With a second consecutive Quad class title already secured at the penultimate round in Portugal at the end of November, French favourite Pablo Violet – Drag’on Yamaha signed off on top this afternoon when he led home the field of registered riders in Saturday’s main race at the fiftieth edition of the Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais, the sixth and concluding round of the 2025 FIM Sand Races World Championship.
- Quad King Pablo Violet puts the seal on super-successful season
- Fabien Michel snatches dramatic series silver at final round
- Benoit Sebert is crowned Quad Veteran Champion
Never a rider to rest on his laurels, despite taking an extra pitstop the business student raced to his third victory of the series to cement his position at the top of the Quad class – that carries coveted FIM World Cup status – as his rivals struggled to stay in touch on northern France’s cold Atlantic coast.
“I took a good start, but I did an extra pitstop because I thought I had a puncture,” explained Violet. “I made a mistake – it was only in my head – but I think I lost around three minutes. Still, I am really happy to win, and it is always a pleasure to race with the FIM.”
With a big turn-out of riders registered for the series taking their positions among an entry numbering more than four-hundred, smoothly negotiating the opening lap of the thirteen-kilometre course was essential and Violet completed his first circuit comfortably clear of compatriot and nearest challenger Alois Waloszek – Yamaha.
With no real pressure to perform, Violet looked fast and relaxed and every lap he consolidated his position at the front of the registered riders with Estonia’s Karl Rillo – Yamaha briefly stepping up to challenge him as Belgian Glenn De Swarte – Honda climbed the order, just ahead of a three-man battle for the remaining series podium positions.
Locked together on points at the start of the day, Belgium’s Dirk Schelfhout – Honda and French rider Benoit Sebert – Yamaha were in turn just five clear of fourth-placed Fabien Michel – Yamaha and the trio were in determined mood with Schelfhout holding an early advantage from Michel and Sebert.
A major key to success in such a long and arduous race is steering clear of problems and after settling into a fast-paced rhythm, apart from his puncture scare Violet appeared to be virtually untroubled for the full two-and-a-half-hour duration as he underlined his credentials as champion.
For the first hour, with Waloszek and Rillo running two-three behind Violet, Schelfhout was looking good for series silver, but that all changed on lap six when Michel picked up the pace and moved ahead of the Belgian and then continued his forward charge until he was second of the registered riders.
As Sebert’s challenge fell away, Waloszek strengthened his grip on third ahead of Portugal’s Nuno Goncalves – Yamaha, but fifth for Schelfhout dropped him to third in the final standings, a frustrating four points behind Michel.
Making up for the disappointment of missing out on a medal in the main category, Sebert had the consolation of wrapping up the Quad Veteran crown ahead of Schelfhout and Goncalves.
Staged earlier in the day over a shortened course and a ninety-minute duration, victory in the Moto Junior class – and with it the title – was claimed by French racer Matheo Gerat – Yamaha who took full advantage of an early retirement by series leader Evan Demeester – Honda to turn a seventeen-point deficit into an eight-point winning margin.
“It’s been really close with Evan across the different races in Portugal and Italy where we were neck and neck,” said Gerat. “Here at Le Touquet, unfortunately, he had to retire in the first few laps. It’s a shame because we could’ve had a great battle, but that’s just how it goes and I’m super-happy to win the championship.”
Global focus now shifts to tomorrow’s three-hour Moto race when Britain’s Todd Kellett – Drag’on Yamaha and Belgian Amandine Verstappen – Yamaha will attempt to defend their titles in the face of fierce opposition with the weekend’s main event scheduled to get under way at 13:50 (local time).
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