memories Enzo