Harry Walker at 2026 FIM Sand Races World Championship, Ronde de Sables Loon Plage © Frederik Herregods Photography
Belgium’s Oliver Vandendijck – Honda moved to the top of the Quad class standings after his compatriot and early-season pace-setter Randy Naveaux – Yamaha suffered an early exit from Saturday’s opening day of action at round three of the 2026 FIM Sand Races World Championship – the Ronde de Sables Loon Plage – in northern France.
Racing alongside a large field of competitors contesting round two of the Championnat des France des Sables, the riders registered to score FIM points engaged in their own battle within a battle with Britain’s Harry Walker – Yamaha claiming a conclusive victory on eighteen laps, one lap ahead of defending champion Pablo Violet – Yamaha and Mark McLernon – Laeger.
Sitting second in the standings at the start of the day, ten points behind Naveaux, Vandendijck finished the race on sixteen laps and the eleven points he earned for fifth move him one clear of Naveaux who went out on lap seven after setting a furious pace from the start.
Unbeaten at the opening two rounds in Morocco and Italy, Naveaux completed the first lap in second as leading registered rider and it looked to be business as usual for the thirty-year-old as he held position until lap four when he dropped back to twenty-seventh, three minutes behind the leader.
Quickly regrouping, thirty minutes into the two-hour race he was up to twenty-third and by lap six he was back inside the top twenty before disappearing completely from the leaderboard.
Walker, who suffered misfortune at both opening rounds, had moved to the front of the registered riders on lap four and made sure he went the distance in France to collect a valuable twenty-five points, but behind him and series newcomer McLernon from Northern Ireland the championship contenders were engaged in a race-long battle for position.
Vandendijck held the initial advantage ahead of French rider Alois Waloszek – Yamaha, Belgians Glenn De Swarte – Honda and Dirk Schelfhout – Honda before Violet, who struggled in Morocco before sitting out round two, moved into contention on lap seven and proceeded to carve his way up the leaderboard.
After an hour the Frenchman was sixth out of the registered riders and he kept making passes all the way to the chequered flag, eventually crossing the line one lap behind Walker and almost fifty seconds up on McLernon.
With a late push in the final thirty minutes, De Swarte moved into fourth out of the title contenders on sixteen laps with Vandendijck taking the series lead almost two minutes further back in a fighting fifth, one position ahead of Portugal’s Nuno Goncalves – Yamaha.
Goncalves had started the event holding second in the Quad Veteran class behind Schelfhout, but has now taken the lead in this competitive category after the Belgian – who was circulating just behind Vandendijck at half-distance – went out on lap thirteen.
