Dakar legend Cyril Despres, will make his Australian debut at this year’s Australasian Safari in Western Australia this September.

Minister for tourism, Dr Kim Hames, announced the news yesterday afternoon, confirming the French three-time Dakar winner’s participation.

“Despres is currently the most accomplished long distance off-road motorbike rider in the world and has finished on the Dakar podium an incredible seven times in the last eight years,” Dr Hames said.

Eventscorp, a major sponsor of the Safari, has been working behind the scenes with event organisers to secure Despres’ entry.

“To have Cyril Despres here in WA competing against Australia’s best riders and competitors from the US, South Africa, New Zealand, Italy and the UAE ensures a stellar line up for the seven-day challenge in September,” Dr Hames continued.

“And it means the world’s motorsport fans will be following our event on a daily basis to see how Despres performs over the 3500 kilometre Safari route in our extraordinary outback conditions.

“Last year’s event was viewed in more than 100 countries around the globe, and this year we can now expect even greater exposure showcasing the rugged terrain, dramatic red dirt and blue skies, salt plains and wildflower country of the Coral Coast and Golden Outback.

Despres said he was looking forward to the challenge of the Australasian Safari.

“Australia is a continent that has always fascinated me. I grew up near Paris but I always dreamed of being in wide open spaces and as I understand it you have a few wide open spaces in Australia!

“Also I have done over 60 rallies in my career and the Safari is the only major event that I haven’t yet done. From what I understand you have some very good riders in Australia who are both fast and good navigators so I think there will be plenty of competition.

“And of course I have never done the race before and while it seems similar to other events I have done, experience is always a useful commodity.”

Despres will come to Australia directly from the Rally dos Sertoes in Brazil with just his manager and a mechanic and not his full Dakar back up crew. Once in Australia and during the event he will be supported by a team from KTM Australia.

Western Australian motorsport fans can meet Despres and see his KTM 450 Rally bike along with a hundred other moto, auto and quad bike competitors at Hillary’s Boat Harbour on 22 September before they hit the WA outback.

Competitors will head up the coast to Geraldton and then inland through the remote northern goldfields, via Mt Magnet, Sandstone, Laverton and Leonora before reaching Kalgoorlie on 30 September.

There will also be spectator opportunities in Geraldton and Kalgoorlie to be announced closer to the event.