Sand Races World Championship: Enduropale du Touquet Champion Kellett unstoppable
Defending FIM Sand Races World Champion, Todd Kellett, makes it three wins in a row at 2025 Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais – Vintage win for Adrien Van Beveren on prototype T500 Honda two-stroke.
Yamaha have a habit of victories in the annual French sand race “Le Touquet”. As the 2025 FIM Sand Races World Championship got underway at the epic event on the northern beaches of France, Todd Kellet took the main race victory, Amandine Verstappen dominated the Moto Women category and Christophe Brucker crossed the line as first Moto Veteran rider home. It was a good weekend for the boys in blue.
With the main category upgraded to full FIM World Championship status this season, 27-year-old Kellett – who won back-to-back FIM World Cup titles in the Moto class in 2023 and 2024 – made his customary fast start and controlled the three-hour epic from the front of the 1300-strong field, leading every lap on a course extended to 15km to mark the event’s 50th anniversary.
Drag ‘On Yamaha team-mate and three-time Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais winner Milko Potisek was expected to be Kellett‘s closest challenger, but the Frenchman found himself over 10 seconds behind after surviving the chaos of the opening lap.
On lap three Potisek was second, but almost 30 seconds in arrears and Kellett extended his advantage to manage the gap for the remainder of the race and complete his 14th and final lap with a winning margin of two-and-a-half minutes.
“It was an incredible race and we’ve started the championship in a great way,” said Kellett. “I took a great start and felt as though from there I commanded the race to make it three in a row and make a dream start to the series. It’s a long campaign so we have time to work hard and make sure we do the job.”
Potisek, who missed much of last season through injury, returned to racing in second ahead of Dutchman Lars van Berkel – Honda just over eight minutes behind Kellett in third.
Vintage class win for Van Beveren
Fresh from the Dakar Rally podium, three-time former Le Touquet winner Adrien Van Beveren headed an all-star cast of French classic off-road riders including Arnaud Demeester, Stéphane Peterhansel, Jean-Claude Moussé, Thierry Béthys.
An estimated 100,000 fans came out to see the races across the weekend with many fans behind AVB who put his prototype Honda T500 two-stroke first to the flag.
Verstappen Moto Women win
With an unbeaten record in 2024, Amandine Verstappen started as a hot tip to win the Moto Women class and the 25-year-old Belgian – who this year also aims to be a contender in the FIM Women’s Motocross World Championship – did not disappoint.
Verstappen fought her way into the leading 150 riders on the opening lap to take control of the class. Her main opposition came initially from 2023 champion Mathilde Denis before series newcomer Camille Viaud moved into second on lap five.
By this point Verstappen was in control and ended the race on a total of 11 laps, one lap clear of Viaud and Denis.
“I’m really happy,” said Verstappen. “At the start I was behind, but I didn’t give up. It was a great race. Honestly, I have nothing to complain about. The goal is to get closer to the top fifty among the men and today I was still a bit far off, but I’m happy with my riding – the faster you go the more complicated it gets.”
Competition in the Moto Veteran class is always fierce and this year is proving to be no exception with Brucker giving France its only home winner on a total of ten laps, one ahead of second-placed Fernando Rubio – Honda from Uruguay and two clear of Nicolas Lavenant – Yamaha who placed third.
2025 Enduropale du Touquet Results:
The 2025 FIM Sand Races World Championship now takes an extended break before round two – the Enduro del Invierno – is staged in Argentina on 29-31 August.
Photo Credit: Frederik Herregods
