The North West Victorian Motorcycle Club has been busily preparing to welcome well-over 500 riders to Mildura when the club hosts the 2015 Penrite Hattah Desert Race this weekend on 3-5 July.

North West Victorian Motorcycle Club president Murray Follett says the race, now in its fifth year, has become a monster with 198 junior riders and 376 senior riders competing at this year’s event.

“We have created a monster, in a very good way. It’s a much sought after event these days,” Murray said. “Our entries sold out in record time,” Murray added. “Junior entries opened at 7:00am on May 1 and were full by 10:00am and senior entries sold out by 2:00pm. Last year, junior entries took 17 days to fill and seniors took 20 days.”

Murray says the club prides itself on hosting the 2015 Penrite Hattah Desert Race, the only junior desert race in the country. Plus, a bigger contingent of female riders will also be contending one of Australia’s most gruelling desert races.

“It’s a really good event for juniors. We prologue the juniors and we start the juniors as the same as the seniors. It definitely adds to the atmosphere,” he added. “12 junior girls will be taking part and 19 women will compete in the Tenacious Women of Hattah class.”

Scrutineering and sign-on take place between 5.30pm–9:00pm on Friday, 3 July, on Langtree Ave. Junior Prologue and Senior Prologue take place on Saturday, 4 July, and the 2015 Penrite Hattah Desert Race takes place at 9:00am on Sunday, 5 July.