Arnaud Demeester

Arnaud Demeester (25 November 1973-), known as the Sandman, is a French motorcycle rider who specialises in sand racing. He has won the French Sand Racing Championship 3 times and the Enduro du Touquet (later named Enduropale) a record 7 times. Although retired from top class racing he continues to compete in the vintage class of the Enduropale.

Biography Demeester was born on 25 November 1973 in Dunkirk, France and was introduced to motorcycling by a friend of his parents. He started competing in junior category races in 1986.

In 1989 he entered the Enduro du Touquet. Being only fifteen he was too young to enter so entered under his father's name. Riding a 125 that was too big for him he finished 227th. The following year he lied about his age to enter and finished 52nd. The same year, 1990, he finished 10th in the French Junior Championship. He also competed in motocross 1995 and came 6th in the French Elite Championship. He won in Le Touquet for the second time in 1996.

In 2005 Demeester won the inaugural French Sand Racing Championship (CFS), winning it again in 2006 and 2007. He also won the German Cross-Country Championship in 2005 and 2006. In 2022 Demeester started coaching brothers Florian and Mathéo Miot with support from the Vitamine H dealership who supplied them with 450 cc GasGas bikes to compete in the French Sand Racing Championship.

Competing in the vintage class, for pre-1996 bikes, of the Enduropale Demeester finished 2nd in 2023, 3rd in 2024 and 3rd in 2025.

Racing record Year Results 1989 227th Enduro du Touquet 1990 1992 Winner Rond'Europe à Fort-Mahon 1994 7th Enduro du Touquet 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2nd Enduro du Touquet 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2011 2016 7th Enduropale du Touquet 2023 2nd Enduropale du Touquet Vintage Race 2024 3rd Enduropale du Touquet Vintage Race 2025 3rd Enduropale du Touquet Vintage Race Sources: