Trail 70, a motorcycle shop in Vesoul, celebrated its 50th anniversary this weekend. Stéphane Peterhansel, whom the shop sponsored early in his career, decided to swing by the shop to join in the festivities. Besides an autograph session and meet-and-greet, the 14-time Dakar Rally champion reunited with his Yamaha YZE850T.

The YZE850T, carrying on the Super Ténéré moniker, was the final prototype rally motorcycle developed by the Japanese manufacturer before transitioning to production-based bikes under new regulations. Based on the YZE750T, it features an 850cc twin-cylinder, five-valve engine that produces over 100 horsepower, a 64-liter fuel tank.

Peterhansel raced the YZE850T to victory at the 1992 Paris–Cape Town Rally and 1993 Paris–Dakar, completing a three-peat. He had won his first Dakar in 1991 with the YZE750T.

Additional victories came in 1995, 1997, and 1998 all with the YZE850T, giving Peterhansel six on bikes. The model also claimed the 1996 Dakar with Edi Orioli. The Super Ténéré name is currently used for a 1200cc adventure bike.

1998 was his final Dakar on two wheels before switching to four, a move that earned him eight more titles. While he still races a car and is set to debut Land Rover’s new Dakar program in 2026, Peterhansel remained close with Yamaha and has been returning to his bike roots as of late. Instead of the 2025 Dakar, he opted to do some stages of the Africa Eco Race on a Ténéré 700 and also dabbled a bit in the Carta Rallye as part of the Ténéré Spirit Experience.

Now, going through memory lane has brought him back to his hometown of Vesoul. While Peterhansel no longer lives in the eastern French town, his family and kids still do and he occasionally returns.

Trail 70 is owned by Joel Corroy, who was Peterhansel’s first racing sponsor.

“These are ties that go back more than forty years,” Peterhansel told L’Est Républicain. “When I started riding, when I wasn’t even ten years old old, my father bought me my first motorcycle. He was the one who helped me financially and took me to races. After that, Joel Corroy saw I probably had good qualities and he started to help us as a sponsor and as a patron.

“In fact, he was the first person outside of my family to give me a helping hand, allowing me to get my foot in the door to start a very long career.”

Featured image credit: Michel Martin