Another year, another crazy Le Touquet Enduropale beach motorcycle race is over. And what a race it was.... suspense, drama, fights, weather. A 3 hour super tough beach race which lasted 2 hours, since the weather had become impossible and the tide was therefore turning in much quicker than expected, making it not only very difficult, but also very dangerous.
And it was a good thing for the declared winner Jean Claude Mousse since he had to rip off his goggles halfway through the last lap (a lap takes 15 minutes to complete) and he couldn't see anything. He was passed just before the finish line by Potisek, but since the red flag was out, the previous lap counted, not the finished one.
It was a great race, if you saw it live or on TV, you can see the incredible difference between the pro riders and the Sunday riders. The biggest and most dangerous obstacle for the pro riders weren't the jumps, the sharp curves, the incoming tide ... no, they were the Sunday riders, who would stop their motorcycle on the circuit to rest, take photos or chat with the 200,000-strong public. Several times a pro rider would find himself stuck behind a gaggle of Sunday riders, or crash into one because it changed direction. Spectacular!
Bikers start on sandy beach as they take part in the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet, northern France, February 3, 2013. About 1,000 motorbikes and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol
Bikers run trough sandy beach as they take part in the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet, northern France, February 3, 2013. About 1,000 motorbikes and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol
Jean Claude Mousse of France powers through the sand on his way to win the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet February 3, 2013. About 1,000 motorbike and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol
Milko Potisek of France powers through the sand during the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet February 3, 2013. About 1,000 motorbike and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol
Michael Staufer of Austria falls on the sand during the "Enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet, northern France, February 3, 2013. About 1,000 motorbikes and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol
Stephane Lamour of France falls on the sand during the "enduropale" motorcycle endurance race on the beach of Le Touquet, northern France, February 3, 2013. About 1,000 motorbikes and 500 quad bike riders descend on Le Touquet every year for the event. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol
To see what 1000+ motorcycle starting looks like and then going through the first chicanes, have a look at this video
After seeing this video, you can see why of the 1000+ motorcycle starting, only 800 finish the first lap, 500 the 2nd.
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