Touquet time!
By Dick Law on 1st Feb 07
IT'S that time of year again when up to 1,000 nutty solos and 350 mad quad riders go to play in the sand at the biggest event of the year rider and spectator-wise the Le Touquet beach enduro, staged in the resort of the same name on the north-west coast of France.
And what a spectacle it will be as the quads race on February 10, while the solos get to play in the sand on
the following day, Sunday, February 11.
As last year, for environmental reasons, the famous sand dunes will not be used on any part of the circuit but that won't take anything away from the severity of the event with the line-up of solos all battling for the holeshot at the end of the three-mile start straight.
The chances of a winner coming from anywhere other than France are slim at best, with Arnaud Demeester going for his sixth victory, making him the rider with the most wins and finally beating Kees Van Der Ven's record, which the Dutchman set back in the 1980s.
However, last year's winner, Timotei Potisek, won't be holding back, and other favourites like Jean-Claude Mousse, Thierry Bethys and Pierrick Paget are all going to be in with a chance, as anything can happen in the three-hour non-stop race in the power-sapping sand.
For the holeshot award, look for Cyril Despres, Isidre Esteve Pujol, Jean-Charles Lenain and Dirk Thelen who will all be riding the new BMW R1200, then watch them get swallowed up by the other riders once they get off the start straight.
In the quad race, on a longer track than last year and with another 100 riders in the line-up, the start should be interesting as, new for this year, the organisers plan to set them off in fifties, with a 30 second gap between each wave. Let's see how fair that system turns out to be.
Likely winners will come from Mathieu Ternynck, Blaise Parent, Gregory Lassaigne, Romain Couprie, Jeremie Warnia, Pascal Rocherau and not forgetting our own Paul Winrow, the winner in 2001.
On Saturday the quad race starts at 1pm (local time) and runs through to 4pm, with the solos starting and finishing at the same time on Sunday.
As last year, there will be no camping in the town, but there are ample places to pitch a tent or park your camper in some fields by the airfield.
Anyone planning to watch the event who hasn't already booked a hotel will be lucky to get accommodation within 15 miles of the town.
Again, like last year, if you're riding a road-going motorcycle, you will be let down to the sea front, but cars will be sent, once again, to park at the airport where free shuttle buses will be available to transport individuals to the race, and back.
Here are some interesting facts about the event:
n Official fingers put the number of spectators at 400,000.
n In the solos, riders from 16 nations will be participating, from as far away as Greece, the USA and Russia, while in the quads, 18 countries will be represented, with riders coming all the way from Austria, Estonia and again Russia.
n There will be five companies of CRS (riot police), 60 police motorcyclists, 65 policemen and 300 officers of the law (local police).
n Also on duty will be 160 firemen, 70 security guards and 200 municipal workers.
n There will be two field hospitals, and six Red Cross posts.
n On the medical front there will be 14 doctors, two surgeons and 11 nurses, while in the air there will be three helicopters carrying medical, police and customs personnel.
n It has taken two months to build the courses.
n If you are going, it's easy to find. Go from Dover to Calais, then turn right to Boulogne and follow the signs.
n Once in France, it takes about 45 minutes to get to Le Touquet – if you don't stop to load up with cheap wine and beer!
n It's a must-see event – see you there!
Postscript: We have been told that Motors TV, who first screened the edition of the ‘Enduropale' last year, will once again broadcast the entire three-hour event live. The race starts at 1pm local time (12 noon UK time) and coverage begins at 11.45am (UK time).