The Monte Gordo Sand Race, originally the Monte Gordo Sand Experience, is an annual series of motorcycle and quad beach races held in November on the sands of Monte Gordo, Algarve, Portugal. The inaugural race in 2023 was a round of the newly created FIM Sand Races World Cup[1] and is a permanent fixture on the Championship calendar.[2] The race is organised by the Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP), promoted by the Vila Real de Santo António City Council under the aegis of the Portuguese Motorcycling Federation (FMP) and the Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM).[3]
| FIM Sand Races World Cup | |
|---|---|
| Location | Monte Gordo, Portugal 37°10′48″N 7°27′11″W / 37.180°N 7.453°W |
| First race | 2023 |
| Previous names | Monte Gordo Sand Experience |
| Circuit information | |
| Surface | Sand |
| Length | 6 km (3.7 mi) |
Race format
editThe races take place on a man-made temporary course on Monte Gordo beach.[4] Originally run over a 5 km (3.1 mi) course,[5] it was extended to 6 km (3.7 mi) in 2024.[3]
Races take place over two heats, the overall winner is determined by adding the times of the two heats together.[3] The main motorcycle race has a 1.5 hour heat on the Saturday and a 1 hour heat on the Sunday. Quad heats last for 1 hour and 3/4 hour.[5] Heats for juniors and vintage are 45 minutes and 30 minutes.[6]
In 2025, the Yamaha/Mini Monte Gordo Sand Race Trophy was introduced for riders from 8 to 16 years old. This included two categories each for motorcycles and quads.[7]
Environmental
editAn Environmental Valorization Plan is in place to minimise the environmental impact of the event, which includes monitoring sand and water quality.[4] The 2024 running became the first FIM KISS (Keep it Shiny and Sustainable) sustainability event in sand racing. 575 trees and 2,000 native shrubs were planted to offset the events carbon footprint.[8]
Results
editMotorcycles
edit
Quads
edit| Year | Quads | Women Quads | Veterans Quads | Sources | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heats | Overall | Heats | Overall | Heats | Overall | ||
| 2023 |  Keveen RochereauHonda | Keveen Rochereau Honda | Nathanaelle Abgrall Yamaha | Nathanaelle Abgrall Yamaha | Axel Dutrie Yamaha | Benoit Sebert Yamaha | [9][10] |
| Keveen Rochereau Honda | Nathanaelle Abgrall Yamaha | Benoit Sebert Yamaha | |||||
| 2024 | Keveen Rochereau Honda | Keveen Rochereau Honda | Nathanaelle Abgrall Yamaha | Nathanaelle Abgrall Yamaha | Axel Dutrie Yamaha | Axel Dutrie Yamaha | [11][12] |
| Keveen Rochereau Honda | Nathanaelle Abgrall Yamaha | Axel Dutrie Yamaha | |||||
| 2025 |  Harry WalkerLaeger's | Harry Walker Laeger's |  Dirk SchelfhoutHonda | Dirk Schelfhout Honda | [13][16] | ||
| Harry Walker Laeger's | Dirk Schelfhout Honda | ||||||
Juniors
edit| Year | Junior Motorcycles 1 | Junior Motorcycles 2 | Junior Quads | Sources | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heats | Overall | Heats | Overall | Heats | Overall | ||
| 2023 | Matheo Gerat KTM | Matheo Gerat KTM | Tias Callens Yamaha | Sarah Leroy Kawasaki |  Vito FerrariKTM | Vito Ferrari KTM | [9][10] |
| Matheo Gerat KTM | Sarah Leroy Kawasaki | Vito Ferrari KTM | |||||
| 2024 | Matheo Gerat Yamaha | Matheo Gerat Yamaha | Paolo Maschio Kawasaki | Paolo Maschio Kawasaki | Alois Waloszek Yamaha | Alois Waloszek Yamaha | [11][12] |
| Matheo Gerat Yamaha | Paolo Maschio Kawasaki | Alois Waloszek Yamaha | |||||
| 2025 | Evan Demeester Honda | Evan Demeester Honda | [13][15] | ||||
 Dean GregoireKTM | |||||||
See also
editReferences
edit- ↑ "Thousands expected at first Sand Racing World Cup". www.theportugalnews.com. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ↑ "Monte Gordo Sand Race's 2025 : Races Recap". mxvoice.racing. 30 November 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 Stilwell, Alexandra (23 October 2024). "Sand Racing takes over Monte Gordo Beach in November". Portugal Resident. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- 1 2 "Monte Gordo: the first 'Sand Racing World Cup' expects thousands of visitors". algarvedailynews.com. 13 September 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- 1 2 Stilwell, Alexandra (15 November 2023). "Monte Gordo hosts last leg of Sand Races World Cup". Portugal Resident. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ↑ "Monte Gordo Sand Race 2025". Team Mx AG57 (in Spanish). 7 November 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ↑ "Monte Gordo Sand Race's 2025 : Races Recap". MXVoice.Racing (in French). 30 November 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ↑ "KiSS Monte Gordo marks the first-ever Sustainability event in Sand Races". www.fim-moto.com. 22 November 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Monte Gordo Sand Experience 2023: Sun, Emotion and Crowds Set The Scene On The Monte Gordo Sand Experience's First Races". www.rallyraidnetwork.com. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Rally-Raid Network - Monte Gordo Sand Experience 2023: The first FIM Sand Races World Cup Winners were crowned at the Monte Gordo Sand Experience". www.rallyraidnetwork.com. 20 November 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Kellett and Rochereau in control on day one at 2024 Monte Gordo Sand Race - Race Report". Dirt Hub. 24 November 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 "King Kellett retains his FIM Sand Races World Cup title with Monte Gordo Sand Race double - Race Report". Dirt Hub. 25 November 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Todd Kellett and Harry Walker make it a double British win on Day One of the Monte Gordo Sand Race - Report & Results". Dirt Hub. 30 November 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ↑ "2025 Fim Sand Races World Championship". MXVOICE.RACING (in French). 1 December 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- 1 2 "Kellett Wins in France". MX Large. Retrieved 27 February 2026.
- ↑ "Monte Gordo Sand Race's 2025 : Races Recap". MXVOICE.RACING (in French). 30 November 2025. Retrieved 27 February 2026.