Considered one of the toughest beach races on the planet, Todd Kellett – Drag’on Yamaha underlined his current status as the world’s leading sand specialist with a clear and commanding victory at today’s Enduropale du Touquet.
The twenty-five-year-old started the three-hour epic as one of the favourites and when his team-mate and reigning champion Milko Potisek went out with a mechanical problem after just three laps the British rider looked in complete control as he raced to victory and with it an early lead in the inaugural FIM Sand Races World Cup.
In front of a crowd numbering an incredible three-hundred-and fifty-thousand spectators, Kellett’s sixteen laps of the arduous – and in places torturous – thirteen-kilometre course on the northern coast of France saw him come home just over two-and-a-half minutes in front of Belgium’s Cyril Genot – SR Honda.
Kellett’s victory at the forty-seventh edition of the Enduropale du Touquet represents only the second time a British rider has triumphed there and he follows in the footsteps of former FIM Motocross and Enduro World Championship racer Nathan Watson who claimed an historic win in 2019.
“I am absolutely over the moon to get this win and especially to be in the lead of the FIM Sand Races World Cup,” said Kellett. “I have worked so hard for the last five years for this and I can’t thank my team enough. This is the best race in the world.”
With Potisek’s dream of a fourth Enduropale du Touquet win ending prematurely, Kellett took control of the race and simply refused to relax his grip. Already crowned the Champion de France des Sables after winning four of the five rounds, chased by a field of almost thirteen-hundred competitors the former top-flight motocross rider turned sand specialist put on a masterclass.
By half-distance he was two minutes and sixteen seconds clear of the chasing pack after completing eight laps and while the remaining podium positions remained in doubt for the final hour with Genot charging ahead of his compatriot Yentel Martens – Honda and Dutchman Lars Van Berkel – SR Honda following a big push in the closing stages, Kellett rode with his head and managed the gap back to second.
With two laps to go Genot had reduced the deficit to around a minute and Richard Fura – Honda passed Van Berkel for fourth before Kellett picked up the pace to secure a famous victory.
Belgium’s Amandine Verstappen came out on top of the battle to be the highest placed Women‘s rider, finishing nearly seven minutes ahead of Marine Hughes from France with her compatriot Mathilde Denis claiming third spot amongst the female competitors.
The focus now shifts to South America for the Enduro del Verano in Argentina – regarded as the premier event of its kind in Latin America – on 24-26 February before the series signs off in December on Monte Gordo Beach in Portugal’s Algarve region.
With six riders from today’s top-ten registered for the inaugural FIM Sand Races World Cup it is all systems go for this exciting new series.
Don't miss the Quad race tomorrow at 14h15!
Final classification FIM Sand Races World Cup - Moto - Enduropale du Touquet (FRA) HERE
Live results at https://www.courses-sur-sable.fr/live/
FIM Communications