Le Touquet 2011: Speeds To Be Lowered |
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File under France Racing
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Normandy, France
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At next year's famous and wacky beach race, the Le Touquet Enduropale  , although the circuit remains the same in length (17.8 km), the organizers have decided to change the way the first lap is held.
In the past, the 1,000 motorcycles would race the length of the beach circuit for the holeshot (with a nice monetary prize waiting for the holeshot winner), often surpassing speeds of 200 kph on the wet beach.
Several serious accidents have occurred in the past, so the organizers have changed the layout.
The start is still in a straight line, but when they reach about 1/3 of the normal length (at the Novotel hotel), they will need to turn in and inverse their direction. Then they progress towards the end (Stella/Merlimont Beach), but now the organizers have placed 3 "S" curves to kill the speed.
Not only will it kill speed and enhance safety, but it will also a) increase the spectacle and b) allow not specially prepared motorcycles to have a shot at the holeshot. In the past, special motorcycles always won the holeshot, like the BMW HP2, the KTM 950 or recently the Honda CBR.
The race, free to the public, is held on 29/30 January 2011.
I still have not decided whether I'll attend this time...
Click here to acces the Le Touquet website
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