This years Finke Desert Race quad classes look set for some hot competition with no less than 3 Van Vliet boys lining up in Class 9 along side dual TP300 and HB 100 winners , Troy and Clint Sheridan from Tassie not to mention the young talent from WA in Josh McKay and Jay Ward and also local hopeful Paddy Geraghty. After several lead changes on the way down it was CLint Sheridan leading from his little brother Troy by 20 seconds and with a further 2 minutes back to Mitch Van Vliet. Not to be for the Tassie riders again this year Troy had built up a minute lead over Mitch VV on the way back to Alice only to have an electrical problem slow him down while Clint also suffered from an electrical problem as well as a seat that wouldn't stay on his DS450 leaving Mitch to a 9 minute gap for day 2 and an overall victory for Class 9 on his WPS Yamaha YFZ450R.

In the over 40s brigade it was Class 10 first timer Craig Blackburn who looked strong over the class favorites Rick Beer and Eddie Tattingham, Blackburns time for day 1 a full 6 minutes faster than Matt McKay from WA and while he was only 4th fastest on the way home it was enough for an overall win in the class from Matt McKay and Eddie Tattingham.

CLASS 09 : QUADS UP TO 40 YEARS (total 3)

9 992 Van Vliet, Mitchell Narre Warren North, VIC Yamaha YFZ450  05:34:54 1

9 915 Sheridan, Clinton Spreyton, TAS Can-Am 450XMX  05:42:12 2

9 993 Van Vliet, Harrison Narre Warren North, VIC Yamaha YZF450 05:58:26 3

CLASS 10 : QUADS 40 YEARS AND OVER (total 3)

10 Y15 Blackburn, Craig Darling Heights, QLD Suzuki LTR450R 06:06:40 1

10 Y66 Mckay, Matthew North Yunderup, WA Suzuki LTR450 06:09:30 2

10 Y77 Tattingham, Eddie Darwin, NT KTM 525XC 06:10:29 3

The two day event will be held from 7 - 8 September at the Coolum Pines Motocross Track in Queensland the week after the final round of the Australian Motocross Championships.

This will be the third round for the Pro Quads and will included a full program of all other ATV Championship classes.

"We have been working on a venue for some time that would work for the ATV community. We were looking at Warwick, but due to track licensing we have confirmed the Coolum track. The Sunshine Coast Council has been a great supporter of the National Motocross Championship and their support of National Motocross made this a great option", said MX promoter, Kevin Williams.

Entries will be online on July 1 at www.mxnationals.com.au

Dirt Comp Edition 34 is now on sale with features from the Thumb Pump 300 ATV Festival, Round 1 of the ARC SxS Challenge in WA at the Quit Forest Rally and this editions features rider profile, Kawasaki's Todd O'leary. 

This edition also coincides with the launch of Dirt Comps new look website so head on over to www.dirtcomp.com.au to check it out and while you're there you can subscribe to the magazine.

Tassie Quad Adventures have launched thier new website with some brand new features.

 

Some new features:

1. You will find that thier booking system has been overhauled to enable credit card payments via PayPal OR if you prefer to pay via direct debit that too is still available.

2. A tour 'Registration' form is now available online which will save us time on tour days with the time consuming paperwork.

3. Industry News page is there for everybody to read and learn about new things that are relevant to anything Quads.  Here you can add comments that you see fit…..

4. A 'Tips n Tricks' page.  Here we have some bits n pieces that may be of use for your riding pleasure, maintenance or even the odd technical hint.

 

There is a lot more so go and check it out and let them know your thoughts! www.tassiequadadventures.com.au

 

They have also updated the 2013 calender with the addition of a 1 day training course for leisure / Adventure riding.

 

·       Eastern Explorer Express 8th - 11th June 2013.  This tour is a 2 day ride and is a similar route to our 3 day Eastern Explorer ride.  You will ride approximatley 480k in 2 days.  This ride is for those who can ride long distances and have the stamina. 

This ride for 2013 has less forestry and gravel roads than ever before and some trails that are new to all!

·       Bust Me Gall Challenge - Saturday 22nd June 2013 is on again and if you like mud and a chance to test yours skill, your bike and even test out the winch if you have one.... This ride is rated as advanced and is limited in numbers.

·       EXTREME QUAD ADVENTURES - 18th July - 31st July 2013 Cairns to Cape York….  Its on again!

·       ADVENTURE RIDING COACHING CLINIC - 17th or 18th August 2013  New to Tassie Quad Adventures….  They have a Motorcycling Australia accredited coach for a days coaching that will cover an extensive list of quad related topics to guide you to getting the most out of your riding.  We all know how to start our quad and the basics BUT do we know how to make it more rewarding and safer for you and fellow riders?

You have a choice of Saturday - Intermediate to Advanced Riders OR Sunday Novice to Intermediate Riders

Spots are strictly limited so book ASAP to avoid missing out.

Check thier website for a full list of theory and practical topics along with the days schedule

·       Eastern Explorer 24th - 28th October 2013.  This tour is their traditional 3 day tour taking in Pyenganna, Weldborough and other areas of the East Coast of Tassie.  Approximatley 500k with even more off road riding than previous years.  BE VERY QUICK THERE ARE ONLY 3 SPOTS LEFT!!!

 

Source: Reckless Desire Productions

Source: PerthMX

Championships were decided at Bunbury when the Smarter Than Smoking Healthways WAMX Quad State Championship hit the deep sands in the South West of WA.

The stand- alone round also incorporated the second round of the Clubman and Pro Quad championships. 

The Women’s championship was dominated by Simone Gaisford (1-1-1) who picked up another championship to ad to her growing championship collection.  Teniel Morgan (2-2-2) despite picking up a holeshot, and early race lead, was unable to come close to Gaisford.  Morgan picked up second in the championship as Bernice Ackerman, who came out of retirement to take the third step of the podium after her consistent third place results (3-3-3).

The 90cc-125cc  9-13 years had two wins and a second place to Matthew Lee with Jack Wilcox taking the opening moto win. Matthew Lee took the championship ahead of Jack Wilcox on the second step of the podium and emerging talent for the Women’s class in future years, Darcy Wortley who picked up third place in the championship. 

A special mention to youngster Josh McQuade in the 90cc class.  Josh was the sole competitor who held his own with the bigger bikes.

Anthony Pearce came into the round leading the Pro Quad Championship ahead of Luke Gaisford (out injured) and Chris Bosnakis.  Fresh from his win at the MX Nationals, Chris Bosnakis led the charge in the first moto with Pearce coming through to pick up second, and Brad Filbey in third place.  Shaun Woodhead and Patrick McNally came through to finish in the top five.  Moto two had the win go to Pearce on his home track after Bosnakis who was leading, came unstuck.  Despite being a couple of laps down, Bosnakis came through to pick up 13^th place and salvage some vital championship points,  Filbey picked up second with Mat Robbins in third place.

Bosnakis took the holeshot in moto three despite a first corner pile up which saw some of the contenders having to battle their way through the field.  Pearce came through in second place with Shaun Woodhead in third, Tyron Robertson fourth and Mat Robbins in fifth place.  Anthony Pearce took the win and maintains the red plate and his lead in the championship by virture of his (2-1-2) results Chris Bosnakis finished second overall (1-13-1) and Brad Filbey picked up third (3-2-7).

The clubman quad came into this second round fresh from their Kalgoorlie victory led by Anton Versaci leading Jonathan Mosby, Jeff Hogan, and Daniel Soltoggio.  Versaci came out firing in moto one before mechanical issues put an end to his day he was able to limp home in second place behind Zac Sarafimoski and James Rush.  With Versaci out, the day was dominated by Sarafimoski (1-1-1) ahead of Daniel Soltoggio (4-2-2), and Luke Johnson who took home third overall for the day ahead of battles from James Rush and Colin Balshaw.

The 200cc Junior Blasters belonged to Aston Oliver who took a clean sweep to be crowned champion for 2013, runner up went to Campbell Taylor-Lles with third step of the podium to Adam Filbey.  Further in the pack the talents of James Ognenis, Connor Wortley, Adam Filbey and Jack Wilcox shone through.

The veterans class was dominated in the first two motos by Michael Harcourt with Dave Harris Darryl Maragoni, Richard Maxted and Jeff Hogan.  Harcourts first two wins and a second in the final race saw him crowned champion with Dave Harris (2-2-1) second and Darryl Maragoni (3-3-3) rounding out the podium.  

The Bunbury Motorcyle Club hosted another outstanding event and the promoters and organising committee of the WAMX, ensuring the promotion of the sport.  Round three of the Pro and Clubman Quads heads to Byford as part of the Senior state round on May 26^th.

2013 Championship Results

Womens Quads

1^st Simone Gaisford

2^nd Teniel Morgan

3^rd Bernice Ackerman

Junior 90cc-125cc

1^st Matthew Lee

2^nd Jack Wilcox

3^rd Darcy Wortley

Junior 200cc-300cc

1^st Aston Oliver

2^nd Campbell Taylor-Lles

3^rd Adam Filbey

Veterans

1^st Michael Harcourt

2^nd Dave Harris

3^rd Darryl Maragoni

Round 2 Overall Results;

Quad Championship Series

Pro Quads

1^st Anthony Pearce

2^nd Chris Bosnakis

3^rd Adam Filbey

Clubman Quads

1^st Zac Sarafimoski

2^nd Daniel Soltoggio

3^rd Luke Johnson

Michael Roycroft narrowly misses out on win at Crookwell for round 2 of the NSW Off-Road series. 

32 cars were competing for top spots at the Crookwell gravel pit challenge, including 4 highly competitive SXS. Polaris Racing Australia Car 698 of Michael and Mike Roycroft were riding high after their 2nd in class finish at the last round and they were there to prove a point. 

5 heats over the 7.7km course would crown the outright winner and class winners. With the last heat a gruelling 10 lap 77km race which would prove the survival of the fittest. Car 698 was better prepared than the previous round with some hours of testing under its belt and some suspension tweaks, Michael’s times would again improve over the weekend. Michael moved through the field all weekend from 12th outright after the prologue, to end up 5th outright and 2nd in class by the end of heat 3 and day 1. 

Michael’s lap times were edging closer to car 622 of Snake racing UTV over the weekend and after passing car 622 in heat 4 Michael was in the lead for class 6 and 3rd outright heading into the last heat. The 5th and final 10 lap race was going to be gruelling and tough on all machines, with the DNF rate rising due to the roughness of the course all Michael had to do was cruise home to win his first UTV race. 
 

This was not meant to be as the car didn’t want to start and would not crank over to make the start line in time. Resulting in a DNS for heat 5 and a result of 4th in class and 29th outright 

Michael said after the race “To be so close to the win and not make the start line is a bit annoying, but the car didn’t miss a beat all weekend until then and to show what we can do as a team means we will have some wins this year and I am still hopeful of a few more podiums outright. We will pull the car apart and find out what is wrong and get it all sorted for the Finke Desert Race in a month’s time.” 

Michael would like to thank his sponsors 

Polaris Australia, Grind Wood fired Pizza’s, ARB Polaris Port Macquarie, Hardiman ATV, Fox Racing Shox, Tubby Signs, Fury Tyres, Chantall Photographix, Kettle Chips and Solo. 

The team’s next outing is at the Finke desert race for round 2 off the Australian Off-road series on the weekend of 8th to the 10th of June