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.
“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 at the 2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup as she had already 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.
While that concludes the 2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup, followers 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.
