Moto Land-Yamaha Yamalube Racing‰Ûªs Adrien Van Beveren made the famously intense beach race Enduro du Touquet look easy as he rode his Yamaha YZ450F to victory, claiming the French Sand Racing Championship (FFM des Courses sur Sable) title for the second time in a row in the process.
Despite more than a thousand participants rushing at 165 km/h to the first corner, it was none other than Yamaha‰Ûªs Van Beveren who took the holeshot award and the thousand euros prize money that goes with it. The 25 year old enjoyed a fight for the lead with rival Yentel Martens, closely followed by fellow Yamaha rider Daymond Martens. The leading trio soon started lapping riders, as heavy traffic resulted in a jam in front of the first jump after the start finish.
Van Beveren skillfully followed Martens through the cluster of stranded riders and took over the lead. Martens didn‰Ûªt give up easily, but Van Beveren was able to hold off the Belgium rider‰Ûªs aggressive attacks.
The fight was decided by the first of three mandatory pit stops. Van Beveren was the last one to go to his box at the end of his fifth lap and was soon back on his way, re-entering the race at the front.
The race leader suffered a small collision with a backmarker, but managed to hold on and steer clear of further forms of trouble. Not letting the exhaustion get to him after completing 14 laps of 13 km he cruised to the finish line and clocked a time of 3h02‰Ûª46.986, followed by Daymond Martens (at 5‰Ûª50.964), Julien Tournessi (at 6‰Ûª32.862) and Yamaha Factory Racing Rally Team Yamalube‰Ûªs Dakar rider Olivier Pain (at one lap).
"This is my second victory and I am very happy," Van Beveren exclaimed after winning the famous beach race. "I managed to make the difference from the beginning of the race and I increased my rhythm throughout.
"I don't plan to stop here and I hope that this is only the beginning of a long victory list.
"My motorcycle's performance was great, so I was able to take the holeshot because I had a very good top speed on the straight line."
The Enduro du Touquet was created by Thierry Sabine in 1975, and has become a legend in the world of motorcycle sport, attracting more than a 100.000 spectators every year.
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, this legendary event has been able to evolve and adapt to environmental constraints and is seen as the ultimate get-together for professional beach racers and newcomers from other disciplines.
Enduro du Touquet Results
1. Adrien Van Beveren, FRA (Yamaha) 14 laps, 03:02:46.986
2. Daymond Martens, BEL (Yamaha) 14 laps, 03:08:37.950, +5:50.964
3. Julien Tournessi, FRA (KTM) 14 laps, 03:09:19.848, +6:32.862
4. Olivier Pain, FRA (Yamaha) 13 laps, 03:12:56.342, +1 lap
5. Nicolas Cailly, FRA (Honda) 13 laps, 03:15:55.967, +1 lap
6. Rodolphe Bignot, FRA (Yamaha) 13 laps, 03:16:22.918, +1 lap
7. Nicolas Leteve, FRA (Suzuki) 13 laps, 03:21:03.131, +1 lap
8. Eddy Mollon, FRA (Yamaha) 12 laps, 03:03:10.072, +2 laps
9. Arnaud Moras, FRA (Suzuki) 12 laps, 03:03:37.808, +2 laps
10. Cedric Tosatto, FRA (Yamaha) 12 laps, 03:05:25.912, +2 laps
Top Image: Adrien Van Beveren on his way to winning the world famous Enduro du Touquet Beach Race in France
