Extreme – MotoHead

Paulin leads in Carta Rallye

admineaserm — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 13:11:28 +0000

The Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team, in partnership with Riders for Health (powered by Two Wheels for Life), suffered from mixed fortunes in the treacherous conditions on Stage 2 at the Carta Rallye in Morocco. It was a Yamaha one-two as Gautier Paulin secured second behind Ténéré Spirit Experience rider Kevin Gallas, while his teammate Alessandro Botturi finished the special in third before being served with one hour and 15 minutes of penalties for missing waypoints that dropped him down to 28th.

After a strong start to proceedings on the opening stage, with Botturi and Paulin finishing in third and fourth, respectively, a few surprises were in store on day two. The route consisted of a 4 km liaison from Icht to the start of a 390 km special, featuring a 93 km transfer, before a short 6km liaison to the bivouac in M’Hamid.

Starting with fast, open trails, the stage became trickier as it ventured into the Saharan dunes, but the toughest part was still to come as the competitors made their way towards Oued Draa. Typically a dry riverbed, heavy rain had made conditions extremely treacherous, with several riders caught off-guard as water levels at some points reached as high as one metre, which ultimately led to the stage being brought to a premature end.

It may have only been the second stage of Paulin’s fledgling rally career, but already the legendary motocross rider has showcased his potential. After a superb start on the opening day, which helped secure a one-two finish in the “Over 450cc” class with his teammate Botturi, he delivered another impressive performance on Stage 2. The Frenchman brought his Ténéré 700 Rally, also making its racing debut at the event, home in an outstanding second place, securing his maiden stage podium in a time of three hours and six seconds, and moving into the lead of the general classification with a three-second advantage.

For his teammate Botturi, it was a frustrating day. The experienced Italian was one of the riders leading out the stage, but he encountered navigational issues due to the special’s tricky nature, which caused him to miss five waypoints. As a result, despite crossing the line in third and completing what would have been a stage podium lockout for the Ténéré, he had 75 minutes added to his time, which demoted him to 28th for the day and 11th overall.

Despite Botturi’s setback, it was a successful day for the team. Ténéré Spirit Experience (TSE) rider Kevin Gallas won the stage in sensational fashion. The German, who previously impressed while racing with TSE, demonstrated his growth and showcased the capabilities of the standard Ténéré by claiming the stage victory with a margin of two minutes and 14 seconds, moving up to fifth overall. TSE rider Nicolas Charlier also delivered a strong performance, finishing in fifth place and securing a podium lockout for Yamaha in the “Over 450cc” category for the second consecutive day, to cement fifth place in the general classification

Next up for the team is Stage 3, a loop stage that includes 10km of liaisons to and from the bivouac in M’Hamid. It features a 183 km special that involves several riverbed crossings, which could complicate matters further if conditions remain wet, along with more of the infamous soft sand and dunes that make the Saharan desert so challenging.

Gautier Paulin – P1 Overall – 6h48m03s
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team
“Today was awesome! I was having a lot of fun before the refuelling point, riding on my own and not making any mistakes. The Ténéré 700 Rally was again amazing, we didn’t change anything with the setup. The suspension, chassis and engine were superb; the bike never missed a beat. We are still working on our fuelling strategy, and I am still learning the digital roadbook navigation, and I am slightly annoyed as after the refuelling, I made a mistake, but the same one that nearly everyone made, and we managed to recover and put the hammer down before we got stuck in the wet conditions. This is where it got really tricky, so we had to find a new route, but then they cancelled the rest of the stage, which was a shame as we were making up time. I am delighted with how things are going so far, and leading my first rally raid is a great experience, but there is still a long way to go.”

Sanders storms to Dakar victory

admineaserm — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 13:33:43 +0000

Red Bull Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders has won the 2025 Dakar Rally, marking KTM’s 20th victory at the iconic event. Claiming his first Dakar victory, Daniel secured five stage victories and led the event from start to finish to win by close to nine minutes. Dakar rookie Edgar Canet delivered a sensational debut, topping the Rally2 category with four stage wins and finishing an impressive eighth in the overall standings.

Luciano Benavides achieved his best-ever Dakar result, finishing fourth after claiming two consecutive stage wins. Despite his early withdrawal, Kevin Benavides showed great determination, delivering strong performances during the first week of racing.

Daniel Sanders dominated the 2025 Dakar Rally, culminating with a sixth-place finish on stage 12’s 61-kilometer, mass-start special that crowned him the overall champion. From the outset, Daniel showcased his speed and skill, winning the prologue, the opening stage and the ultra-tough 48-hour Chrono stage to take an early lead. Claiming two further stage wins on his flawless KTM 450 RALLY and never giving up his overall advantage, Sanders is only the second rider in history to lead the Dakar Rally from start to finish.

Daniel Sanders: “So we have just won the Dakar Rally! It’s a massive accomplishment from myself and the team after a tough year, and I can’t thank everyone enough for the support. It’s been a long journey, and I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone! Now it’s time to kick back and relax after a long two weeks.”

Edgar Canet made a sensational debut as the youngest ever Dakar competitor at just 19 years old, dominating the Rally2 category with four stage wins and defending his lead from the second day to the end of the race. Edgar’s remarkable performance also earned him an eighth-place finish overall, an extraordinary feat on his debut Dakar Rally campaign. Concluding the 2025 edition by placing 13th on stage 12, Canet’s standout overall results include his runner-up finish on stage seven, and third place ranking on the prologue.

Edgar Canet: “We finished the Dakar Rally, we made it! I’m super happy to have got P1 in Rally2, it’s a dream come true, and I am really pleased for the team, too. Now, it’s time to party and celebrate!”

Luciano Benavides delivered an impressive performance at the world’s toughest rally, rounding out the two-week race with a seventh-place result on stage 12 to secure fourth overall – his highest ever Dakar finish. Consistently among the frontrunners, and with two consecutive stage wins, multiple podium finishes, and a career-best overall result, Luciano’s 2025 Dakar campaign was testament to his sheer speed and determination.

Luciano Benavides: “We’ve finished the Dakar and I’m really happy! It’s been a tough two weeks, but I’m pleased with my performance. Of course, I want more but to get two consecutive stage wins means a lot to me. This is also my best Dakar result ever so it’s definitely special. I can’t thank the team enough for all their hard work, and a huge congrats to Daniel on his victory. Nobody expected us to be this strong, but we have proved that we are here to stay.”Returning to the 2025 Dakar after injury was a challenging endeavor for Kevin Benavides, but he approached the race with determination and grit. Benavides powered through the first week of the race, achieving his best result with a 16th place finish on stage four. Ultimately, the physical strain proved too great, and Kevin made the difficult decision to withdraw after the first week to avoid risking further injury and recover in preparation for the rest of the season.

Andreas Hölzl – Rally Team Manager: “That’s the 2025 Dakar done! I’m super happy for Chucky and the rest of the guys, the win is so well deserved. To be the second person ever to lead from the first day to the end is something really special. What we have achieved in a year is unique and we are very proud. I’m happy for the team, for KTM, and we are going to celebrate for sure!”

Pit Beirer – KTM Motorsports Director: “What an incredible victory! Congratulations, Daniel, and thank you to the whole team. From the home base in Mattighofen, who built an incredible motorcycle, to the team at the track, and finally Daniel, who won this Dakar in the most dominant style I have ever seen. Leading from the first day until the last is such a special statement and is so important for KTM as it shows exactly what we stand for – we are back on track and READY TO RACE. This victory is not just for the team and the race department, it’s for the whole company. It shows if we stick together and fight hard with our incredible riders, we can achieve incredible results. Congratulations also to Edgar, one of the best rookies we have seen for a long time, Luciano for being such a stable force, and Kevin, who made an impressive comeback but just needs that little bit more time to rest and heal. This is a super important victory, and we couldn’t have asked for a better start to the season for racing and for everyone at KTM.”

Provisional Results – 2025 Dakar Rally, Stage 121. Michael Docherty (ZAF), KTM, 54:112. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA), Honda, 54:14 +0:033. Tobias Ebster (AUT), KTM, 54:55 +0:444. Tosha Schareina (ESP), Honda, 55:08 +0:575. Stefan Svitko (SVK), KTM, 55:10 +0:59Other KTM6. Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM, 55:18 +1:077. Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 55:18 +1:0713. Edgar Canet (ESP), KTM, 56:38 +2:27

Provisional Standings – 2025 Dakar Rally (after 12 of 12 stages)1. Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM, 53:08:522. Tosha Schareina (ESP), Honda, 53:17:42 +8:503. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA), Honda, 53:23:38 +14:464. Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 53:31:08 +22:165. Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 53:38:42 +29:50Other KTM8. Edgar Canet (ESP), KTM, 54:49:21 +1:40:29

Taddy injured on booby-trapped trail

admineaserm — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 12:10:38 +0000

Former world enduro champion Taddy Blazusiak has been left with horrendous face injuries after riding on a trail that had been sabotaged with wire strung across it near his home in Poland.

He said: “Im posting this to let the entire Off-road community know that there are people out there that are unstable enough to intentionally hurt others just because they hate motorcycles. So here’s what happened to me, riding a trail on the way to my riding spot on Monday I caught a wire that someone intentionally hung across the trail.

“Thankfully somehow I caught it in an angle coming out of a corner so I took it on my right shoulder and between my helmet chin piece and goggles. If that wire had slipped down from the chin piece on to my neck most probably I wouldn’t be writing this post.

“All good here I got stitched up by a plastic surgeon so hoping my face muscles and the scar are going to be OK. I just cant stop thinking what if I would caught it straight on my neck. I cannot understand how someone could do something like this to another person.”

Kellett storms the Dunkirk beach

admineaserm — Sun, 27 Oct 2024 20:31:25 +0000

Defending champion and 2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup series leader in the premier Moto class, Todd Kellett – Drag’on Yamaha claimed maximum points from round three of the series – Ronde des Sables de Loon-Plage – this afternoon, although the twenty-seven-year-old, who led for virtually the full duration of the event, ended the race in second behind Belgian sand specialist Cyril Genot – Honda who is not registered for the series.

The two-and-a-half-hour race was staged on the coast of the English Channel midway between Dunkirk and Calais where Kellett stormed into an early lead in the tough and unforgiving French sand. After claiming outright victory in the Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais in France and the Enduro del Verano in Argentina that got the series under way in February, the British rider was looking to extend his seventeen-point advantage over second-placed Dutchman Lars Van Berkel – Honda.

Staying true to the form book, out of a large contingent of registered riders it was Van Berkel who led the chase and after thirty minutes he had forced his way through to fifth, although by this point Kellett’s advantage over him was more than a minute.

Behind Van Berkel a group of registered riders occupied ninth through to fourteenth with Junior Bal – Husqvarna, who was eleventh in the points at the start of the day, leading fourth-placed Jeremy Hauquier – Yamaha, Yentel Martens – Honda, Tias Callens – Yamaha, Valentin Madoulaud – Yamaha and fifth-placed Camille Chapeliere – KTM.

Frenchman Maxime Sot – Fantic, who was third in the points following third-placed finishes at both opening rounds, was all the way back in forty-third after getting caught up in traffic in the opening laps.

As the race hit the halfway mark, Kellett looked comfortable at the front of the field and although by this point Van Berkel was up to fourth he had slipped to over two-and-a-half minutes behind the leader and while Hauquier was the next registered rider in eighth, he was five minutes adrift of Kellett.

With the seven-kilometre circuit getting increasingly challenging as the race wore on, lap times began to lengthen and on the twenty-second and penultimate lap Genot managed to make a pass stick for the lead. However, in terms of the series standings the Belgian’s last-gasp effort had no effect and Kellett grew his advantage by another five points from Van Berkel who was the second registered rider across the line in third, although he was over six minutes further back.

Finishing two laps down, Hauquier completed the FIM Sand Races World Cup podium ahead of Bal and Callens with Martens, who won the final round of 2023, continuing his comeback from injury in sixth chased by Chapeliere with Sot keeping his slim title hopes alive after charging up to thirteenth as the eighth registered rider home.

“Unfortunately, I’ve been fighting a bit of illness and with fifteen minutes left I was physically drained,” said Kellett. “It’s a shame but now I’ll go back to work for the remainder of the season. I took maximum points so it’s been a good day.”

Another rider starting the day on maximum points, Moto Women leader Amandine Verstappen – Yamaha from Belgium added a third victory to her 2024 record when, despite losing her front brake on lap one, she topped the class as sixteenth registered rider home after her title ambitions had already been boosted when France’s defending champion Mathilde Denis – Honda went out after five laps.

“In the first turn I went down so I ended up racing without a front brake which was tough, especially early on when it’s fast,” she said. “Still, I kept calm—it’s a long race – and I won so I’m really happy.”

With Moto Veteran defending champion and series leader Arnaud Besnier – Honda not competing, his fellow Frenchman Mickael De Souza – Honda led home the class in seventy-eighth to regain the series lead.

Racing earlier in the day, Felix Faure – Honda took a narrow win from Sebastien Antony – KTM in the Moto Vintage class while rising French talent Paolo Maschio – Kawasaki maintained his one-hundred per cent record in the Moto Junior 2 class. In Moto Junior 1 fast female Ema Satabin – GASGAS moved into the series lead when Maxime Miet – KTM exited the race in the early stages.

The series now heads south to Italy for the Bibione Sand Storm 2024 that runs from 1-3 November.

Frederik Herregods Photography

Dakar winner Sunderland calls it a day

admineaserm — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:20:55 +0000

It’s a bittersweet moment for GASGAS as we announce that our rally hero Sam Sunderland has decided to hang up his boots and retire from professional motorcycle racing. Sam’s journey with GASGAS and the company has been super successful, and we’re beyond proud of everything he has achieved with the team.

Joining Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing for the 2022 season, Sam kicked off his stint on the RX 450F with a bang by claiming victory in the 2022 Dakar Rally – the first ever win for GASGAS at the world’s toughest rally-raid. And that was just the beginning! Sam kept the momentum going with stellar performances at each FIM World Rally-Raid Championship round in 2022, ultimately clinching his second world championship title. What a year!

Sam first joined the company back in 2014, and during his time racing for the team he secured no less than two world championships and two Dakar victories, not to mention multiple stage and event wins along the way. Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing couldn’t be more grateful for Sam’s passion, dedication, and sheer awesomeness he brought to every race. Sam will continue working with the team, using his vast experience in a support and development role. Thank you for everything, Sam, we’re already looking forward to working closely together again in the future!

Sam Sunderland: “It is with gratitude, humility, a bit of sadness, but without regret, that I announce my retirement from motorcycle racing after having a career that I dreamed of once upon a time. From winning two world championships to my two Dakar victories, it’s been an incredible run. I would like to thank everyone that has been a part of this chapter and I’m looking forward to staying close to the team and playing a part in supporting their race efforts in the future.”

Andreas Hölzl – Rally Team Manager: “We would like to say a massive thank you to Sam for his time with Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing. I speak for the whole team when I say we’re sad to hear that Sam is retiring from racing, but we completely respect his decision and thank him for everything he has done for us over the years. Beyond being a phenomenal racer, Sam is a fantastic person – always supportive, motivating, and a true team player. He is a huge part of the GASGAS family, and we look forward to working with him again in new and exciting ways in the future.”

Pit Beirer – Motorsports Director: “Sam joined the company back in 2014, and since then his passion, dedication, and results have been exceptional. He not only secured two world championships and two Dakar victories, but he played a massive part in the successes of the whole team. Over the years, our relationship with Sam became stronger and stronger, and with his move to Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing in 2022, he continued to make history. While it’s tough to see Sam go, we respect his decision. I’d like to personally thank Sam for everything he put into the team and wish him well for the future.”

Bolt nails down world title No.4

admineaserm — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 11:37:43 +0000

Stamping his authority on the 2024 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has won his fourth consecutive world title with a dominant ride on home soil in Newcastle, United Kingdom. Enjoying a fairytale ending to an incredible season, the Brit won the seventh and final round of the championship, along with topping the SuperPole hot lap standings, to complete a clean sweep of overall victories on his FE 350.

Growing up just a stone’s throw from the Newcastle Utilita Arena, Billy arrived at his home race as the champion-elect thanks to a 59-point lead. Knowing a win in SuperPole would see him clinch his fourth consecutive world title, Billy attacked the course with all his might on his FE 350.

Linking together what proved to be the perfect lap, the hometown hero topped the timesheets in front of his passionate Newcastle crowd. Immediately celebrating with his Husqvarna Factory Racing team, family, and friends, he then set about capping off an incredible indoor campaign by racing for his seventh Grand Prix victory.

Opting for the favoured outside gate for race one, Billy blasted off the start line on his FE 350 and emerged from the opening rock garden with the holeshot. A small mistake dropped him back to second, but on lap two he put himself back in control of the race lead. Keeping the pace high, the Husqvarna rider went on to win race one by 12 seconds.

From the second row of the grid for race two, Billy tactically set about moving himself up the leaderboard. Up to seventh on lap one, he claimed another four positions within the space of one lap to slot into third. With three minutes to go, Billy had found his way into second on his FE 350 and began pressuring race leader Jonny Walker. Despite an increasingly slippery track, the Husqvarna rider muscled his way past Walker and hung on to claim his second victory of the night.

Determined to end his home round on a high, Billy took the holeshot for race three and set about building a lead. Increasing his advantage in the opening stages, he built up a seven-second gap over Manuel Lettenbichler in second place. However, just when his third victory looked within reach, a crash in the rocks saw Lettenbichler close that gap. Quickly remounting and regrouping, Bolt got back into his high-paced rhythm and pushed ahead to claim his third race win of the night.

Making it three wins from three starts, along with securing the SuperPole hot lap, the Husqvarna Factory Racing star took the overall victory on the night in Newcastle. Making it seven overall wins from seven starts, Billy ended his FIM SuperEnduro World Championship campaign undefeated, while also clinching his fourth consecutive world title indoors.

Billy Bolt: “I’ve always dreamed of racing in front of my hometown. So to come here tonight and not only win but clinch the world championship for a fourth time is mind blowing. I grew up in Newcastle, it’s my home, so I can’t thank everyone enough for coming out like this to support me. I’m glad we’ve been able to put on a show for them too. The track got tougher as the night went on. It was hard not to make a mistake. Overall, it’s been a challenging season, especially with my injury midway, but thanks to my team we’ve won the championship. We’ll celebrate tonight!”

Results – 2024 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship – Round 7, United Kingdom

Prestige Overall
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts
2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 49pts
3. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 47pts
4. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 39pts
5. Will Hoare (Rieju) 32pts

Prestige Race 1
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 11 laps, 7:17.419
2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 11 laps, 7:29.414
3. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 11 laps, 7:34.693

Prestige Race 2
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:01.058
2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 10 laps, 7:03.173
3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:05.164

Prestige Race 3
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 6:57.323
2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 10 laps, 7:03.000
3. Jonny Walker (Beta) 10 laps, 7:09.941

Final Championship Standings
1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 427pts
2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 354pts
3. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 287pts
4. Will Hoare (Rieju) 240pts
5. Mitch Brightmore (GASGAS) 230pts

Bolt dominates Bulgaria SuperEnduro

admineaserm — Sat, 24 Feb 2024 21:12:23 +0000

Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Billy Bolt has dominated the sixth and penultimate round of the FIM SuperEnduro World Championship in Bulgaria. Racing ahead to secure three wins from three starts, along with taking the SuperPole hot lap, Billy recorded his sixth consecutive overall victory of the season on his FE 350. The performance sees him extend his championship lead to a comfortable 59 points with just his home round in Newcastle, United Kingdom remaining next weekend.

Fastest throughout the afternoon’s practice sessions in Sofia, Billy was determined to carry that momentum into the evening’s proceedings when the stadium lights dimmed for the SuperPole hot lap. As the final rider to take to the track, Bolt put down a blisteringly fast time to top the time sheets by almost three seconds.

With all eyes on the start gate for race one, Billy timed his reactions to perfection and grabbed the holeshot on his FE 350. With a clear track in front of him, he immediately got to work on breaking away from the chasing pack. Ticking off each lap without trouble, the Husqvarna rider surged ahead to claim a comfortable race one victory in Sofia.

In race two, Billy opted for a cautious start from the second row of the reversed-grid order. Knowing the course offered plenty of overtaking opportunities, he quickly picked off a number of riders on lap one to slot inside the top 10. Moving into third on lap two, Bolt took control of the race lead before the end of lap four. Piecing together a string of fast laps, before easing off on the final lap, Billy completed race two with a healthy nine-second margin of victory.

Aiming to close out what had so far been a perfect round six, Billy set about stamping his authority on the third and final race in Sofia. Claiming another holeshot on his FE 350, the Husqvarna rider got to work. With racing lines few could match, he opened up a gap of two seconds at the end of lap two and continued to build his advantage. Really enjoying the layout of the course inside the Arena Sofia, Bolt remained unchallenged for the entirety of the race to win by an incredible 29 seconds.

Extending his championship lead to 59 points, the Husqvarna Factory Racing rider enters next weekend’s seventh and final round of the 2024 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship in Newcastle, United Kingdom with a virtual grasp on his fourth consecutive title.

Billy Bolt: “Tonight was a great night. Taking maximum points I couldn’t have really asked for better here. I really enjoyed my riding, and I enjoyed the track a lot. It was wide with plenty of sections for overtaking. I feel like I saved my best for last in race three. Once I got out front, I was able to push hard and really build up a lead. Naturally I’m excited for the final round next weekend in Newcastle. It’s my home race, I grew up beside the stadium, so I can’t wait to put on a show for my home crowd. My championship lead is very healthy, which eases the pressure slightly to take my fourth title in a row.”

Download images from the 2024 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship here.

Results – 2024 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship – Round 6, Bulgaria

Prestige Overall

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 63pts

2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 47pts

3. Will Hoare (Rieju) 37pts

4. Jonny Walker (Beta) 37pts

5. Mitchell Brightmore (GASGAS) 35pts

Prestige Race 1

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:05.416

2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 10 laps, 7:13.233

3. Eddie Karlsson (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:18.016

Prestige Race 2

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 7:07.670

2. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 10 laps, 7:17.263

3. Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 10 laps, 7:24.859

Prestige Race 3

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 10 laps, 6:43.105

2. Will Hoare (Rieju) 10 laps, 7:12.118

3. Mitchell Brightmore (GASGAS) 10 laps, 7:13.003

Championship Standings (After Round 6)

1. Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 364pts

2. Jonny Walker (Beta) 305pts

3. Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 240pts

4. Will Hoare (Rieju) 208pts

5. Mitchell Brightmore (GASGAS) 191pts

Kellett takes Le Touquet victory

admineaserm — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 09:19:12 +0000

Defending champion Todd Kellett kicked off the 2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup with a dominant overall win in the Motorcycle category at today’s Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais as Belgium’s Amandine Verstappen led home the registered riders in the Women’s class and Mickaël De Souza got his campaign under way on top in the Veteran’s class.

Winners Amandine Verstappen (left) and Todd Kellett (right) and at 2024 Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais © Frederik Herregods

Britain’s Kellett, who won the legendary race on the north coast of France last season before going on to claim the inaugural FIM Sand Races World Cup, started the three-hour race near the front of almost thirteen-hundred competitors and sat third following the opening lap less than six seconds off the lead. By the end of the second thirteen-kilometre lap he was thirteen seconds ahead and he began to pull clear of a chasing pack that, by the completion of lap three, saw registered riders Lars Van Berkel from the Netherlands and Jeremy Hauquier from France running third and fifth.

Illustrating the depth of talent contesting this year’s series, Valentin Madoulaud held ninth at this point with Camille Chapeliere in twelfth, Maxime Sot sixteenth and Joey Nuques eighteenth and there could very well have been another registered rider running near the front if Belgian Yentel Martens – Honda, who started the series as a hotly-tipped rider, had not gone out on the opening lap. By the end of lap four Kellett led by almost one-and-a-half minutes from Van Berkel and Hauquier and although Hauquier then lost third to Cyril Genot as the race approached the hour mark, France’s Chapeliere looked solid in eighth, two places ahead of his compatriot Madoulaud.

By the halfway point Kellett’s lead was almost two-and-a-half minutes and he was in complete control, using all his hard-won experience to find smart lines through the traffic as conditions got increasingly rough, but Chapeliere slowed dramatically and dropped out of contention. On the penultimate lap Van Berkel fell and lost second position to Genot, but Kellett was out of reach and he completed his fifteenth and final lap with a winning advantage of two minutes and fourteen seconds with Van Berkel an additional thirteen seconds behind in third before a gap of over six-and-a-half minutes to fourth-placed rider Brian Bogers – Honda.

“Today I feel like I’m back on my good level,” said Kellett. “It’s been a real challenge since my crash last October so I’m really pleased and proud to have done this. It’s a great start to the FIM Sand Races World Cup. This is the biggest beach race in the world – there’s no disputing that – and my secret [to winning] is just the sheer hunger and drive within me.”

The next registered rider to cross the line was France’s Maxime Sot – KTM who moved into the top twenty on lap two and pulled through all the way up to sixth overall with Hauquier finishing eighth, Nuques eleventh and Madoulaud sixteenth. In the fight for supremacy in the Women’s class, Verstappen started strongly and charged from just inside the top one-hundred-and-fifty riders at the end of lap three all the up to eighty-second at the finish on a total of twelve laps. Mathilde Denis – Honda from France, who won last year’s Women’s class in the FIM Sand Races World Cup, finished a lap down on her rival in one-hundred-and-ninety-eighth.

“It was quite a complicated race physically, but from start to finish I kept my pace and held on,” said Verstappen. “So that produced a victory and a finish in the top one-hundred which I didn’t think I was capable of so I’m really pleased with my race.” The Veteran’s class is shaping up to be close and competitive this season with De Souza coming home in forty-second overall on thirteen laps, last year’s winner Arnaud Besnier – Honda finishing in eighty-first on twelve laps and Christophe Brucker – KTM completing a French one-two-three in one-hundred-and-seventh on eleven laps.

There is now a three-week break in the schedule before the six-round series resumes on 24-26 February with the Enduro del Verano in Argentina.

Bolt extends SuperEnduro lead with Romanian rout

admineaserm — Sun, 21 Jan 2024 14:38:32 +0000

Briton Billy Bolt has extended hos lead in the SuperEnduro world championship with victory in Romania, while fellow Brit Jonny Walker took his Beta to second overall and is still second in the series.

The first turn is tight!

Although unable to ride his bike since round three due to injury, Billy Bolt wasted no time in settling back into his fast rhythm by topping the afternoon timed practice in Cluj. Proving a much-needed confidence boost, Billy now felt optimistic about the night ahead on what would ultimately be a technical course to master.

Disappointed with placing fourth in the SuperPole hot lap, Billy lined up for race one on his FE 350 aiming to put himself back at the sharp end of the results sheet. Knowing the tight and complicated course would prove difficult to navigate under racing conditions, he tried to pace himself during the opening laps. Avoiding trouble where best he could, he ended race one in second position.

Bolts nails down another win

Taking to the start line for race two, Billy was determined to get his first victory of the night on the scoreboard. From row two he made short work of the early traffic and quickly slotted into fourth position on lap one. Battling through, he fought his way into second and set his sights on race leader Jonny Walker. With the duo going wheel-to-wheel, Billy put an incredible overtake on Walker as they began the final lap. Holding firm, he rode clear to a well-deserved race win.

With the overall victory in Romania up for grabs heading into the third and final race, Billy was focused on delivering the goods on his FE 350. A strong opening lap saw him slot into fourth position. Capitalising on mistakes from the riders in front of him as they ended lap two, Bolt dived into second position. On the following lap he disposed of early pace setter Eddie Karlsson to take over the race lead. Despite slippery track conditions, Billy kept his advantage intact during the final four minutes of racing to claim the win and with it, the overall victory at round four.

Thanks to his fourth consecutive overall victory in the 2024 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship, the Husqvarna Factory Racing rider now heads to round five in Budapest, Hungary on February 3rd with a 19-point lead.

Billy Bolt: “It was a night where momentum sort of came to me as the racing progressed. After a tricky start with SuperPole and race one, winning race two built the confidence back up. I felt better about my riding and really went for it in the final race to take the overall. I was disappointed with how SuperPole went. I made a mistake, but I have to accept these things happen sometimes. Overall I’m massively pleased with the outcome here tonight. Despite my injury, we’ve won again and strengthened the championship lead further.”

Results – 2024 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship – Round 4, Romania

Prestige Overall

Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 57pts
Jonny Walker (Beta) 54pts
Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 43pts
Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 37pts
Eddie Karlsson (Husqvarna) 31pts

Prestige Race 1

Jonny Walker (Beta) 11 laps, 7:07.645
Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 11 laps, 7:21.009
Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 11 laps, 7:23.827

Prestige Race 2

Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 11 laps, 7:07.496
Jonny Walker (Beta) 11 laps, 7:10.431
Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 11 laps, 7:31.001

Prestige Race 3

Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 11 laps, 6:45.093
Jonny Walker (Beta) 11 laps, 7:06.612
Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 11 laps, 7:13.515

Championship Standings (After Round 4)

Billy Bolt (Husqvarna) 239pts
Jonny Walker (Beta) 220pts
Manuel Lettenbichler (KTM) 153pts
Will Hoare (Rieju) 146pts
Dominik Olszowy (Rieju) 132pts

Brit Daniels wins Women’s Dakar

admineaserm — Sat, 20 Jan 2024 10:45:41 +0000

Honda’s Ricky Brabec may have won the Daakr rally but after two long weeks of racing, British World Enduro Champion, Jane Daniels finished the 2024 Dakar in 48th place but was the Women’s winner and also the top British rider.

The 29-year-old from Wigan was competing in her first Dakar on the Fantic Racing XEF 450 Rally. During the event, she came to the aid of her team-mate Jeremy Miroir, where she towed him for 60km to finish the special stage and then for another 95km to get him to the bivouac – an act that led to Jane being awarded the DARE award for the ‘Dakar Spirit’.