November 22nd, 2024.

FIM release:



With the fifth and penultimate round of the 2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup – the Monte Gordo Sand Race – taking place this weekend (22-24 November) in Portugal, Quad class pace-setter Pablo Violet will make the journey from his hometown of Le Touquet Paris-Plage in northern France to the Algarve with the title within his reach.

After finishing second last season, the twenty-two-year-old is determined to go one better this time around and with a twenty-five-point lead and a maximum of fifty points available over the final two rounds he knows a finish of fifteenth or higher this weekend would be enough to claim the crown, although he is not planning to change his tactics.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea to think too much before and during races because you’re likely to be overtaken by your feelings,” he said. “I try not to think about it and to stay focused on my training which is the key to success in the races. So for the last two races I’m going to give it my all to win them like I did the first two.”

Those two victories in February’s opening rounds – on home sand at the Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais in France followed by the Enduro del Verano in Argentina – gave him an early advantage that he backed up with second at Ronde des Sables de Loon-Plage in France in late-October before finishing third at the start of this month at Italy’s Bibione Sand Storm.

The Drag’on Yamaha rider was bitterly disappointed to miss out on the 2023 title by just two points to his compatriot Michel Trannin and is understandably very keen to avoid a repeat performance.

“I was very, very sad and it took me a while to get going again. You know, it’s a lot of personal investment and a lot of sacrifice – it was very difficult to hold back my emotions, but I learned a lot from that defeat. I questioned myself and it made me grow to become an even better rider.

“So I approached this championship in a different way, with a much calmer state of mind. I went into it with a certain amount of confidence because I knew what I was worth in certain races that were completely unknown to me before. We worked a lot during the off-season with the whole Drag’on Distribution team and my coach to improve in all possible areas because for us victory is decided by details.”

Currently at college in Paris where he is studying business, Violet followed his father and uncle into racing and after getting his first motorcycle for Christmas when he was three he started riding quads as a seven-year-old.

“My father’s best friend is Axel Dutrie [the current leader of the Quad Veteran class] who owns Drag’on Distribution, which is a very well-known quad tuner in Europe and around the world. Axel has always allowed me to ride state-of-the-art quads in the best conditions and as a result I quickly became more competitive than I was on a motorbike and as results are part of the fun I decided to go for a quad!”

The Monte Gordo action gets under way tomorrow (Saturday) with the weekend’s opening Moto race at 12:45 (local time) with the Quad race scheduled for 15:30 (local time). Sunday’s Moto race is due to start at 13:45 (local time) followed by the Quad race at 15:30 (local time).

Followers of the FIM Sand Races World Cup can stay completely up to date with all the latest news through FIM social media platforms on Facebook and Instagram and via the Sportity app using the password FIMSandRaces.

By using the tag #FIMSandRaces, fans will also be able to interact on social media with riders and like-minded enthusiasts.

To view the full 2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup calendar along with more information CLICK HERE.


Image: 2024 FIM Sand Races World Cup Bibione Sand Storm, Italy © Frederik Herregods Photography