With his second successive Moto title secured the previous weekend, Britain’s Todd Kellett – Drag’on Yamaha dominated the sixth and final round of the 2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup – the Ronde des Sables Hossegor Capbreton – with a true champion’s performance in south-west France to end the season with a maximum total of one-hundred-and-fifty points.
The twenty-seven-year-old’s starts have been a key factor in his commanding results this season, but for once he failed to streak into an immediate lead and instead ended the opening lap in twenty-first after falling in the opening turn as home hero Jérémy Hauquier – Yamaha led Junior Bal – Husqvarna with Valentin Madoulaud – Yamaha the third of the series’ registered riders across the line in fifth.
However, by the end of lap two Kellett was up to eighth – just over eight seconds behind Hauquier – and on the following lap he carved his way to the front where he remained until the chequered flag came out to signal the end of the two-and-a-half-hour race.
READ MORE: King Kellett retains his FIM Sand Races World Cup title with Monte Gordo Sand Race double – Race Report
“This race was really challenging – it’s a very demanding race,” said Kellett. “Unfortunately, I crashed in the first corner, but I managed to fight my way through the traffic quite quickly and found a really good rhythm. To take twenty-five points in every race this year is incredible and what a fantastic place to finish the series. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Having picked up maximum points at the Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais, the Enduro del Verano in Argentina, the Ronde des Sables de Loon-Plage, Italy’s Bibione Sand Storm and the Monte Gordo Sand Race in Portugal, Kellett appeared to have saved his best form until last. Only one other rider – Cyril Genot – Honda, who is not registered for the series – managed to match his total of twenty-four laps and even then he was over seven-and-a-half minutes behind.
Putting in a strong charge in the final thirty minutes, Joey Nuques – Yamaha was next best of the registered riders, forcing his way through to fourth overall just ahead of Hauquier whose fifth-placed finish secured second in the points ahead of Maxime Sot – Fantic who ended the day seventh. Belgian Yentel Martens – Fantic claimed tenth, Valentin Madoulaud – Yamaha eleventh and Camille Chapeliere – KTM twelfth.
Leading home the Moto Women competitors as she hadalready done on five occasions this season, Belgium’s Amandine Verstappen – Yamaha was a hard-fought ninetieth, one lap and seventy-three positions ahead of former champion Mathilde Denis – Yamaha.
In the fiercely-contested Moto Veterans class Gregory Deleu – Fantic clinched the crown with his fifteen-lap total placing him three laps ahead of Andre Vossius – Yamaha with Dominique Mieuzet – Honda completing ten laps to secure second in the series.
The third rider to end the season with maximum points, eighteen-year-old Paolo Maschio – Kawasaki completed his clean sweep of the Moto Junior 2 class registered riders ahead of Leopold Magnien – Husqvarna who was third today behind Evan Demeester – GASGAS. In Moto Junior 1 Matheo Gerat – Yamaha signed off on top to take the title and Moto Junior 1 Women champion Ema Satabin – GASGAS claimed her fourth win of the campaign.
Racing the previous day, home hero Felix Faure – Honda had already clinched the Moto Vintage title, but he ended the season in style with a winning margin of almost two minutes over Sebastien Antony – KTM.
Words by FIM – Images courtesy of Frederik Herregods Photography
