This officially recognised extreme rally event across Tunisia ran for the 2nd time in 2022. Consisting of 8 stages, the rally runs through inland Tunisia, over a mix of terrain including technical sections, sandy river beds, gravel tracks, fast African plains and WRC style sections. If the terrain wasn't varied enough, in the words of our amateur support rider Justin Stevenson who took part in this year's event for the first time; there were also "many, many, many, many dunes" to navigate.

Justin Stevenson at the start of the 2022 Tunisia Desert Rally Raid event.

Justin took part in the Rally Pro category - this was the full event against the clock! He competed on a KTM EXC 500 F, upgrading many of the OEM parts with our AS3 Performance parts.

Justin's stage by stage breakdown:

Stage 1 - Placed 15th

Justin Stevenson on Stage 1 TDR 2022

Stage 2 - Placed 31st. Justin got lost and missed some critical waypoints.

Justin Stevenson on Stage 2 TDR 2022

Stage 3 - Placed 26th. He was the last bike to complete the course on a day which saw one rider lose his life due to heat exhaustion. Many riders who had completed several Dakar Rally's said that this was the toughest riding day they had ever experienced. Justin said he was happy to have lost time going back down the course with water for riders who had run out, even though it did cost him time. He also took a nap to recover some energy and his mind as he made a navigation error which meant he was some 8km off-course. He had to back-track to a known waypoint with a fresh mind and finished the last 100km in the dusk/dark, aided by his Baja Designs lights.

Justin Stevenson on Stage 3 TDR 2022

Stage 4 - Placed 14th

Justin Stevenson on Stage 4 TDR 2022

Stage 5 - Placed 11th

Justin Stevenson on Stage 5 TDR 2022

Stage 6 - This stage was cancelled as the riders rode the route due to severe sandstorms. They still rode much of the course, but it was extremely difficult to navigate.

Stage 7 - This stage was cancelled before the start so they had to ride the assistance route instead.

Stage 8 - Placed 11th. The finish was at the famous Star Wars filming site.

Justin on Stage 8 of the Tunisia Desert Rally 2022

How did it go for Justin?

Justin placed a very respectable 18^th overall. As described above, he told us that he had a couple of difficult days navigation and he spent time shuttling water to a couple of stranded riders who were in desperate need of it due to dehydration, but he did not know how to reclaim that time back correctly assisting others, meaning he could have possibly placed 5 to 6 places higher.

Overall though, he was really pleased with how he rode for his first extreme rally raid. In the weeks and months leading up to the event, he spent a lot of time working on his KTM EXC 500 F bike, getting everything just how he wanted it to be. He explained how he was pleased that he was able to finish every stage of the event, when half of the field didn’t and he even managed to place higher than Pol Tarrés!

Justin Stevenson on his KTM EXC 500 F midway through the event

Justin described how our AS3 Performance parts had already proved their strength and durability on a 13-day adventure ride in Morocco in 2021, so he focused on the navigation set-up and wiring, as well as good overall bike maintenance and preparation in the lead up to the event. He said the bike was faultless, just needing daily oil changes plus filters (air and oil) and he changed his tyres after doing a maximum of 3 stages.

He explained that if he was to do another rally event, he would look for more fuel capacity as 230km seemed to be his maximum range, but in dunes or if you get lost this may not be enough. He would also like to strengthen and protect the radiators as he saw a few other riders abandoning the event due to falls onto rocks.

He was really pleased with our high flow water pump and the increased pressure radiator cap. Together with upgraded hoses and clamps he described how this really did seem to keep his bike cool in the dunes when others were overheating. He lost his clutch pressure for a short time as the fluid boiled from the engine heat, but carefully managing the revs and keeping momentum cooled his bike off and the function returned. Justin explains that if this happens, "always change the fluid at the next first service opportunity".

Justin's comments on the event:

"It’s a wonderfully run event that promotes camaraderie during racing. Even on bikes we help each other out when needed and there is competitiveness but no aggression. The event is run to be friendly and open and even has a bar each night in the bivouac so we can share a beer as we talk about the day. Its not cheap but if you can find a way, I’d thoroughly recommend it". It can be done on an EXC although many have the KTM / Husky / Gas Gas Rally replicas. The navigation equipment is not cheap either but is crucial and can be sold on if you look after it".

Justin lining up before Stage 8 of the Tunisia Desert Rally 2022

AS3 Performance parts review by Justin:

"The extra wide footpegs provided super grip and survived a few falls no problem, as did the rear brake and gear lever. The throttle, clutch cable, flexi clutch lever and flexi front brake lever, plus reservoir caps were all faultless. The oversized water pump impeller kit I’m sure helped me keep her cool in the sand and the chain guide did what it’s supposed to. I added the KTM guide protector just to be sure as I didn’t want a rock taking me out of the race! I also use AS3 sintered brake pads front and rear providing all the stopping power I needed".

Justin Stevenson at the finish of the 2022 Tunisia Desert Challenge.

AS3 Performance look forward to supporting Justin with future Desert Challenges. If there are any Rally Riders out there thinking of doing an event and would like advice from Justin, he is more than happy to share what he has learnt, so please feel free to contact us.