Following two years and the beginning of the 2015 rally season with Team HRC Honda, Helder Rodrigues returns to Yamaha.
The Portuguese rider has a long history with Yamaha, having competed on the WR450F Rally through the 2010-2012 seasons, taking the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship in 2011.
Rodrigues’ last Dakar on Yamaha machinery was in 2012; that year, he finished third. In the 2015 Dakar Rally, Rodrigues finished 12th overall aboard the Honda CRF450 Rally.
All together,Rodrigues has competed in nine Dakar Rallies, taking seven stage victories, three with Yamaha, and two overall podium finishes.
“I’m very happy to return to Yamaha,” said Helder Rodrigues. “I enjoyed very great times together, in the Dakar and World Championships. We had many years working with good results. I’m very motivated to come back and give my contribution in further developing the WR450F Rally. It feels great to be back together.”
“We are really excited to have Helder back with us,” commented Alexandre Kowalski, Yamaha Motor Europe Rally and Enduro Racing Manager. “As a seasoned rally competitor he brings with him a wealth of knowledge that will be invaluable in moving our rally program forward. It’s also special to have a rider back with us who has already proved capable of taking Yamaha to stage and podium victories in the past.”
Rodrigues first outing on the 2015 Yamaha WR450F Rally will be this weekend during the Sealine Rally in Qatar, round two of the FIM Cross Country Rallies World Championship.
