It almost nearly didn't take place! Owing to snowfall in the morning of 5 February the seventh Enduropale of Le Touquet was almost cancelled but the track was cleared just in time for the departure.
In team Rockstar Energy Suzuki World MX, supported by Motul, Estonian rider Tanel Leok managed to make the most of this situation by clinching second place in the overall standings. Rapid and fiery, Tanel, aka the 'Estonian Express', who was participating for the first time in this spectacular event, managed to cover ten laps of the circuit full of pitfalls and finished a mere two minutes behind the winner, after a three and a half hours race. After being in seventh position in the first turn, Tanel then remained in the first three throughout the event at the wheel of a modified RM-Z450, even taking the lead in the second lap ahead of the future winner Jean-Claude Moussé. 'The conditions were particularly difficult at the beginning, Tanel recalled, with snow mixed with the topmost layer of sand, just above the frozen earth. I raced while trying to keep a good pace.' There were a record 1,075 participants this year, the centenary of Le Touquet and celebrations.
Tanel Leok is now going to focus on the MX1 Championship, the first event of which will take place on 9 April in the Netherlands.
Results
01// Jean-Claude Moussé (Yamaha)
02// Tanel Leok (Suzuki) - Motul
03// Milko Potisek (Honda)
