Le Touquet: Potisek wins as Demeester quits

Frenchman Timoteï Potisek (Honda) took his second Le Touquet Enduropale victory on Sunday.
 

Potisek, 25, who also won the prestigious race in 2006, secured a crushing victory on the beaches of Northern France, crossing the finish line almost four minutes clear of his nearest rival. Yet his triumph was somewhat overshadowed by the post-race news that the legendary Arnaud Demeester will retire at the age of 35.
 

Demeester, a record seven-time winner at Le Touquet, was forced to abandon the race before the finish with mechanical problems. Afterwards he confirmed, in front of 250,000 spectators, that he would now call time his stellar-career.
 

Despite the announcement, the celebrations of the Potisek family will no doubt have gone on long into the night. As well as his win, his cousin Milko finished the gruelling event in seventh, with Mateï, Timoteï’s twin brother, coming home in tenth.
 

Potisek forged into an early lead during the three hour race and dominated the event throughout. Yves Deudon (Kawasaki) proved to be his nearest challenger at the flag, finishing second, 3m 54s down, with Pierrick Paget (Yamaha) third at 6min 23s.
 

Frenchman Mickaël Pichon, the double World Supercross champion from 2001 and 2002, had posed an early threat to Potisek’s dominance, but was forced to succumb to mechanical problems.
 

Another French star, Damien Prévot, took the honour of winning the ‘Holeshot’, the prize for reaching the first corner in the lead. He out dragged his 900+ rivals to arrive out in front at the end of the home straight in Merlimont, picking up a prize of 1500 Euros.
 

Highlights of Le Touquet Enduropale can be caught on Motors TV throughout the week. Click here for schedules.

Andy Wilkinson