CFMOTO Takes on Weston Beach Race 2026: The Hinkley Hat Trick

Five CFMOTO machines. Three days of racing. Three very different disciplines.

Five CFMOTO machines. Three days of racing. Three very different disciplines. From the prototype ZFORCE Z10 to the CFORCE 1000 and the 450MT and 800MT-X adventure motorcycles, Weston Beach Race 2026 delivered one of CFMOTO UK’s most ambitious race weekends yet.

Weston-super-Mare was once again transformed into an off-road racing playground from 16 to 18 October 2026, as the legendary Weston Beach Race returned for another weekend of towering sand dunes and relentless action.

For those unfamiliar with the event, Weston Beach Race is no ordinary race. Hundreds of competitors travel to the Somerset coastline to tackle a gruelling course carved into the beach, complete with enormous man-made dunes, punishing obstacles and some of the most demanding conditions in British off-road motorsport. It is a true test of rider endurance, determination and machine capability.

And this year, CFMOTO UK & Ireland was right in the thick of it.

At the centre of it all was Harry Hinkley, Managing Director of Quadzilla Ltd, the company behind CFMOTO UK & Ireland. Competing in one of the UK’s toughest off-road races apparently wasn’t challenging enough for Harry.

Enter the Hinkley Hat Trick. Three days. Three races. Three different machines.

Photo: Neil O’Donoghue @nodpics

FRIDAY: A HISTORIC FIRST FOR CFMOTO

Friday marked a milestone for CFMOTO UK & Ireland, with the brand making its first appearance in a UK side-by-side (SXS) race aboard the prototype ZFORCE Z10, the only example currently in the country.

Harry and co-driver Joshua Coles faced a difficult start, caught behind competitors struggling to get over the enormous dunes. They took a measured approach, gradually finding their rhythm and building confidence with each lap.

By lap nine, the Z10 was finding its stride, and the pair were recording some of their strongest running of the race. But when the team identified belt wear, they decided to stop racing rather than risk further damage to the prototype. With replacement parts not yet available in the UK, protecting the machine was the sensible call. The gruelling conditions were taking their toll across the field, with numerous side-by-sides experiencing issues and even failing to cross the finish line. The Z10 was subsequently driven across the finish line and officially classified as a finisher.

Despite the setback, the ZFORCE Z10 showed encouraging potential in a demanding off-road environment and gave the team valuable experience ahead of its anticipated UK launch in 2027.

Friday result | SXS
Harry Hinkley / Joshua Coles | 8th | 9 laps

SATURDAY: MORE CFMOTO QUADS THAN EVER BEFORE

Saturday brought the 4×4 Quad & Sidecar race, and CFMOTO’s growing presence on the Weston starting line was hard to miss.
As title sponsors of Weston’s Quad & Sidecar Race, CFMOTO UK & Ireland was proud to see more CFMOTO quads lining up to compete than ever before, continuing the growth in entries from year to year.

Harry returned for the second race of his Hinkley Hat Trick, this time on a CFORCE 1000. Although an experienced quad racer, he had spent much of 2026 focusing on motorcycle events, including the Lincolnshire Enduro Club Championship and Red Bull Romaniacs.
It did not take long for him to find his quad-racing form. Harry got off to a flying start and was running third in his class during the opening laps.

An ongoing exhaust issue with an aftermarket prototype exhaust then forced repeated visits to the pits, with the exhaust coming loose every lap or two and costing valuable time. Once the problem was resolved in the final half-hour, Harry was able to push again, setting competitive lap times and finishing sixth in the 4×4 Quad class.

A frustrating case of what might have been, but still a strong result for Harry and the CFORCE 1000, and another positive day for CFMOTO on the sand.

Two races down. One to go. And the biggest challenge was still to come.

Saturday result | 4×4 Quad class
Harry Hinkley | 6th in class | 17 laps

SUNDAY: WHO SAID ADVENTURE BIKES WEREN’T MADE FOR THIS?

Sunday brought the grand finale: the Adult Solo race. With more than 900 motorcycles taking to the beach, the start line was a sea of off-road machines. Among them were three CFMOTO adventure motorcycles ready to take on the dunes.

For Harry, this was the final leg of the Hinkley Hat Trick, with the CFMOTO 450MT completing his three-machine line-up. He was joined by Chris Belford, also riding a 450MT, and Alex Diment aboard a CFMOTO 800MT-X.

Sand is notoriously challenging terrain, even for a lightweight, purpose-built off-road motorcycle. Add the size and weight of an adventure bike, and the task becomes harder still.

Sunday’s course featured even bigger dunes and more obstacles, bringing an extra level of difficulty to the final day. The result? Absolute chaos from the very beginning.

As hundreds of motorcycles charged towards the dunes, bottlenecks formed and riders found themselves in long queues, battling to navigate the deep sand. The opening lap alone took around 45 minutes to complete.

Harry, Chris and Alex kept going, working their way through the demanding course aboard their CFMOTO adventure bikes. Despite the challenging conditions, all three riders crossed the finish line, a memorable achievement on machines built for adventure rather than specialist beach racing.

And with that, the Hinkley Hat Trick was complete.

Sunday result | Adult Solos, Over 40
Chris Belford | 144th in Over 40 class | 6 laps

THREE DAYS. THREE RACES. FIVE CFMOTO MACHINES CLASSIFIED AS FINISHERS.

From the ZFORCE Z10’s UK racing debut to the growing number of CFMOTO quads on the start line, and three adventure motorcycles tackling Sunday’s punishing conditions, Weston Beach Race 2026 was certainly one to remember.

All five CFMOTO machines entered by the team were officially classified as finishers. There were mechanical setbacks and plenty of challenging moments along the way, but the weekend showcased the determination of CFMOTO’s riders, the range of machines taking part and the brand’s growing presence in off-road motorsport.

A huge congratulations to everyone who took on Weston, and a massive thank you to the organisers, marshals, spectators and support teams who made the weekend possible.

As for Harry? Three races on three different machines, across three consecutive days. The Hinkley Hat Trick is complete.
Weston, we’ll be back for more.

Explore the CFMOTO 450MT, 800MT-X and CFORCE range to discover the machines behind the weekend.

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