Josh Green claims maiden Win
Hattah Desert Race
The race is fought out over eight laps, For 2013 The KTM Hattah Desert Race Track Committee lengthened the total distance of the track to approx 38klms which was its original length, through unique Mallee scrub land which includes everything from tight, technical sections winding through trees to wide open blasts through open paddocks and sand hills.
The KTM Hattah Desert Race runs over three days featuring Friday night Scrutineering and meet and greet the riders, show and shine in feast street Mildura, Saturday prologues to determine starting positions and then Sunday's Main event.
www.fullnoise.com.au By Aaryn Minerds
Active8 Yamaha’s Josh Green has won the 2013 Hattah Desert race in near perfection racing conditions in front of another large crowd at this years event.
The prestigious and long standing event in the surrounding desert of Hattah in country Victoria saw over 350 riders take up the challenge but it was Green, on his YZ450F, that landed on the top of the podium.
Green kicked off the weekend strongly, taking pole position after the Saturday prologue, a full second ahead of his nearest rival.
Faced with eight, 38 kilometre laps of sandy, whooped out terrain on the Sunday, the event becomes the ultimate test of fitness, rider skill and bike durability.
After a tightly fought first lap, that saw the lead changed up to six times as Green along with Motorex KTM's Ben Grabhamand South Australian Flinders Motorcycles backed, KTM mounted Ivan Long took turns leading the opening lap.
As the riders rounded the first lap, it was Long who has the race lead after starting from 8th position. Carlton Dry Honda'sBen Townley was another rider who worked his way in to contention early in the race after qualifying 12th and was in sight of the leaders during the second lap.
However it was Green who eventually broke clear of his rivals and stretched his lead to a comfortable gap by the half way stage. After Nearly four and a half hours of racing, Green claimed a convincing win on board his Yamaha YZ450F, claiming his maiden Hattah win after finishing second at his first attempt at the race last year.
“The speed on the first two laps was crazy,” Green said after the event. “A few of us were going backwards and forwards and it seemed really difficult to lead. But after a few laps, I seemed to find my flow, got to the front and was able to just ride my own race.
“I had a drama free run the whole race until the final lap when I crested a hill and jumped into a fallen lapped rider. It was a bit scary as I didn’t see him until I was already committed but luckily no damage was done and I was able to pick it up and get to the finish line,” he laughed.
When the finish flag flew on the eighth and final lap, Green had a lead of 2 minutes and 19 seconds over second placed Husaberg rider Jarrod Bewley.
“I’m pretty pumped to win." Green continued. "The Hattah race is such a cool event and the atmosphere is awesome. This is only the second time I have done it but I love racing here and the loop is unreal to ride."
Jarrod Bewley (below) once again showed he is well suited to the Husaberg FE510 with a fine second place finish - Credit: Random Image Photography
Bewley who recently made the jump from a Husaberg 450 to a Husaberg FE501 with and instant improvement in results at the last round of the Australian Off-Road Championship last weekend, once again proved his is more suited to the bigger machine, working is way forward in the second half of the race to finish second.
“It was a great result." Bewley enthused. "I got caught with traffic a little in the Prologue on Saturday and placed 7th and in the race I just put in a solid effort and stayed consistent.
"I got into second on Lap 2 and put my head down and there were no dramas. I’m really gelling with the FE501 and enjoying it, and doing well is easy when you’re enjoying the bike.
"I was stoked when the rain came on Saturday night because it prevented it from being a dusty race. As expected the track formed really rough whoops and square-edge bumps and the back markers became tricky to pass, so I couldn’t pull Josh in even though my lap times were good.
"Still, I can’t complain. It will be good to have some down time now and look forward to the next race. I’m having fun now and the results come when you’re having fun!" Bewley concluded.
Rounding out the podium was Carlton Dry Honda backed Peter Boyle, who was another rider to march forward during the near on 200km race. Boyle qualified in 11th position durings Saturday's prolouge before making a hard charge on Sunday to finish 3rd.Tom McCormack topped off a strong day for the Active8 Yamaha team - Credit: Fourohfour The day proved to be one to remember for the Active8 Yamaha team with Tom McCormack taking a very respectable fourth outright and third in class. McCormack, overcame a tough Saturday prologue to finish fourth and make it a great day for the Active8 Yamaha team.
“I finished ninth in the prologue and was frustrated with how I rode but I also knew that if I rode properly, then I would go pretty well,” McCormack explained. “I made some passes and kept trying to be smooth and consistent the whole race and I was able to pull off a fourth place which I’m really happy with.
On hand to watch his Active8 Yamaha riders was team manager, AJ Roberts, who stood down from riding duties to work with the riders.
“It was a very pleasing result and both Josh and Tom rode exceptionally well." Roberts stated. "Both prepared well for the event and our bikes were fast and reliable all weekend.
“A huge thank you goes out to the Active8 Yamaha crew and our sponsors as events like this really are a team effort and everyone put in the hard yards for the success we had this weekend," he added.
Ben Grabham continues to find form as he returns to racing from very big injuries - Credit: Random Image Photography Motorex KTM's Ben Grabham rounded out the top five outright 9 minutes and four second behind the race leader.
“I was fifth outright and second in the big bores today." Grabham stated. "After the injury it’s good to see where I stand.
"I had the speed to get to the front and the 500EXC is suiting me down to the ground, however the track today got gnarly and super rough and when that happens, physically I’m just not strong enough yet when the bike needs to be manhandled.
"I’m not unhappy - fifth in this company is not a bad result and I’ve learned little bits and pieces to help me move forward," he added.
In the Tenacious Women of Hattah class, it was Motorex KTM's Kristy Gillespie who claied a narrow 13 second win ahead of Tayla Jones after a four lap, 2 hour and 32 minute battle.
The two KTM pilots traded the lead back and fourth each lap, with experienced Gillespie holding on for a hard fought win. Australia's World Enduro championship contender, Jessica Gardiner finished in third place aboard her Sherco.
2013 - Hattah Desert Race Outright Top 20
1. JOSH GREEN 8 4:22:36.072
2. JARROD BEWLEY 8 4:24:55.749
3. PETER BOYLE 8 4:28:59.435
4. TOM MCCORMACK 8 4:30:29.663
5. BEN GRABHAM 8 4:31:40.574
6. WARREN SMART 8 4:31:50.983
7. CHRIS HOLLIS 8 4:33:38.777
8. IVAN LONG 8 4:47:31.761
9. MATTHEW FISH 8 4:54:48.804
10. NATHAN TRIGG 8 4:55:31.736
11. BRENTON KEEP 8 4:57:34.780
12. BROC GRABHAM 8 4:59:20.944
13. JACOB SMITH 8 5:00:43.105
14. TODD SMITH 8 5:04:22.027
15. BEN TOWNLEY 8 5:05:49.128 an 10th in the 450 class.
16. ALEX MORRIS 8 5:09:24.896
17. BEN BURRELL 7 4:22:41.633
18. BEN GREENWOOD 7 4:24:35.760
19. KRISTIAN SPRENGER 7 4:25:06.786
20. JACK DOOLEY-MCDONNELL 7 4:27:59.445
For Full Results from all the weekends racing CLICK HERE
Top Image: Josh Green on his way to winning the 2013 Hattah Desert race.
Credit: FourohFour