Pol Tarrés takes Yamaha Ténéré 700 to new Erzberg big-bike record

Tarrés sets new big-bike benchmark on Ténéré 700 at Erzberg

Yamaha’s Ténéré 700 has long since moved past being merely an adventure-tourer in the hands of Pol Tarrés. The Spanish trials ace has helped turn the twin-cylinder machine into a rolling demonstration of what is possible when a rider with otherworldly talent, an adaptable platform, and a willingness to test boundaries all meet in the same place.

With Kevin Gallas assisting trackside, Pol Tarrés continued to muscle the Yamaha Ténéré 700 through the rocky extremes of the Erzberg Hare Scramble.

At the 30th running of the Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, Tarrés again took Yamaha’s big adventure machine into territory normally reserved for lightweight enduro machinery, reaching Checkpoint 19 in Sunday’s Hare Scramble and setting a new Erzberg record for a big bike.

The result came on a weekend where the Iron Giant again lived up to its fearsome reputation. Only 15 riders from the 500 starters were officially classified as finishers inside the four-hour time limit, while the 2026 edition also marked a significant moment for electric machinery, with three electric bikes among those 15 finishers, as covered in our earlier Red Bull Erzbergrodeo 2026 report.

Few would choose a twin-cylinder adventure bike for Erzberg’s nastiest terrain, but Pol Tarrés again proved how far the Ténéré 700 can be pushed.

Tarrés takes Ténéré further into the Iron Giant

Tarrés and Kevin Gallas both took on the Austrian hard-enduro classic aboard Ténéré 700 machinery, competing across the four-day event from June 4-7. Erzberg opened with the REMUS Rocket Ride on Thursday, a short but brutal hillclimb contest up the quarry slopes where precision, traction and outright commitment are all required in equal measure.

Kevin Gallas impressed aboard the Yamaha Ténéré 700 during the 2026 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo, making the REMUS Rocket Ride final as the only big bike in the field.

Gallas was one of the standout performers in the Rocket Ride, progressing through the heats and making the final as the only big bike in the field. He finished fifth, a strong result against specialist hard-enduro machinery. Tarrés also made a strong impression, finishing fifth in his semi-final and narrowly missing a place in the final.

Friday and Saturday then brought the Iron Road Prologue, where riders each had two timed opportunities to qualify for Sunday’s main Hare Scramble. Tarrés and Gallas placed second and third, respectively, in the twin-cylinder class, putting both Ténéré 700 riders on the second row for the main event.

Pol Tarrés again showed the unlikely agility of the Yamaha Ténéré 700, tackling Erzberg obstacles more often associated with lightweight enduro machinery.

Checkpoint 19 sets new big-bike benchmark

Sunday’s Hare Scramble remains the defining test of Erzberg. Five hundred riders line up at the bottom of the quarry before launching into a 27-checkpoint course across loose shale, steep gravel climbs, boulder fields, forest sections and bottlenecks that can stop even the best riders in the world.

For Tarrés, the aim was not merely to circulate, but to push the big Yamaha further into the course than a twin-cylinder adventure bike had previously gone. He managed exactly that, making it to Checkpoint 19 and finishing 77th from the 500 starters. Just as importantly for Yamaha, the Ténéré 700 reportedly ran without mechanical issue across the four-hour ordeal.

Checkpoint 19 marked a new high point for big bikes at Erzberg, with Pol Tarrés taking the Yamaha Ténéré 700 further than ever on the Iron Giant.

It is the latest in a growing list of headline performances from Tarrés aboard the Ténéré 700. As a Yamaha ambassador and development rider, he has played a central role in showing what the model can take when ridden well beyond its original adventure-bike brief. From big-bike hard enduro stunts to competitive outings at events such as Romaniacs and Erzberg, Tarrés has made the Ténéré 700 one of the most visible adventure platforms in world off-road competition.

Pol Tarrés’ Erzberg ride was as much a test of physical endurance as machine capability, with the Ténéré 700 forced through punishing rock gardens.

Gallas supports Tarrés after Rocket Ride and Prologue push

Gallas, meanwhile, elected to end his Hare Scramble at Checkpoint 1 after already achieving his main goals for the weekend in the Rocket Ride and Prologue. That also allowed him to provide trackside support to Tarrés during the main race, helping with lines, encouragement, nutrition and hydration as the Spaniard pushed deep into the Iron Giant.

Both Tarrés and Gallas are next due to compete in the Adventure class at Red Bull Romaniacs from July 28.

Yamaha US ambassador Cody Webb was also in action at Erzberg, competing aboard a WR250F and taking a hard-earned 13th overall, making him one of the 15 official finishers.

Pol Tarrés carried serious pace through the Erzberg Prologue stages aboard the Yamaha Ténéré 700 before his record big-bike run in the Hare Scramble.

Pol Tarrés

“You never know what can happen in this race because you don’t know if it will rain or not, but luckily this year it was good weather for us and we decided to push as much as we can and make a strong strategy.

“Kevin decided to stop on Checkpoint 1 just to support me and be on my side. He was showing me better lines and was overall a big help for me.

“I started really well, and one of the most important things in Erzberg is the start. I tried to manage the race in a good way, not to push too hard too early to save some energy for the end.

“I got to Checkpoint 16 and realised I was really close to the big bike record, so once I got there, I said okay, now we have to go for more.

“I don’t know how I fought until the end, but we arrived at Checkpoint 19. It’s impossible to describe how proud I am of that and for all of the hard work of the Trece Racing Society team.

“The bike was also incredible. We pushed it to its limits all the time, and what it was able to do throughout the race was amazing.”

Pol Tarrés and the Trece Racing Society crew celebrate after taking the Yamaha Ténéré 700 to Checkpoint 19 at the 2026 Red Bull Erzbergrodeo.