Even with their reorganisation over the spring, Kove Moto was not going to miss a beat when the 2024 Taklimakan Rally rolled around. Neels Theric and Deng Liansong, the remaining members of the factory team, won nearly all of the nine bike stages with the former claiming six en route to his first career rally raid win.
Theric, a factory rider for Kove since 2023 who has competed in the World Rally-Raid Championship, set the tone early by winning three of the first four stages (Stage #2 was cancelled for bikes after many competitors struggled on the first day) before Liansong had his time in the spotlight. The victory is the first in an major rally for Kove, whose CEO Zhang Xue departed in March and prompted a restructuring of the company; five riders raced a Kove 450 Rally, with Theric and Liansong on the new 450 Rally EX.
Off-road legend Robby Gordon and his son Max Gordon returned to China to compete in the T3 class with their burgeoning SPEED UTV brand. Max was the fastest in the Prologue and ran top ten in the category before rolling into a ditch in Stage #9. 2023 T1.2 winner Tao Pengfei pulled him out and he was unharmed, though his race was rendered null. The elder Gordon finished ninth in T3.
“The Taklimakan is very similar to a Dakar,” said Robby, a Dakar veteran. “Stages #1, #2, and #3 were were very, very, very tough. Last couple of stages really fit our vehicle. This is more of Arizona-, California-style riding. The first three days were very silty and very, very deep soft sand; I think the first three stages of the Taklimakan was tougher than the Dakar. The last couple stages were pretty easy, was kind of cool with the ice and the snow yesterday.
“Unfortunately, we got all the cars really muddy and dirty before the final special, but besides that, it was some great terrain up there, some great villages up on top of the hill. That was a lot of fun. I think it’s a good run for us. We’re very, very happy with with our result. It’s great that [the rally] has twenty years going. We’re excited to be part of it. I look forward to come back next year and competing. I think we’ll bring a big car.”
T1+, the highest subcategory in rally raid, swept the top five and occupied seven of the top ten spots. Wei Han notched his fourth Taklimakan triumph in a Red-Lined REVO, a new T1+ car introduced in late 2023; Wei has a partnership with manufacturer Red-Lined Motorsport, which entailed building a new T1+ for the 2024 Dakar in January. Sun Ping, a fellow Dakar competitor, was runner-up in a Prodrive Hunter ahead of a fleet of JJ3 cars. Unlike the foreign Prodrive and Red-Lined brands, the JJ3 is built in China by JJsport.
“This is a major win for us as a manufacturer and a particularly rewarding one. Our REVO T1+ V8 won in a super competitive field of Ultimate rally raid cars, which included 22 T1+ machines from most of the leading international manufacturers,” commented Red-Lined boss Terence Marsh. “The Taklimakan Rally is regarded as the second biggest rally raid race in the world after the Dakar, so a massive shout-out once again to Wei Han and his HanWei Motorsport team on what is a truly incredible achievement. We are extremely proud, to say the very least.”
JJ3 driver Tao Yongming briefly took the overall lead with a Stage #3 win before losing it back to Wei the next day, the latter winning despite getting stuck thrice and having to drive without a clutch. The CR6 of Zhang Huijun won Stage #9; Century Racing, another international rally raid manufacturer, also sent three of their premier CR7 T1+ cars, with Liu Yatuan scoring a top ten.
The race spanned 4,377.5 kilometres from Kashgar to Aksu. Stage #6 was cancelled due to massive sandstorms. The day before was the longest leg distance-wise at nearly 700 km as it ran along the Keriya River, while the final day was only 23.35 km in terms of timed sections as Wei and Theric iced their victories.
“There was no suspense in this stage,” Wei stated about the final leg, “but I think the biggest charm of cross-country racing is that it is always full of unknowns until the last one, so we still had to be very careful to complete the last stage today.”
Stage winners
| Stage | Start | Finish | Selective Section Distance | Total Distance | Car Winner | Bike Winner | Date |
| 1 | Kashir | Maigaiti | 150.66 km | 397.97 km | Wei Han | Neels Theric | 21 May |
| 2 | Maigaiti | Maigaiti | 200.55 km | 204.26 km | Wei Han | N/A | 22 May |
| 3 | Maigaiti | Maigaiti | 283.04 km | 285.86 km | Tao Yongming | Li Hua | 23 May |
| 4 | Maigaiti | Moyu County | 373.37 km | 549 km | Wei Han | Neels Theric | 25 May |
| 5 | Keriya River | Keriya River | 288.31 km | 697.51 km | Su Haotian | Neels Theric | 26 May |
| 6 | Wuqiao County | Wuqiao County | 285.91 km | 642 km | N/A | N/A | 27 May |
| 7 | Hotan | Aksu City | 122.98 km | 589.73 km | Wei Han | Deng Liansong | 29 May |
| 8 | Aksu City | Aksu City | 219.56 km | 532.07 km | Zhang Huijun | Deng Liansong | 30 May |
| 9 | Aksu City | Wensu Grand Canyon | 200.18 km | 335.86 km | Zhang Huijun | Neels Theric | 31 May |
| 10 | Wensu Grand Canyon | Aksu City | 23.35 km | 91.83 km | Zhang Guoyu | Neels Theric | 1 June |
Class winners
| Class | Number | Competitor | Team | Total Time |
| Bike | 1 | Neels Theric | Kove Moto | 26:17:30 |
| T1+ | 117 | Han Wei | HanWei Motorsport | 25:52:07 |
| T1.1 | 102 | Liu Yangui | Shanxi Yunxiang Racing | 29:06:58 |
| T1.2 | 162 | Ma Yuan | Qinhuangdao Brothers Racing Team | 28:07:45 |
| T2 | 252 | Uritunasheng | Chery Racing Team | 105:50:16 |
| T3 | 110 | Wu Zhenxuan | Bell Lubricants UK Pole Sports Racing Team | 34:53:31 |
Final results
Car
| Finish | Number | Driver | Co-Driver | Team | Vehicle | Class | Total Time |
| 1 | 117 | Han Wei | Ma Li | HanWei Motorsport | Red-Lined REVO T1+ | T1+ | 25:52:07 |
| 2 | 106 | Sun Ping | Min Liao | YunXiang Racing | Prodrive Hunter | T1+ | 26:10:08 |
| 3 | 128 | Fan Gaoxiang | Yue Caillei | Qian’an Jiujiang Auto and Motorcycle Sports Club | JJ3 T1+ | T1+ | 26:53:21 |
| 4 | 132 | Tao Yongming | Shen Xin | Qian’an Jiujiang Auto and Motorcycle Sports Club | JJ3 T1+ | T1+ | 27:08:01 |
| 5 | 127 | Lu Binglong | Gao Zhenwei | Duonai Shock Absorber Fleet | JJ3 T1+ | T1+ | 27:23:16 |
| 6 | 162 | Ma Yuan | TianYu | Qinhuangdao Brothers Racing Team | Hard Tiger Racing EVO3 | T1.2 | 28:07:45 |
| 7 | 120 | Zhang Huijun | Peng Yibo | Chifeng Mingyuan Industrial CR6 Racing eam | Century CR6 | T1.2 | 28:19:37 |
| 8 | 105 | Liu Yatuan | Liu Sheng | CR7 Racing Team | Century CR7 | T1+ | 28L29:59 |
| 9 | 102 | Liu Yangui | Fu Xinming | YunXiang Racing | YunXiang Racing 4WD | T1.1 | 29:06:58 |
| 10 | 111 | Jiairong | Pan Hongyu | YunXiang Racing | Prodrive Hunter | T1+ | 29:20:10 |
| 11 | 175 | Zhang Dejin | Chen Qingkai | Heilongjiang Longjia Xianyue Rally TEam | Century CR6 | T1.2 | 29:55:37 |
| 12 | 163 | Pan Jingbo | Pang Zhiwang | K-Man DO Wheel Hard Tiger Racing Team | Hard Tiger Racing EVO3 | T1.2 | 30:30:33 |
| 13 | 170 | Song Kun | Guo Jun | Kunming Keden Group Eagle Racing Team | Eagle Racing 2WD | T1.2 | 30:54:17 |
| 14 | 119 | Wang Mingnai | Du Xuanyi | Chifeng Mingyuan Industrial CR6 Racing eam | Century CR6 | T1.2 | 31:02:44 |
| 15 | 107 | Ji Yunliang | Sha He | YunXiang Racing | YunXiang Racing 2WD | T1.2 | 31:16:09 |
| 16 | 161 | Wang Peng | Liu Yan | Qinhuangdao Brothers Racing Team | Hard Tiger Racing EVO3 | T1.2 | 32:57:28 |
| 17 | 173 | Li Xinyu | Wang Yirong | Chengde Lei Feng Songpo Xiaofengxian Hotel Racing Team | Century CR6 | T1.2 | 33:51:35 |
| 18 | 165 | Shen Shenglei | Wang Benyou | K-Man DO Wheel Hard Tiger Racing Team | Hard Tiger Racing EVO3 | T1.2 | 34:17:44 |
| 19 | 156 | Zhang Peng | Tong Zhenrong | CR7 Racing Team | Century CR7 | T1+ | 34:43:21 |
| 20 | 110 | Wu Zhenxuan | Yao Bin | British Bell Lubricants Extreme Sports Team | Can-Am Maverick X3 | T3 | 34:53:31 |
| 21 | 307 | Wang Qingxi | Guo Feng | British Bell Lubricants Extreme Sports Team | Can-Am Maverick X3 | T3 | 27:32:57 |
| 22 | 113 | Fei Wei | Yao Yong | Xinjiang Bayi Steel Team | Toyota Hilux | T1.1 | 37:37:40 |
| 23 | 310 | Niu Yuehua | Zhang Mozhen | Niu Hong Hong Team | Can-Am Maverick X3 | T3 | 38:41:53 |
| 24 | 137 | Lin Jie | Yang Ying | Xinjiang Bayi Steel Team | Toyota Hilux | T1.1 | 38:44:58 |
| 25 | 160 | Sun Hao | Wang Dongdong | RZOIL Chengde Lei Feng Long Xing Tianxia Rally Team | Dragon Racing 4WD | T1.1 | 39:40:30 |
| 26 | 157 | Zheng Weijun | Ma Son | Shanxi Crossborder Racing Club | Toyota Hilux | T1+ | 46:46:26 |
| 27 | 185 | Wang Guorui | Wang Xiaofeng | Shandong Longmai Racing Team | SMG HW2021 | T1.2 | 50:29:48 |
| 28 | 101 | Pu Yungang | Ma Wenke | YunXiang Racing | YunXiang Racing 2WD | T1.2 | 51:10:50 |
| 29 | 190 | Li Changbin | Feng Congbiao | Tangshan Mantuyou Modified Duonai Shock Absorber Fleet | Trophy Truck 2WD | T1.3 | 53:50:42 |
| 30 | 308 | Li Yu | Miao Jinhua | Shaanxi Shabao Cross-Country Club | Can-Am Maverick X3 | T3 | 54:58:04 |
| 31 | 131 | Ou Zhibin | Yu Zeshun | Duonai Shock Absorber Fleet | Jiujiang Racing 2WD | T1+ | 55:38:58 |
| 32 | 108 | Zhu Guanghai | Liu Jian | YunXiang Racing | YunXiang Racing 2WD | T1.2 | 56:42:50 |
| 33 | 138 | Song Xiaolong | Weng Zhiqiang | Xinjiang Bayi Steel Team | Mitsubishi 4WD | T1.1 | 57:06:29 |
| 34 | 321 | Deng Rengui | Fan Lijun | Jilin Zhongchi Logistics Co., Ltd. Team | Can-Am Maverick X3 | T3 | 57:37:49 |
| 35 | 121 | Wang Wenlin | Liu Zhigang | Chongqing Zhongqi Off-Road Ningxia Southern Mall Racing Team | Eagle Racing 2WD | T1.2 | 58:25:10 |
| 36 | 168 | Jia Hai | Yuan Bin | Chongqing Zhongqi Off-Road Ningxia Southern Mall Racing Team | Eagle Racing 2WD | T1.2 | 58:26:17 |
| 37 | 115 | Zhang Guoyu | Li Pengcheng | YunXiang Racing | YunXiang Racing 2WD | T1.2 | 60:08:32 |
| 38 | 118 | Qiao Xiaohua | Wu Qi | HanWei Motorsport | SMG HW2021 | T1.2 | 61:26:47 |
| 39 | 150 | Zuo Xiaobing | Qu Shanshun | Xinjiang Bayi Steel Team | Toyota Tacoma | T1.1 | 61:41:52 |
| 40 | 191 | Wang Xiuliang | Zhang Hailong | Tangshan Mantuyou Modified Duonai Shock Absorber Fleet | Toyota Pickup | T1+ | 61:58:46 |
| 41 | 311 | Ji Yanan | Bai Zhonghua | Qujing Tianfuyuan Off-Road Vehicle Club | Can-Am Maverick X3 | T3 | 62:47:12 |
| 42 | 129 | Zhao Yuqiao | Gui Haibo | Qian’an Jiujiang Auto and Motorcycle Sports Club | JJ3 T1+ | T1+ | 64:20:07 |
| 43 | 139 | Zhang Tianhua | Lian Junjie | Xinjiang Bayi Steel Team | Toyota Tacoma | T1.1 | 67:33:22 |
| 44 | 166 | Zhang Lijing | Zhong Shixin | K-Man DO Wheel Hard Tiger Racing Team | Hard Tiger Racing EVO3 | T1.2 | 69:41:10 |
| 45 | 133 | Sun Xiangyan | Ma Xin | Qian’an Jiujiang Auto and Motorcycle Sports Club | JJ3 T1+ | T1+ | 72:52:54 |
| 46 | 183 | Wu Xiang | Li Runpu | Sand Lizard Shock Absorber Fleet | SMG HW2021 | T1.2 | 74:#6:08 |
| 47 | 309 | Ding Yuanmeng | Liu Yuan | Niu Hong Hong Team | Can-Am Maverick X3 | T3 | 74:48:01 |
| 48 | 172 | Wu Qihui | Zhang Lu | Chengde Lei Feng Songpo Xiaofengxian Hotel Racing Team | Century CR6 | T1.2 | 76:29:14 |
| 49 | 180 | Zhang Libin | Xie Liang | Kashgar Xinjintai Racing Team | Toyota Hilux | T1+ | 80:50:48 |
| 50 | 322 | Uli Jimuren | Zhang Xingbao | Hulunbuir Canglang White Deer Racing Team | Can-Am Maverick X3 | T3 | 82:00:05 |
| 51 | 152 | Huang Weizhi | Fu Qiang | JAC Pickup Team | JAC | T1.1 | 83:01:22 |
| 52 | 116 | Liu Feilong | Wang Zengdle | YunXiang Racing | Prodrive Hunter | T1+ | 87:49:38 |
| 53 | 176 | Wang Botong | Miao Zhijun | Henan Baitong Rally Team | Jiujiang Racing 2WD | T1.2 | 88:13:07 |
| 54 | 151 | Peng Furen | Yang Wei | Qujing Tianfuyuan Off-Road Vehicle Club | Toyota Hilux | T1.1 | 91:53:47 |
| 55 | 188 | Jian Le | Liu Jintao | Beijing Daxing District Master Emergency Rally Team | RJ Racing T1+ | T1+ | 94:25:19 |
| 56 | 192 | Wang Jiefeng | Yang Jun | Shaanxi Shabao Cross-Country Club | Toyota Hilux | T1+ | 96:36:40 |
| 57 | 301 | Robby Gordon | Joanna Li | Black Bear Tire SPEED UTV Team | SPEED UTV El Diablo | T3 | 100:10:38 |
| 58 | 186 | Tao Pengfei | Wang Haiyang | Chery Racing Team | Chery 4WD | T1.1 | 101:15:26 |
| 59 | 171 | Su Haotian | Wang Yicheng | Kunming Kedeng Group Xiongying Racing Team | Xiongying Racing 2WD | T1.2 | 102:20:57 |
| 60 | 252 | Uritunasheng | Tu Jianchun | Chery Racing Team | Chery 4WD | T2.1 | 105:50:16 |
| 61 | 179 | Zai Yong | Liu Yan | Aralta Desert Team | Toyota Land Cruiser | T1.1 | 109:23:48 |
| 62 | 158 | Hu Guohua | Kuang Jingen | RZOIL Chengde Lei Feng Long Xing Tianxia Rally Team | Dragon Racing 4WD | T1.1 | 110:42:12 |
| 63 | 159 | Cheng Bing | He Wei | Yadilongxingtianxia Rally Team | Dragon Racing 4WD | T1.1 | 114:53:28 |
| 64 | 189 | Zhang Xuefeng | Chen Limin | Beijing Daxing District Master Emergency Rally Team | RJ Racing T1+ | T1+ | 116:49:25 |
| 65 | 302 | Max Gordon | Zhao Xilai | Black Bear Tire SPEED UTV Team | SPEED UTV El Diablo | T3 | 117:37:17 |
| 66 | 167 | Yang Hongbing | Jia Jun | China Automobile Off-Road Ningxia Southern Mall Racing Team | Xiongying Racing 2WD | T1.2 | 120:43:56 |
| 67 | 303 | Wang Xiang | Yang Tao | Black Bear Tire SPEED UTV Team | SPEED UTV El Diablo | T3 | 136:42:37 |
| 68 | 256 | Meng Bin | Huang Zhifeng | Beijing Motorcade | BAIC BJ40C | T2.1 | 143:31:28 |
| 69 | 130 | Lin Dewei | Wang Yang | Duonai Shock Absorber Fleet | JJ3 T1+ | T1+ | 146:37:15 |
| 70 | 187 | Ji Dedong | Gao Wanqiang | Dalian Jiuxing Mechanical Off-Road Team | Toyota Hilux | T1.1 | 146:38:53 |
| 71 | 255 | Hu Hongde | Wang Ping | Beijing Automotive Team | BAIC BJ40C | T2.1 | 150:37:52 |
| 72 | 253 | Chen Zhen | Zhao Kai | Beijing Motorcade | BAIC BJ40C | T2.1 | 150:59:53 |
| 73 | 251 | Hou Hongning | Xiao Heren | Chery Racing Team | Chery Tiggo 8 | T2.1 | 151:21:40 |
| 74 | 155 | Pan Dong | Gao Hui | Wuhan Dongsheng Speed Racing Team | Toyota Hilux | T1.1 | 151:43:01 |
| 75 | 193 | Li Jianmin | Yang Hao | Shandong Longmai Racing Team | SMG HW2021 | T1.2 | 220:47:49 |
| 76 | 122 | Liu Kun | Xing Xinjian | Shandong Longmai Racing Team | YunXiang Racing 2WD | T1.2 | 299:24:00 |
| DNF | 104 | Wang Shilin | Tian Le | Henan Baitong Rally Team | JJ3 T1+ | T1+ | DNF |
| DNF | 112 | Zhang Ming | Qin Xu | YunXiang Racing | Prodrive Hunter | T1+ | DNF |
| DNF | 123 | Chen Feng | Zhou Yuande | YunXiang Racing | Dragon Racing 4WD | T1.1 | DNF |
| DNF | 177 | Liu Zhongyuan | Bai Lu | RZOIL Chengde Lei Feng Long Xing Tianxia Rally Team | Truck 2WD | T1.3 | DNF |
| DNF | 181 | Li Dazhi | Wang Xianchen | Qian’an Jiujiang Auto and Motorcycle Sports Club | SMG HW2021 | T1.2 | DNF |
Bike
| Finish | Number | Rider | Team | Bike | Time |
| 1 | 1 | Neels Theric | Kove Moto | Kove 450 Rally EX | 26:17:30 |
| 2 | 6 | Abbas Ghapal | Sminger Racing Team | Yamaha WR450F | 29:35:11 |
| 3 | 3 | Fang Mingji | Sipson Rally Team | Kove 450 Rally | 30:21:51 |
| 4 | 10 | Guanqigesu Rong | Guyue Rally Team | KTM 450 Rally | 30:49:57 |
| 5 | 20 | Yuan Bo | Stay Away from Road Convoys | KTM 450 Rally | 32:11:50 |
| 6 | 62 | Zhou He | Panda Racing Team | Qianjiang QJMotor ATV 1000 | 35:43:23 |
| 7 | 11 | Dong Chao | American Ma Yuefeng Rally Team | KTM 450 Rally | 39:29:35 |
| 8 | 2 | Deng Liansong | Kove Moto | Kove 450 Rally EX | 51:52:19 |
| 9 | 23 | Purevdorj Murun | Panda Racing Team | KTM 450 Rally Replica | 57:42:18 |
| 10 | 7 | Chen Yao | Sminger Racing Team | KTM 450 Rally | 58:54:34 |
| 11 | 8 | Ma Weixiao | Guyue Rally Team | KTM 450 Rally | 59:26:23 |
| 12 | 17 | Li Hua | Panda Racing Team | KTM 450 EXC | 71:45:32 |
| 13 | 5 | Fang Xiangliang | Sipson Rally Team | Kove 450 Rally EX | 78:03:46 |
| 14 | 15 | Tang Yanghu | MOTOREX-KTM Knight Academy Team | KTM 450 EXC | 83:27:39 |
| 15 | 18 | Baatar Baltur | Panda Racing Team | KTM 450 Rally | 120:15:23 |
| 16 | 12 | Li Jian | MOTOREX-KTM Knight Academy Team | KTM 450 EXC | 124:18:17 |
| 17 | 16 | Li Yiyao | Stay Away from Road Convoys | KTM 450 EXC | 150:21:44 |
| 18 | 13 | Lian Huan | MOTOREX-KTM Knight Academy Team | KTM 450 EXC | 152:17:52 |
| 19 | 22 | Si Kai | Sujiang Feitie Rally Team | KTM 450 EXC | 152:47:42 |
| DNF | 9 | Hai La | Kove Moto | Kove 450 Rally | DNF |