| FIM Sand Races World Cup | |
|---|---|
| Location | Monte Gordo, Portugal |
| First race | 2023 |
| Previous names | Monte Gordo Sand Experience |
| Circuit information | |
| Surface | Sand |
| Length | 6 km (3.7 mi) |
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]
The 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]
An 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]
| Year | Motorcycles | Womens Motorcycles | Veterans Motorcycles | Vintage Motorcycles | Sources | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heats | Overall | Heats | Overall | Heats | Overall | Heats | Overall | ||
| 2023 | Honda | Honda | Yamaha | Yamaha | KTM | Honda | Kawasaki | Yamaha | [9] [10] |
| Honda | Yamaha | Honda | Yamaha | ||||||
| 2024 | Yamaha | Yamaha | Yamaha | Yamaha | | Honda | Honda | Honda | [11] [12] |
| Yamaha | Yamaha | Honda | Honda | ||||||
| 2025 | Yamaha | Honda | Yamaha | Yamaha | Yamaha | Yamaha | KTM | Honda | [13] [14] [15] |
| Honda | Fantic | Gas Gas | Honda | ||||||
| Year | Quads | Womens Quads | Veterans Quads | Sources | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heats | Overall | Heats | Overall | Heats | Overall | ||
| 2023 | Honda | Honda | Yamaha | Yamaha | Yamaha | Yamaha | [9] [10] |
| Honda | Yamaha | Yamaha | |||||
| 2024 | Honda | Honda | Yamaha | Yamaha | Yamaha | Yamaha | [11] [12] |
| Honda | Yamaha | Yamaha | |||||
| 2025 | Laeger's | Laeger's | Honda | Honda | [13] [16] | ||
| Laeger's | Honda | ||||||
| Year | Junior Motorcycles 1 | Junior Motorcycles 2 | Junior Quads | Sources | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heats | Overall | Heats | Overall | Heats | Overall | ||
| 2023 | KTM | KTM | Yamaha | Kawasaki | KTM | KTM | [9] [10] |
| KTM | Kawasaki | KTM | |||||
| 2024 | Yamaha | Yamaha | Kawasaki | Kawasaki | Yamaha | Yamaha | [11] [12] |
| Yamaha | Kawasaki | Yamaha | |||||
| 2025 | Honda | Honda | [13] [15] | ||||
| KTM | |||||||