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Enduropale 2010: Major Upsets! Cause: Loud Pipes |
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File under France Racing
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Normandy, France
Via: News Yahoo & Reuters
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The Le Touquet Enduropale, world's craziest and biggest beach race, is over. If you managed to catch it on the live streaming webcast, you'll have seen that it was an epic 3 hour battle, with several leaders of the race.
But it's the ending that really surprised. I think this is the first motorcycle race that the winner has been penalized and lost his title due to a loud exhaust! But before I say anything further, let's rewind the tape. Jean-Claude Mousse was leading the race 2 laps before the end, but noticed that his motorcycle was sounding louder than normal. Since he had to fuel-up, his pit crew decided to change the exhaust. This, because of a new technical rule, forbidding motorcycle to have in excess of 115 dB of sound (for environmental concerns). Due to the technical intervention Jean-Claude missed out on the title.
This was done by Yves Duedon on a Kawasaki. He was thrilled, since he has been racing here for years, and had ended up 2nd and 3rd several times, and this was probably going to be his last Le Touquet Enduropale beach race. But it was not to be.....
After technical verification, he got a 15 minute penalty for excessive noise! Now, the winner is none other than Mickael Pichon, World motocross champion 2001.
It stinks.... but then I guess rules are rules, and if Mousse had ignored it, he could have won. But is this a first for a major race?
 © Reuters |
| |  | | Bikers ride through sand beach as they take part in the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet, northern France, February 7, 2010. About 1000 motorbikes and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. |
|  © Reuters |
| | | | Bikers ride through sandy beach as they take part in the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet, northern France, February 7, 2010. About 1,000 motorbikes and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. |
|  © Reuters |
| | | | France's Yves Deudon rides on his way to win the Enduropale motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet, northern France, February 7, 2010. About 1000 motorbikes and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. |
|  © Reuters |
| | | | A biker falls on the sand during the Enduropale motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet, northern France, February 7, 2010. About 1000 motorbikes and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. |
|  © Reuters |
| | | | France's Mickael Pichon rides during the Enduropale motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet, northern France, February 7, 2010. About 1000 motorbikes and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. |
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