Italian date for round two of 2026 FIM Sand Races World Championship

Round two of the 2026 FIM Sand Races World Championship – the Bibione Sand Storm – takes place this coming weekend (24-26 October) on the beautiful Adriatic coast of northern Italy, around one hour’s drive east of Venice.

• Håkon Fredriksen starts Bibione Sand Storm with Moto class lead
• Mathilde Martinez defends her advantage in Moto Women category
• Quad star Randy Naveaux carries unbeaten record into Italy

The third edition of the Bibione Sand Storm – that incorporates the Massimo Zamparo Trophy in memory of the event’s founder who sadly passed earlier this year – will once again follow a two-race formatwith competitors in the elite Moto and Moto Women classes facing a pair of ninety-minute motos to decide the winners while Quad riders will contest two one-hour races.

Following the opening round in Morocco at the end of September, Norway’s Håkon Fredriksen – Yamaha Monster Drag’on Tek leads after backing up his victory in the opening race with third in race twowith his nearest challenge coming from twenty-year-old Dutch racer Damien Knuiman – Yamaha who ran four-one on the series’ first-ever visit to Africa.

Completing the Moroccan podium, Frenchman Jeremy Hauquier – Yamaha Monster Drag’on Tek, who won last season’s bronze medal, carded five-two last time out and will be looking to build on this solid foundation in Italy.

The unpredictable nature of a sport that is so notoriously tough on riders and their machines means while the results from round one provide a good benchmark to assess form, there are no certainties – a fact that is well illustrated by the fortunes of defending champion Todd Kellett – Honda.

The twenty-nine-year-old, champion for the previous three seasons, was third in the opening race in Morocco before suffering an electrical issue in race two that dropped him down the order and the British star knows he must start to reduce the deficit in Italy this weekend if he is to retain his title for another year.

In a talent-packed entry, other riders who could make a big impact include the French trio of Joey Nuques – Honda, Antoine Alix – Suzuki and Luca Quenot – Yamaha who all enjoyed a solid weekend in Morocco, while Belgian Cyril Genot – Honda is another leading rider playing catch-up after mixed fortunes at round one.

Leading the Moto Women category, series newcomer Mathilde Martinez – Honda was unbeaten at round one and the twenty-seven-year-old French rider, the first female home at this year’s Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais, will renew her battle with her compatriot and defending champion Mathilde Denis – Yamaha.

In the Moto Veteran category, Belgium’s Daniel Drooghaag – KTM set the pace in Morocco where he led home Frenchmen Maxime Jeanne – Yamaha, Mathieu Reine – Yamaha and Grégory Deleu – Yamaha and a close battle is expected this weekend.

Defending Quad champion Pablo Violet – Drag’on Yamaha from France had a testing weekend in Morocco where Belgium’s Randy Naveaux – Yamaha dominated with two race wins to claim an early lead, but he can expect strong opposition with his fellow Belgians Oliver Vandendijck – Honda and Quad Veteran pace-setter Dirk Schelfhout – Honda along with Frenchman Alois Waloszek – Yamaha among the riders likely to feature near the front.

France’s Fabien Michel – Laeger’s is another rider to watch out for, as is Britain’s Harry Walker – Yamaha and Belgian Gleen De Swarte – Honda, while Schelfhout’s Veteran lead could be threatened by racers including France’s Axel Dutrie – Drag’on Yamaha and defending champion Benoit Sebert – Drag’on Yamaha and Portugal’s Nuno Goncalves – Yamaha.

Competing together in a pair of forty-five-minute races, the Moto Junior and Moto Vintage classes always provide exciting competition. Heading into Italy it is young Frenchman Felix Cardineau – Triumph who is setting the pace in the Junior category, while his compatriot Pablo Henouille – Honda claimed a double win in the Vintage class in Morocco.

The action gets under way at 09:45 on Saturday with the race for Moto Junior and Moto Vintage classes, followed by the Quad race at 12:30 and the main Moto race at 15:15. The following day the Moto Junior and Moto Vintage race is scheduled for 09:30 with the Quad race at 10:45 and the main Moto race at 13:30 (all local times).

All the action from both days of the Bibione Sand Storm is available to stream LIVE at FIM-MOTO.TV. For more details click here.

WATCH THE LIVE ACTION ON FIM-MOTO.TV

Followers of this unique and highly-specialised sport can stay completely up to date with all thelatest Sand Races news through FIM social media platforms on Facebook and Instagramand 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.