“The Ronde des sables will attack in depth a beach narrowed by marine erosion and a suspended dune base. » It is with these words that the press release published by Sepanso des Landes begins on Monday November 25. The association which works to safeguard natural heritage accuses motorcycle racing, including the 30e edition will be held on the beaches of Soorts-Hossegor and Seignosse between Saturday November 30 and Sunday 1is December (1), to participate in the destruction of the dune ecosystem.
This year, nearly 950 drivers are entered in five categories. The route on which they will set off makes a 6.5 km loop between Notre-Dame beach and Les Gardians. “To organize this plethora of races, around ten construction machines transform this wild site for two weeks […] into a privatized sand quarry,” details the Sepanso press release, which sees this event as an “aberration” that it is time to put an end to. The association calls on those responsible for the event to transfer the race to a closed circuit.
In addition to the damage caused to the dune, the association states in its press release that the Ronde des sables represents nearly “5,000 hours of motorization at full speed and using fossil fuels, the equivalent of 70 round trips from Paris to New York. “.
Precautions
Questioned by “Sud Ouest”, the French Motorcycling Federation affirms that this figure is unfounded. The organization relies on the environmental barometer carried out by the EY institute on all of its activities. “On the scale of a race, the share of greenhouse gas emissions generated by machines alone is only 4%,” explains this manager.
Cédric Boizieau, president of the Moto Club des Plages, which organizes the race, also denounces the criticisms of Sepanso. “We are required to respect a large number of rules,” he recalls, before specifying that studies carried out over the past year on the fauna and flora of space have demonstrated the absence of “impact significant of (the) manifestation”.
“The race does not take place on the dune section to avoid any damage to the vegetation,” continues the manager, “and we are putting in place a set of measures to minimize the effects of the passage of motorcycles on the beach. » He indicates that the machines are equipped to avoid any loss of fluids and that the refueling site is covered with a waterproof mat to protect the sand.
“Irreproachable”
That said, the association manager still says he is particularly worried about the future of the event, and more generally for that of his discipline. At a time when environmental damage is one of the main concerns of the French, the sight of hundreds of motorcycles cutting through the sand of Soorts-Hossegor is enough to leave one doubtful.
“We make sure to be irreproachable, because we know the image that motor sports can have,” asserts Cédric Boizieau. Same motto from the federation, aware of the existing criticisms and which ensures that it is doing its utmost to ensure the sustainability of its activities.
(1) The main motorcycle race is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
