Battling British rider Todd Kellett – Drag’on Yamaha heads to the northern coast of France this coming weekend (26-27 October) for round three of the 2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup – Ronde des Sables de Loon-Plage – fully focussed on maintaining his unbeaten record this year and continuing the defence of his title.
The twenty-seven-year-old won the opening two rounds of the series – the world-famous Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais in France and the Enduro del Verano in Argentina – in February to open up a commanding seventeen-point lead at the top of the premier Moto category, but in such an unforgiving and unpredictable sport the smallest mistake can have a huge impact and everything could change over the course of Sunday’s main two-and-a-half-hour race.
Situated midway between Calais and Dunkirk on the shores of the English Channel, Loon Plage is notoriously tough with its twisting and compact seven-kilometre course providing a very different set of challenges for competitors compared to the more famous Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais that is staged just one-hundred kilometres further along the rugged coastline.
After finishing second and fourth at the opening two events, former top-flight Motocross racer Lars van Terkel – Honda from the Netherlands sits second, just one point ahead of French sand specialist Maxime Sot – GASGAS who has so far been extremely consistent this season with two third-placed finishes to his name.
After missing the podium by one position at the opening round, France’s Jeremy Hauquier – Honda, who sits in fourth in the standings, will be looking to make amends and do not discount Camille Chapeliere – GASGAS who, after a disappointing result at round one, dragged himself back into contention with second in Argentina.
Winner of last season’s Monte Gordo Sand Experience in Portugal, Belgian Yentel Martens – Honda is another rider with his sights set on the podium along with former Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais winner Miko Potisek – Drag’on Yamaha from France who is beginning his comeback following major surgery for a serious arm injury.
The fight for supremacy in the Moto Women class is expected to come down to a two-rider battle between Belgium’s unbeaten series leader Amandine Verstappen – Yamaha and defending champion Mathilde Denis – Honda from France who has followed her rival across the finish line at both opening events.
With two second-placed finishes at the opening rounds, France’s defending champion Arnaud Besnier leads the Moto Veteran class, but there is a question mark hanging over whether he will compete this weekend which could leave the door open for his compatriot Mickael De Souza – KTM to retake the series lead.
Leading the Quad class with maximum points, French rider Pablo Violet – Yamaha who was second last season starts as one of the favourites, but he will be forced to fight to maintain his advantage with strong challenges expected from his compatriots Michel Trannin – Yamaha, the defending champion, and Axel Dutrie – Yamaha who are second and third. Dutrie also heads the Quad Veteran standings.
In the Quad Women class it is Nathanaelle Abgrall – Yamaha who leads while Raphael Dutot tops the Quad Junior category.
Maxime Miet – KTM leads Moto Junior 1 while Paolo Maschio – Kawasaki is the rider to beat in Moto Junior 2. Ema Satabin – GASGAS leads Moto Junior 1 Women.
Ronde des Sables de Loon Plage, round three of the 2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup, takes place on 26-27 October. Followers of the FIM Sand Races World Cup can stay completely up to date with all the latest news through FIM social media platforms on Facebook and Instagram and via the Sportity app using the password FIMSandRaces.
By using the tag #FIMSandRaces, fans will also be able to interact on social media with riders and like-minded enthusiasts.
To view the full 2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup calendar along with more information click here
Words by FIM Sand Races World Cup – Images by
