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Le Touquet Enduropale 2007 - The Race Part 1 |
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File under Racing
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. |
The 2007 version of the Le Touquet Enduropale  race was held on 11 February 2007 at the small beach resort in the North of France. Billed as the biggest motorcycle race in the world, more than 1,000 motorcycles take part in the race.
Started by Thierry Sabine (the same person who brought us the legendary Paris-Dakar race), the race has evolved into a major event on the European motorcycle racing calendar.
The long and white beach used for the race is 15.5 kilometers long, and for 2 months the organizers have prepared the circuit to host the kamikaze style racers. Many famous riders have raced here, and this year was no exception.
"Kamikaze" you ask yourself ? Why... imagine over 1,000 motorcycle all leaving at the same time on a 7 kilometer long stretch for the holeshot. Heavy gale force winds, rain, sleet and sea water will cause many accidents while the motorcycles ride at top speed to the circuit entry point.
Then, while what's left over of the 1,000 motorcycles, they all try to climb the first hill. Most of the riders are not professionals, or even have any real sand experience. So on one hand you've got the professionals riding around the circuit at incredible high speeds, and on the other hand you've got moving targets taking a stroll with their motorcycles, falling, stopping and crashing. No wonder the event is so popular (usually between 3-500,000 spectators - it's free to watch).
The race saw riders from all over Europe (Austria, Hungary, Scotland, Sweden, Greece, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Finland, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, UK and even 9 riders from Russia). No one from the USA entered the race.
There were 352 Yamahas, 293 Hondas, 197 KTMs (who haven't won since 1986!), 35 Suzukis, 29 Gas-gas, 8 Husqvarnas and even 2 BMWs (plus some others).
The largest age group was 18-29 (412 riders), and there were 9 older than 60 years old !
So, the photos tell the story. (Photos by Mike Werner and Jonas Granberg - A large selection of photos will be available later at another website in large format)
Since there are 124 photos, I've divided it up into three sections. At the end you'll find a link to the next.
At the end of the circuit, where the holeshot is, is Stella Beach. 2 hours before the start, and despite the miserable weather, it was black with people.
At the start line, the organizers were getting ready with their support vehicles and staff :- 25 Police on motocrossers, 160 firemen, 75 security, 80 stewarts, 14 doctors, 2 surgeons, 11 nurses, 3 helicopters and about 100 four-wheel drive cars and trucks. They were all needed that day.
The crowds were 10 deep at the popular spots.
At the Stella Beach side, the firemen and women were getting the stretchers ready for the first victims.
When the signal was given, 1,000+ motorcycle raced off together, creating an enormous roar of the engines, and ground vibrations.
Motorcycles after motorcycles come thundering by.
The sand and water spray make it very difficult for the 900 or so riders that are not in the first rows....
.... causing many accidents were riders crash into each other at high speeds.
Meanwhile, at the other end, the first motorcycles can be seen in the distance. The stretch is 7 kms, and the holeshot winner gets €1500, so it's worth it to go fast.
1 kilometer from the holeshot, you could make out one motorcycle at the very front. It's the BMW HP2 of Jean-Charles Lenain. The BMW was riding at 200+ kph, and was prepared specially to win the holeshot, not finish the race.
However, when he reached the end, and got into the first curve, a Kawasaki surprised him, since Yves Deudon had made a very good run as well and was fighting to win the holeshot.
Lenain and Deudon were neck-on-neck, side-by-side getting into position.
The BMW HP2 had the advantage of power going into the curve, while he just pulled ahead.
Eventually, they were so close to each other, that the decision was left to the race marshall; Jean-Charles Lenain was declared the winner on his HP2 ! Duedon went on the lead the race for one lap.
Then the remainder of the first batch of riders arrived....
...and started the hill climb.
...more and more started arriving at the first turn...
Some of the favorites arrived; #4 Thierry Bethys (Honda - 3 time winner of the Enduro, and 8th in this year's Dakar race), #3 Pierrick Paget (Yamaha) and #5 David Knight (KTM - World champion enduro).
...and they keep on coming...
Many get stuck already in the first curve.
...and many crash...
...and keep coming...
...and keep crashing...
With more and more coming, the motorcycles start bumping into each other.
After the first curve, you also have a medium size hill to climb. The problem with the hill, is that it's very deep and loose sand.
The mad hat brigade..
Now the hill has started getting jammed..
Instead of waiting a few seconds, most try to force their way through....
... until there is no way through.
They keep on coming...
Time to clean your goggles before going downwind.
Even the devil rides a motorcycles (Guillaume Sailly).
Going over the first hill looks easy, but it's not.
Many break down, and need to retire.
Desperation at not being able to even do one lap (Andrew Seymour)
Stumbling in the sand (Ludovic Antunes)
Last year's winner, Timotei Potisek (#1 - Honda, current leader of the Sand Championship of France) already lapped other riders who had not even started the 2nd half of their first lap. His speed was incredible, and he was leading the race after the 1st lap for the largest portion, but had to quite due to a technical problem.
Arnaud Demeester (#6 - Yamaha - 5 time winner of the event and French Sand Champion 2006) came blazing through, searching for the 6th win of the event.
David Knight trying to keep up with the front runners.
Click here to go to Part 2.
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