Timoteï Potisek
Timoteï Potisek | |
|---|---|
Timoteï Potisek at Beach-Cross de Berck in 2006 | |
| Born | December 26, 1983 Saint-Pol-sur-Mer, Nord Department, France |
| Died | December 10, 2009 (aged 25) Lille, French Flanders Died from injuries sustained during a fall in training |
| Occupation | Motorcycle sand racer |
| Relatives | Milko Potisek (cousin) |
| Teams | Honda, Yamaha |
| Championship titles | |
| |
Timoteï Potisek (26 December 1983 – 10 December 2009) was a French motorcycle racer who specialised in sand racing. He was the French Sand Racing Champion in 2008 and winner of the Enduropale du Touquet in 2006 and 2009. Potisek died from injuries sustained from a fall whilst training for the 2009 Ronde des Sables de Loon Plage.
Biography
Potisek was born on 26 December 1983, in Saint-Pol-sur-Mer, Nord Department to motorcycling family.[1] His father Rudy was a motocross champion[2] and had finished second in the Enduropale in 1977 and 1980.[1] Potisek, along with his twin brother Mateï and older brother Sergeï, grew up riding motorcycles.[3]
Racing career
Aged 14 Potisek competed in the 1998 Enduropale. He finish 42nd out of nearly 1,000 riders, and First in the 125 cc class.[1] In 2002 he obtained his scientific baccalaureate but decided not to pursue further education and joined the family Honda dealership.
In 2004 and 2005 he finished second in the Enduropale, finally winning in 2006. In 2007 he collided with a backmarker whilst in the lead. Potisek's radiator was punctured in the collision forcing him to retire.[1]
Fortunes changed in 2008 with Potisek winning numerous French and international races and became the French Sand Racing Champion. At the Enduropale, whilst in the lead, he was brought down when Arnaud Demeester tried to overtake him. Demeester won with Potisek second.[1]
Potisek also raced in the MX1 class in the Motocross World Championship.[4]
Having always raced a Honda, Potisek changed to Yamaha in late 2009. His First race for the marque was to be the Ronde des Sables de Loon Plage on 22 November.[1]
Death
On 6 December 2009 whilst training at the Loon-Plage course, Potisek suffered a fall and landed on his head. He suffered fractures of the cervical vertebrae and spinal cord damage.[5] Initially taken to Dunkirk hospital unconscious and in cardiac arrest,[6] he was then airlifted to the University Hospital of Lille where he died on 10 December.[1]
At the 2010 Enduropale the number 1 bib was not used in memory of the former winner[7] and his father Rudy and twin brother Mateï rode a lap of the circuit in his honour.[8]
Trophée Timoteï Potisek
In memory of Potisek, the Potisek family organised a race with the winner being awarded the Trophée Timoteï Potisek. The race was held at the Cassel circuit, a few hundred metres from where Potisek was buried on Whit Monday 2010. Although a round of the Flanders league many international riders participated.[9] The event was repeated annually. In 2016, now sponsored by Red Bull, the event was streamed live using 5 cameras and a drone. 10,000 people watched the race live online.[10]
| Year | Winner | Bike |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Mickaël Pichon | Honda 450cc |
| 2011 | Mickaël Pichon | Honda 450cc |
| 2012 | Milko Potisek | Yamaha 450cc |
| 2013 | Nicolas Aubin | Honda 450cc |
| 2014 | Steve Ramon | Suzuki 450cc |
| 2015 | Steven Lenoir | KTM 350cc |
| 2016 | Milko Potisek | Yamaha 450cc |
| 2019 | Nathan Watson | KTM 450cc |
| 2022 | Milko Potisek | Yamaha 450cc |
| 2023 | Cédric Soubeyras | Honda 450cc |
| 2024 | Cédric Soubeyras | Kawasaki 450cc |
| 2025 | Maxime Desprey | Yamaha 450cc |
Racing record
| Year | Results |
|---|---|
| 1998 |
|
| 2002 | 6th Enduro du Touquet |
| 2004 | 2nd Enduro du Touquet |
| 2005 |
|
| 2006 |
|
| 2007 |
|
| 2008 |
|
| 2009 | Winner Enduropale du Touquet |
| Sources:[1] | |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Nicou, Damien (2 January 2026). "Timoteï Potisek : légende du Touquet et des courses de sable" [Timoteï Potisek: legend of Le Touquet and sand races]. Planete Yam Rennes (in French). Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ^ "Victime d'un accident, Timoteï Potisek était entre la vie et la mort, hier soir" [Timoteï Potisek was in critical condition last night after being involved in an accident.]. dunkerque.maville.com (in French). 7 November 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ^ Martet, Florine (2 February 2014). "Histoire pilote : Timoteï Potisek" [Pilot story: Timoteï Potisek]. Le Repaire des Motards (in French). Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ^ "Top French Racer Timotei Potisek Dies". Racer X. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ^ "Timoteï Potisek est mort des suites de ses blessures" [Timoteï Potisek died from his injuries]. 20 Minutes (in French). 10 November 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ^ "Accident : Timotei Potisek". Le Repaire des Motards (in French). 8 November 2009. Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ^ "Un hommage à Potisek" [A tribute to Potisek]. L'Équipe (in French). 20 January 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ^ "Enduropale du Touquet 2010 - Hommage à Timoteï Potisek" [Enduropale du Touquet 2010 - Tribute to Timoteï Potisek]. motoplanete (in French). Retrieved 11 April 2026.
- ^ Josselin, Anthoni (25 May 2010). "En mémoire de Timoteï..." [In memory of Timoteï…]. Moto-Station (in French). Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ^ "Cross de Cassel: Milko Potisek triomphe à domicile" [Cassel Cross Country: Milko Potisek triumphs at home]. Red Bull (in French). 21 February 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ^ Brunner, Mathias (10 June 2025). "Cassel : Maxime Desprey remporte le trophée Timoteï Potisek" [Cassel: Maxime Desprey wins the Timoteï Potisek trophy]. Moto-Station (in French). Retrieved 9 April 2026.