Le Touquet Enduropale - Day 3 - The Race |
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File under Racing France
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Normandy, France
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Le Touquet Enduropale 2007 Photos
Photos of the Le Touquet Enduropale motorcycle beach enduro are available ! There are some 950 photos available, and can be seen, downloaded and/or purchased.
Click here to access the photo site. |
This is the last part of the series "le Touquet Enduropale Beach Enduro race for motorcycles". Warning, there are 60 photos, so it might take some time to load, but it's worth it.
The first lap was almost over, the first few contestants had completed the fast beach run, and the first part of the circuit was over. They now had to run the 2nd part, consisting of fast portions, jumps, whoops and chicanes.
The first chicane looked quite interesting. The first contestants took it with no problems.
Until F. Verhaeghe (#12) on his Yamaha 450 decided to take it a bit too fast...
He showed how to do a swan dive (don't worry, he got up and continued).
T. Potisek showed the right way.
As did Jean-Claude Mousse.
As did favorite A. Demeester.
Followed by C. Martin (#16) on his KTM 450.
Finally Cyril Despres showed up, overtaken by many. He was in no rush.
The remainder of the riders arrived in a hurry.
Until someone goes down in the chicane...(#592 R. Duponchel on a KTM 450)... then the chicane gets even smaller..
Which is then followed by a traffic jam.
Obstacle avoidance is an art. Motorcycle go all over the place to avoid other downed riders..
More and more go down.
This makes it difficult to get through.
Some just "walked" their motorcycles through.
At times it was impossible to see where you were going because of the sand spray.
Even the funny helmet folks got through... eventually..
Despair...
More and more go down.
Clear your visor, and off they go again.
No comment...
The pack got very tight.
Tighter and tighter.
This is an interesting way of stopping..
The fast stretch.
Impressive to see the speeds they were running. I had a security guys stand next to me to pull me away if they got too close.
The race marshals were very busy, often risking their own lives to stop riders from running into each other.
One of the jumps..
And they correct way of doing it.
Not easy if you don't know what's ahead of you..
Blind jumps, total faith in the race marshals.
High speeds.
Here's one of the fast corners, long and fast.
Foot out, and full on the throttle.
Nice style (#44 F. Fayet on Honda 450).
Getting close to the edge.
Even in the fast curve, many went down.
Here's Timotei Potisek showing how it's done.
Right into the edge of the curve.
Jean-Claude Mousse was no slouch either. He knew he could still win.
WHY ME !!! shouts E. Bouchel lying next to his KTM 400.
The straight of the arrival line was followed by the fast curve.
Which proved difficult for many riders.
Neck and neck, trying to pass each other in a duel.
Here British rider T. Neesham has turned his 125 Yamaha into the wrong direction.
Mousse comes thundering through.
Great way of jumping obstacles.
"Go straight, then turn left, that's where the finish line is"...
Going down steep slopes is an art form.
Here's how it's done by F. Verhaeghe on his Yamaha 450.
Or as S. Potisek shows on his Honda 450 (yes, he's a brother of the leader).
Demeester shows the correct way.
Jumping over the whoops.
All jumps..
J. Lefevre on his Honda 450.
F. Fayet again.
D; Prevot takes his Yamaha 450 very high.
Getting there... almost finished.
S. Mesthe on one of the final jumps on his KTM 525.
Timotei Potisek was one minute before the end of the race and could have coasted to the finish, but instead he went for another full round, adding another 10 minutes to the race. Many contestants stopped before the finish line, since they DID not want to ride another round.
Timotei Potisek wins his first Le Touquet Enduro !!
#2 Jean-Claude Mousse (the only rider in the same lap, at 1 minute 45 seconds behind)
#3 Pierrick Paget
#4 Thierry Paget
#5 Christian Limbourg
Arnaud Demeester finished in 10th spot, 2 laps behind.
And that concludes our Le Touquet reporting.
To see the full results, click here.
We hope you enjoyed it. See you next year.
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