Off-Road Observations: 24
MotoOnline's weekly enduro and desert feature, presented by Yamaha's WR450F.
We’re less than a month out from the KTM Hattah Desert Race – one of the biggest, toughest, and most-popular off-road races in Australia
Preparation is reaching fever-pitch to welcome well-over 500 professional and amateur riders to the North West Victorian Motorcycle Club at Mildura on 6-7 July.
“The preparation for Hattah is going really well. With only four weekends left things are hotting up,” North West Victorian MC president Gary Leeson said.
Big name motorcycle stars have already signed-up to compete in the gruelling 38-kilometre long course through the Mallee scrubland, including recently retired international Motocross legend Ben Townley.
Josh Green finished runner-up as a rookie at Hattah in 2012. Image: 404 Shots.
“World Motocross Champion Ben Townley will be making his way from New Zealand to have a go,” he added.
“It will be great to see Ben Grabham back again too who missed last year’s event because of injury. 2012 A4DE champion Daniel Milner will be there.
“Last year we had in excess of 20 professional riders. They love this event.”
Five-time winner and North West Victorian MC member Warren Smart is also expected to compete.
The prize-money has risen to a cool $5000 for first-place, $3000 for second and $1500 for third for this year’s main event.
Junior and Senior Prologue events and the KTM Junior Hattah Desert Race all take place on Saturday.
Carlton Dry Honda rider Ben Townley will be on track at Hattah next month.
The Tenacious Women of Hattah Class will also be a strong feature for this year’s edition with seven already signed-up in the senior class and eight signed-up in the junior class. There will also be a Girls 7-12-year-old class and Girls 12-U16-year-old class.
“The course is looking magnificent thanks to the rains we had recently – we had over 30 millimetres. The course is only ridden on once a year and gets repaired straight after the event so at this stage the dirt down there is in really good condition,” Gary added.
“On behalf of the KTM Hattah Desert Race Track Committee, I would like to thank everyone involved so far who has made the event possible.”
Australia’s number one motorcycle freestyle stunt rider, Dave McKenna, will also put on a show during scrutineering and sign-on in Mildura on Friday night, 5 July.
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