Kap2Cap
The Project
Kap2Cap was a somewhat crazy project dreamed up by Laurent Cochet. The plan was to travel aboard the Yamaha Ténéré 700 from the North Cape (NordKapp) in Norway, the northernmost point in Europe, all the way to the Cape of Good Hope at the southernmost tip of South Africa, in aid of the charity Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque. Joined by Amaury Baratin, the dynamic duo crossed 24 countries in just two months, taking time out during the trip to meet children who'd been treated by Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque. Meeting children like Larissa in Togo, Feliciano in Benin and Emmanuel in the Democratic Republic of Congo reminded Laurent and Amaury of the purpose of their expedition and allowed them to recharge their batteries before facing the next challenges that they encountered on the road.
The Mission
The two intrepid adventurers raised significant funds for the Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque charity. Their initial goal was to raise €1 per kilometre to support children requiring surgery to correct heart defects, but they ended up raising almost €90.000 in total with their incredible challenge.
Yamaha, a partner in the project, then decided to raffle Laurent's Ténéré 700, selling 20,000 tickets and raising an additional €100,000 for Mécénat Chirurgie Cardiaque. This sizeable contribution will allow 15 children to benefit from the life-changing treatment offered by the charity as soon as the borders reopen.
The Route
Laurent was joined on the trip by Amaury Baratin and, together, the two adventurers travelled more than 23.000 km, encountering both snow-covered roads and sandy tracks along the way and enduring extremes of temperatures ranging from -30°C at the start to +0°C close to the end.
The Rider
Modern-day adventurer, Laurent Cochet is a former motorcycle journalist, who became a successful video producer. Laurent specializes in long-distance adventures at the handlebars of all types of motorcycles. On his Kap2Cap journey, he was accompanied by his friend, Amaury Baratin, tireless adventurer, seasoned pilot and outstanding mechanic, able to overcome all adversities.
The Bike
For their 23.000 km adventure, Laurent Cochet and Amaury Baratin rode two Ténéré 700 without any major modifications. They added crash bars to protect the bikes in case of a fall, as well as flexible saddlebags that allowed them to bring along video filming equipment. To cross the most remote places in Africa, several accessories have been added : enduro tires, support for the GPS and a tank filter in order to use local gasoline.
