Why Sand Racers Are the Gnarliest Athletes in Motocross

Motocross is already one of the toughest sports in the world, but sand racing is on another level entirely. These riders aren’t just racing a bike; they’re battling mother nature, physical limits, and the clock in a way that no traditional MXGP or AMA race can match. With events lasting anywhere from one hour up to a brutal three hours, sand racing demands a type of grit, endurance, and mental fortitude rarely seen in modern sport.

This is where the real warriors of motocross are made.

A Battle of Man vs. Terrain

In traditional motocross, lines develop predictably. In sand, the track is constantly shifting, burying wheels, destroying rhythm, and punishing hesitation. Every single lap is different. It’s the ultimate test of adaptability, rhythm, and raw determination.

Three-Hour Motos: Survival Over Speed

Sand motos can last from 90 minutes to 3 hours, with no breaks and no mercy. The physical demands are outrageous. Riders must fight fatigue, dehydration, arm pump, mental collapse, all while muscling a 100kg machine through bottomless terrain.

This racing requires:

• Extreme cardio conditioning

• Full-body muscular endurance

• Laser focus under fatigue

• Mental resilience bordering on insanity

Most riders can sprint. Only a select few can suffer.

How Sand Racing Is Reigniting Careers & Creating New Icons

Sand racing has become a defining chapter for riders who thrive in extreme conditions. It’s no longer a side discipline, it’s a proving ground.

Modern Sand Racing Specialists:

• Todd Kellett – A true sand warrior whose career has exploded thanks to dominating endurance sand events.

• Milko Potisek – One of the most respected and feared sand racers in the world, a multi-time Enduropale Le Touquet winner and a master of deep sand endurance.

• Lars van Berkel – Built his reputation in the dunes, becoming a podium regular and fan favourite at iconic sand events.

• Cyril Genot – Emerging as one of the fastest sand racing talents in Europe, using this discipline to elevate his profile on the world stage.

• Jeremy Van Horebeek (dabbled) – Though retired from full-time GP racing, Van Horebeek has stepped into select sand events, proving he still has elite pace and the technical skill to run with the best.

• Håkon Fredriksen – The latest GP rider to jump into sand racing, signalling a new wave of top-level athletes embracing the challenge.

This isn’t a retirement home, it’s a rebirth platform for elite-level riders craving a new kind of challenge.

Why Sand Racing Is Vital for the Sport

Sand racing keeps the pure spirit of motocross alive: hard work, toughness, and endurance over hype. In an era where sprint races and entertainment formats dominate, sand events remind us what it really means to push human limits.

What these events bring:

• True endurance racing – A test of the body, mind, and machine.

• New career pathways – Riders are rebuilding their names outside traditional championships.

• Fan connection – Spectators witness raw suffering, heroic comebacks, and emotional finishes.

• Heritage and prestige – Iconic sand events are as respected as some world championships.

Sand motocross athletes are not just racers, they’re warriors. They are some of the fittest, toughest, and most mentally resilient athletes on the planet. Races that last hours, not minutes, push them to the edge of physical collapse and beyond.

With riders like Kellett, Potisek, van Berkel, Genot, Fredriksen, and legends like Van Horebeek stepping in to prove they’ve still got it, sand racing has reignited careers, inspired new audiences, and redefined what pure motocross endurance really looks like.

In the world of motocross, there’s fast and then there’s sand fast.

And only the gnarliest survive.