Kellett Heads to Italy
The 2025 FIM Sand Races World Championship reaches the halfway point this coming weekend (24-26 October) when round three – the Bibione Sand Storm – is staged on the beautiful Adriatic coast of northern Italy, around one hour’s drive east of Venice.
Last year’s inaugural edition was hailed as a huge success and organisers plan to build upon this with a packed programme of racing on the testing and technical six-kilometre course punctuated by regular Freestyle Motocross displays and other family-friendly attractions including an autograph signing session with nine-time FIM Motocross World Champion and Italian fan favourite Antonio Cairoli.
Unbeaten in the main Moto class – that for this season has been upgraded to full FIM World Championship status – since the final event of 2023, Britain’s defending champion Todd Kellett – Drag’on Yamaha will start with a ten-point lead at the top of the table with his biggest challenge expected to come from team-mate Milko Potisek.
After sitting out last season through injury, the Frenchman has staged an impressive comeback this year and following second-placed finishes behind Kellett at both the opening round – the Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais – in early February and August’s Enduro del Invierno in Argentina, he remains firmly in contention.
The pair have already started to distance themselves from the chasing pack led by the French pairing of Jeremy Hauquier – Yamaha and Alexis Collignon – Honda along with Belgium’s Cyril Genot – Honda and Lars van Berkel – Honda from the Netherlands. However, given the often unpredictable nature of Sand Racing and with two ninety-minute motos to contend with in Italy, the smallest mistake could result in a major shake-up of the current standings.
Also boasting an enviable unbeaten record that extends back to 2023, defending Moto Women champion Amandine Verstappen – Yamaha will start favourite, although for the second consecutive season the talented Belgian will face strong opposition in Italy from six-time FIM Women’s Motocross World Champion and home favourite Kiara Fontanesi – GASGAS who will compete as a wild card.
Champion in 2023, France’s Mathilde Denis – Fantic, who currently sits second in the points, must also be considered a contender along with French series newcomers Camille Viaud – Yamaha and Sara Jugla – KTM who will both be fighting for a podium position.
Highest placed of the Moto Junior class riders entered this weekend, rising French star Evan Demeester – Honda will have his sights set on the points lead while the Moto Vintage class is shaping up to be a two-man fight between the French pairing of Freddy Seguin – Honda and Sebastien Antony.
With a nine-point lead in the fiercely-contested Moto Veterans category, Uruguay’s Fernando Rubio – Honda seized the advantage in Argentina, but he will not be allowed to be complacent as the French pairing of Nicolas Lavenant – Yamaha and Christophe Brucker – KTM are perfectly positioned to take advantage of the slightest slip.
With two sixty-minutes races across the weekend, competitors in the Quad class can expect a seriously tough challenge as defending champion Pablo Violet – Drag’on Yamaha attempts to extend his nineteen-point series lead.
After moving to the top of the points table with a maximum score at the Enduro del Invierno, the twenty-three-year-old Frenchman will be determined to build on his advantage, but behind him a stacked entry led by his compatriot Benoit Sebert – Yamaha, who leads the Quad Vintage category from defending champion Axel Dutrie – Drag’on Yamaha, is aiming to reel him in.
The action at the Bibione Sand Storm gets under way on Saturday (25 October) with the opening Moto race of the weekend at 10:30 (local time) followed by the first Quad race at 14:30 (local time). Sunday (26 October) programme starts with the second Quad race of the weekend at 10:00 (local time), followed by Moto race at 13:30 (local time).
