INSIDE MXGP WITH THE BEAST OF THE BEACH TODD KELLETT

In the fast-paced world of racing, unexpected opportunities can catapult riders into new territories. For Todd Kellett, the reigning FIM Sand Races World Cup Champion, such an opportunity arose when Yamaha extended an invitation to race a factory YZ450FM at the MXGP of Sardegna, in Riola-Sardo.

Todd, fresh from epic victories at the Enduropale du Touquet and Enduro del Verano, initially had his sights set on a well-deserved holiday. However, opportunities to ride factory bikes don’t come along every day and the chance to race MXGP aboard a fully-fledged YZ450FM proved too enticing to resist.  "I fancied my chances to come to help the guys out" Todd grinned. "I was in my holidays, completely relaxed, but what an opportunity. I certainly couldn't turn it down!"

"Beach racing and MXGP are two totally different sports," he explained, "My dad said it best. It's like a tennis player, playing squash." Amidst the excitement, the beast of the beach found himself facing unfamiliar challenges.

"Recovery is more important in MXGP," he admitted, acknowledging the stark contrast between beach racing and MXGP. "In beach racing, once you're done, you're done for the day, you know, you're going home until next weekend. So here it is really important, and perhaps difficult for someone like me to try and recover after each session on the bike."

Adjusting to the tighter tracks and the intricacies of the factory bike presented a learning curve. Yet, the 27-year-old Brit’s attitude and determination shone through as he quickly adapted to the new environment. "The bikes, yeah, they're different," he acknowledged. "But at the same time, after a couple of days, I managed to find it quite homely. The ergonomics of the bike is very similar."

Despite the initial hurdles, Todd showed his incredible grit. After binning it in Race One, the ‘98’ bounced back with a vengeance in Race Two and scored five MXGP World Championship points, ending his day with a hard-fought 16th-place finish. "It was an incredible experience to race in Sardinia", he smiled, "I just want to say a massive thanks to Yamaha and everyone involved for the opportunity. Over the last two weeks, I've put in a lot of hard work, which paid off in Race Two. It was a little bit frustrating to crash in both races, but overall, it has been a really good weekend."

The latest episode of "Inside MXGP" goes behind the scenes at the MXGP of Sardinia, following Lotte van Drunen to her first Grand Prix win of 2024 and the Sand Races World Cup winner Todd Kellett in his Monster Energy Yamaha Factory MXGP team guest appearance.

Photo Credit : YAMAHA RACING