Touquet n' play that game
By TMX Archives on 21st Jan 11
In a week's time the smell and noise of racing motorcycles will once again fill the air of the sleepy French seaside town of Le Touquet as the annual beach race hits the sand at the biggest event of the racing year so far. The spectacle never ceases to amaze with well over a thousand solos ready to do battle from the drop of the massive start gate, all the way down the five mile start straight for the 20 minute lap, three hour strength sapping race.
Last year it was reported that over 250,000 mad keen fans lined the track, in some places eight deep, but none went away disappointed.
The chances of a none French winner were greatly improved this year with the news that ex-MX1 World Champion, Steve Ramon has entered for the first time, quoting "I have won all the other big beach races and would like to add Le Touquet to my collection”
But all the outstanding French sand specialists will be there including last year's winner. Mickael Pichon will be out on a Honda again to defend his title from the likes of Adrien Van Beveren, Jean-Claude Mousse, Alexandre Morel, Gautier Leclabart, with Yves Deudon out for revenge from last year's penalty that dropped him from first to sixth.
First non-French rider home last year was Belgium's Ricky Claus and he will be hoping to do better than sixth this time out.
As for the talent from our side of the channel, Phil Mercer was first of our riders to finish in 33rd last year and will be hoping that a bike switch from Kawasaki to KTM will see him higher up the leader board.
Long time campaigner Nick Life always does well and along with Craig Trew and Mat Pope and they will be riders to try and pick out of the crowd, though with over a thousand going round, and racing numbers going up to four figures, it's not easy.
Over 21 Solo riders have entered with 23 of our Quad riders mixing it with the best of the rest of the world.
Defending champion Jermie Warnia will be the man to beat in the quad race, but you just know that Romain Couprie will be giving him a hard time all the way round the 20 minute plus lap.
No stranger to our shores, Dutchman Joe Maesson will be hoping to improve on his fifth last year while the first team to finish last year, Keveen Rochereau and Vincent Pinchon have parted company as they will both go solo this year.
Jason Wildman was first Brit home in 13th last year while five places behind him was Carl Bunce, but in the list of riders he is down as being French! You would have thought they had enough good riders with out pinching ours.
We had an all female team finish in the top 100 last year, but this year Ameelie Miller will be partnered by Timara Radford for her second attempt at the race.
For the whole weekend the bars will be heaving and the restaurants full to the brim, but it's a great weekend that must be experienced.
It's easy to get to, it costs nothing to get in but be patient, as on Sunday the two main roads out of town will be solid with traffic for hours.
Just go Dover to Calais, turn left to Boulogne and travel for 45 minutes and I will see you there...