From Penafiel to Portimão there were 906,5 kilometers «of adventure and camaraderie» that brought together more than 300 participants in yet another Portugal of Lés-a-Lés Off-Road, which ended in the Algarve this Wednesday, October 4th.
From the largest and most modern trails on the market to unlikely scooters, including some small-displacement models that left marks in the history of national motorcycling, there was an openness for everyone to participate.
Rodolfo Sampaio, for example, after doing the 'road' Lés-a-Lés with a Honda Z50 with a 'chopper' mount, decided to keep the bar high and debut a DT50 in the Off-Road variant. «A completely unknown motorcycle, which I had never ridden before, made for a super fun adventure and which did not pose the slightest problem. Just fill in the gas, add oil to the autolube and… that’s it.”
The last stage, which took place from Estremoz (314 kilometres), offered passage through large landscapes of the Alentejo plains, until reaching the variety of paths in the Algarve mountains.
Madalena Casanova, the youngest participant, fulfilled her dream of doing the Portugal from Lés-a-Lés Off-Road.
«This Lés-a-Lés, tougher than the road one, is true, but it also gives much more enjoyment in terms of overcoming, in terms of conquest», he said. At the controls of a Yamaha DT125 LC, which was “born” before her, Madalena only regrets “not having made better preparation, both physically and on the bike, which would have allowed her to ride more freely and with more fun”.
«But the important thing was to finish the bike correctly. Well… sort of! It was necessary to re-tighten some parts, especially after some small falls, on average two per day, and all on the right side. At least the damage was concentrated,” he concluded.
As part of the “Reforest Portugal de Lés-a-Lés” a stone pine was also planted in the recreational space of the Coca Maravilhas Basic School and a “class” was given by members of the FMP Motorcycle Tourism Commission with the support of teachers, members of the Municipal Council of Portimão and the Moto Clube de Portimão to explain the importance of native species in revitalizing the forest.
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