Ben Grabham chasing Australian Safari hat trick

The 22nd instalment of the Australian Safari begins in Perth on August 1, with the redoubtable Ben Grabham the clear favourite to make it three wins in a row.

Grabham is currently without peer in local desert racing, and has already won the Finke and Hattah events this year after switching from Honda to KTM during the off-season.

“The course covers the same terrain as last year, but this time it is backwards and getting lost is highly likely with all the navigation," said Grabham. "Everyone gets lost during at least one stage of safari, so that doesn’t really worry me, I just need to ensure I’m on the gas in the sections that really open up.

"I’m confident with such a great team environment we can bring home the win for KTM.”

KTM dominated the safari in the first half of this century, with late Andy Caldecott victorious from 2000-2003. The safari then went into recess until the promoter, Octagon, brought it back to life in Western Australia in 2007.

Since them, the event has been open season for Grabham, but this year he will again face a number of well credentialed competitors who are keen to see him dethroned in the 3600km epic, including his brother Damian.

Damian will compete under the same KTM factory umbrella as Ben, and other big names include Rod Faggoter (Yamaha), Matthew Fish (KTM) and Honda pair Jacob Smith and AJ Roberts.

Faggoter was second behind Grabham last year, while Smith, then a Yamaha rider, was runner-up in 2007.

Husaberg is also putting in a huge effort this year, with its roster including Dakar Rally veterans David Schwarz and Andrew Coaker, top female racer Annie Seel and Brandon Keinhaus.

Schwarz ran as high as 12th in this year’s Dakar Rally before some late trouble dropped him down the standings.

Of the 54 bike entries, KTM dominates with 25, and there will also be representation from Suzuki, BMW and Husqvarna.

There are 11 international riders in the moto field.

In the quad division, running for just the second time, everyone will be chasing five-time Dakar winner, Czech Josef Machacek, on his Yamaha Raptor. There are just seven quad entries, four of them from overseas.

The safari begins in Russell Square, Northbridge on August 1, with a new course set to see riders finishing at the mining town of Kalgoorlie a week later.

Of the 3600km, nearly 75 percent will be on “very challenging terrain”, according to Octagon.

There are just 24 auto entries in 2009, with last year’s top three – former motorcycle star Stephen Riley, Des Harrington and Bruce Garland – all locked in to renew their battle.

For a list of the motorcycle entries, click here.

For more information on the Australian Safari, click here.