Australasian Dirt Bike — June 2017

http://www.adbmag.com.au JUNE 201 7 | 25

DESERT WHISPERE

The Finke Desert Race is arguably the
biggest and most important off-road race
on the Australian calendar. With the desert
classic just around the corner, we are
starting to hear some whispers drifting
down from Alice Springs.

TYE-GONE – Tye Simmonds’ name has been
removed from the entry list. The Bourke,
NSW, rider originally committed to the race,
but it now looks as though we won’t see Tye
racing at all in 2017. Rumour has it his
contract was torn up because he wanted to
race just SX and Hattah. Or maybe he’s the
bloke we’re talking about on the next page.

WHAT IS CHUCKY UP TO? – There are
whispers that Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders may
not be entirely happy in Europe. On a recent
visit to Oz, Chucky posted a clip of himself
testing a KTM 500 EXC with GDR suspension,
hinting at a new challenge that he will
reveal soon. Could Chucky be bound for
Finke? Or was he simply testing for Hattah
in July?

SIMMO ON FIRE – Apparently Jack Simpson
has been killing it while pre-running up in
Alice Springs. The KTM rider has stepped up
to the 450 SX-F after finishing 11th outright
on a 250 SX-F last year. We could see the
Yarra Valley, Victoria, rider right up in the
thick of it.

ENTRIES INCREASED – The entry limit has
been increased to 650 motorcycle riders
due to overwhelming demand. Some regular
competitors have expressed displeasure at
this due to the additional dust and logistical
issues in getting every rider away on Day 1.

SIDE BY SIDES RULE – UTV’s are the
second most popular race vehicle behind
bikes. With 26 entries in the Superlite A
class and 33 in the Superlite B class, the
UTV classes have the most entries in the
Car/Buggy division. Unfortunately we
almost certainly won’t see them trouble the
Pro Buggies or the Extreme 2WD’s, but hey,
we can hope, can’t we?

PLUGGER IS BACK – Tony ‘Plugger’ Lockett
is set to compete again, with his name next
in line on the waiting list at the time of
writing. The VFL/AFL goal-kicking legend is
looking fit as a fiddle and will pilot a KTM
500 EXC down to Finke. Plugger can ride, so
look out.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

“Dungey

hasn’t

replied to a

text all year,

so I skipped him,

and CR22 said no

thanks”

• Steve Matthes on trying to get
  Dungey and Reed on the Pulp MX Show.

DidyouknowthatOakley gotitsstart

making motocross grips? Founder Jim

Jannard named the company after

hisdog andbegan selling motorcycle

parts out the back of his car at races.

By the

Numbers

25

Years since CDR Yamaha began

48

ChampionshipswonbyCDR

inthat time

9

Times amanufacturerotherthan

KTMorHondahaswonFinke

5000

Dollars missingfrom Chad’spiggy

bankafterhis clashwithDungey

318 MILLION

Crazed Americans chasing

Reedwith pitchforks

0

CaresgivenbyEliTomac

during this saga

Did you

know?

Tye Simmonds

Jack Simpson