I am still reeling from the Lyndon Poskitt’s Team Races to Places Africa Eco Rally video (embedded below).Lyndon, who at the time was jockeying for a podium finish, and eventually finished third, realized a competitor was breaking the rules.Soon after Lyndon reported this to race organizers, his bike was tampered with.Incredibly, a hole was also drilled in the team van’s tire.This behavior crossed the line from bad sportsmanship to outright sabotage.

The video opens with Lyndon explaining that a competitor had been using tires that were not legal in the competition.Riders must use road legal tires.Using motorcross or sand tires can give competitors a significant advantage in sandy stages when everyone else is riding with road legal tires.

According to the Africa Eco Rally 2020 SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATIONS MOTORCYCLES QUAD (emphasis added):

The AFRICA ECO RACE Cross Country Rally is open to machines adapted to “Cross-Country” use and与法国公路法规和越野逢高FIM技术法规所规定的符合规范.

So AER says that bikes must meet FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship regulations.Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) is the global governing body of motorcycle racing.According to FIM TECHNICAL RULES
CROSS-COUNTRY RALLIES 2019 (which I believe is the latest version of the technical regulations, emphasis added):

47.05

Only tyres normally available from commercial or retail sources are authorised.Modifying the tyre is not authorised.It is forbidden to treat tyres with chemicals, cut or groove them, use tyre warmers or any other means which may alter the shape, minimum Shore hardness, construction or other characteristics.The tyres shall appear on the tyre manufacturers range catalogue or tyre specification lists available to the general public.

They shall be approved according to UN Vehicle Regulation 75 Rev.2 (2010) with the following specific features:

使用（5.2）的范畴：它应该是“雪”或“特殊”或“全地形”
速度类别符号（5.4）：M（130公里/小时）或以上
负载能力指数（5.5）：45（165公斤）或以上。

建议轮胎根据欧洲轮胎和轮辋技术组织（ETRTO）的指导方针中。

如由联合国车辆规R75定义对E认证标志和数量必须存在于前部和后部轮胎侧壁两者。该DOT认证标志也是可以接受的。任何标记对轮胎的报告“FIM”批准或类似禁止新的生产日期（从2018）。

All road-legal tires sold in Europe must contain an E mark.The DOT code is the US National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration’s equivalent.

Lyndon lodged a protest with the FIM which cost him 660 Euros.The FIM stewards agreed with his protest and he was refunded the money.He only has good things to say about the AER organizers and FIM stewards.

It was bad enough that a competitor had an unfair advantage, but things got much worse for Lyndon.Someone tampered with his bike’s engine removing the sticker placed on it by race officials.This sticker confirms that the engine is race-legal.Lyndon’s engine was then reported to race officials.A non-stickered engine, ie not inspected or approved, would be a violation of race rules.This was a serious allegation and a penalty could have cost Lyndon his podium finish.在FIM官员视察了自行车，并证实其发动机是合法的，有篡改贴纸的证据。

To make matters worse the team discovered their van had a hole drilled in the sidewall.The van was driven by Lyndon’s father Robin and he confirmed there was nothing wrong with the tire when they parked the van and drill marks were visible.

It is outrageous that one or more disgruntled competitors, or their support team, would repeatedly sabotage a competitor rather than win by being a better rider.Lyndon has nothing bad to say about the Africa Eco Race organizers or the FIM officials.They dealt with the issues fairly and they cannot police every corner of the bivouac 24/7.Walking around the bivouac with a drill is not suspicious and it would take maximum 20 seconds to drill through a sidewall, less time if you are an experienced saboteur.The good news is that Lyndon had a fantastic race and achieved his dream of reaching Dakar, Senegal and finished in third place.

Watch Lyndon’s video in full here …