The Guernsey Motorcycle and Car Club’s 2026 Sand Racing Championship concluded with their annual two-day meeting, containing rounds seven and eight, unfolding under stunning sunshine at Vazon Bay.
Other highlights included Scott Webb winning the Victoria Trophy, coming through Saturday’s 15-lap handicap epic in first place to secure the event’s other headline honour.
Rive had concluded his own meet minutes earlier with a handicap victory of his own – and in particularly nail-biting fashion.
Saturday’s twisty motocross final unfolded over 10 laps, but with the man on the No 1 Honda having to overcome a heavy handicap of one-and-a-half circuits and pick off Bailey Taylor – who had won the previous day’s oval counterpart – in order to succeed.
He only caught his quarry on the final lap, making a clean overtake and staying clear to put the cherry on top of a weekend where he had won nearly every race and was destined to take the crown in any case. ‘I could see I was getting closer,’ he reflected after a surprisingly tough race on what was by then very soft sand.
‘I was thinking, “Show me the last lap”. It was hard work out there – it was really soft.’
Of his King of the Beach title defence, he added: ‘I’m quite happy about it.’
It had not all been smooth going, for he had suffered a puncture and been upstaged by Cameron Price in one race.
But Rive was soon back to winning ways.
‘The boys came together and helped me get it changed, and I managed to get it out for the next race – otherwise it would have been a closer call,’ he said.
The usually dominant motorcyclist was also grateful for some closer racing.
‘Everybody else is getting faster as well. Maybe next year it’ll be someone else who wins it.’
In Webb’s case, he had set out among the main pack of MX5s, pursuing first starter Billy Le Page while trying to hold off the chasing three-litre Jaguar of Matthew Horsepool.
He took seven laps to assume the lead, and he narrowly held on, with Gary Robert a close second but significantly the late-starting Horsepool coming onto the final straight just behind them.
‘I didn’t really think about it to be honest – another race that went all right, I guess,’ he said.
‘Fifteen laps is hard on the car, hard on everybody really, and I’ve never finished it before, so I was quite happy to finish. It’s nice to come out on top.’
Webb was also the dominant driver in the MX5 races throughout the two-day, with Horsepool competing in his own saloon class, and sand racing chairman Karl Marshall winning the Friday handicap.
Other successful competitors included Digby Cleal in the junior sliders and young Thomas Vining’s near-perfect run through the motorcycles up to 500cc class.
Although the sun’s glare and heat had tested even the top competitors, Marshall had appreciated the warm welcome.
‘The weather’s been there – you can’t ask for much more from the weather.
‘The racing’s been good and the championship’s been concluded. What else would you want to do on a summer’s day?’
Marshall has also enjoyed being part of the MX5 Challenge, which he only introduced the previous season.
‘It’s a bit of fun. All equal power and it’s all about on the day – your driving skill and what you get away with.’
