A4DE set for Mackay
Australia's enduro showpiece has arrived, with a rich array of local and overseas talent set to battle it out for four days in the Queensland tropicsKTM rider Toby Price will be out to a achieve a rare feat – winning consecutive Australian Four-Day Enduro titles – when this year’s event gets underway in Koumala, south of Mackay (Qld) on Thursday, July 7.
The 33rd annual A4DE will see about 180 riders battle it out over the four days, with the trail sections and special tests set to include scenic mountain ranges, lush valley’s and paddocks of the Sunshine State’s ‘Gateway to the Whitsunday's’.
The battle for outright honours will be as heated as ever, with Price – fresh from victory in last weekend’s Hattah Desert Enduro -- set to go head-to-head with his team-mates Ben Grabham and Jarrod Bewley; Ballard’s Yamaha duo Chris Hollis and Stefan Merriman; and Husqvarna trio Glenn Kearney, Italian Alex Salvini and Pole Bartosz Oblucki.
Hollis, Bewley, Merriman and Kearney are all former A4DE winners, while Salvini and Oblucki will be looking to become the first international victor since Briton David Knight in 2007.
Price will contest the A4DE on KTM’s brand new 350 EXC-F, which is set to be released as a 2012 model in the coming weeks (as well as being given away in a competition on the Bikesales Network) and he’s excited at the challenge ahead of him.
“Everything is feeling good ahead of the A4DE and I’m looking forward to a big week,” said Price. “The four-day is a big event for us and definitely one that I’d like to win again.
“I was able to win last year, so it would be awesome to hang onto that number one plate again for the team. I’ll definitely be giving it my best shot, trying my hardest to keep the KTM on top of the podium.”
Hollis is also primed for battle.
“I’m really looking forward to this A4DE, it should be a great event,” Hollis, who won the A4DE in 2008, said. “There will be so many good riders, and it will come down to who makes the least mistakes, so you have to concentrate on the tests and having flawless runs in them.
“Preparation for a four-day is crucial. You have to be organised -- having things like your tyres ready to rock and roll makes a big difference. Mentally, you need to treat it like any other race day. If you do get worked up, you’ll ride tense.
“A lot of stuff can happen over the four days. You just have to take it piece by piece, focus on your tests, and not think about what could happen. Just stay relaxed.”
In addition to the individual component, there is also a state-versus-state element to the A4DE, with the top riders from each locale competing on Junior and Senior Trophy teams.
In total, riders will spend around 25 hours on their bikes, and cover around 800km. Competitors will complete three days of trail and special test phases, and a short trail section and final motocross test on day four.
Click on the following link for more information on the more information on the 211 Australian Four-Day Enduro.
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