Lowndes blitzes, Grabham makes it three

The gruelling Australasia Safari is over for another year, with both pre-event favourites living up to their star billing – Holden’s Craig Lowndes and KTM’s Ben Grabham.

Safari rookie Lowndes and navigator Kees Weel finished one hour and 15 minutes (1.15) to spare over Darren Green and Wayne Smith (Nissan Patrol), with long-time Dakar and Safari competitors Bruce Garland and Harry Suzuki (Isuzu D-MAX) third.

Garland won three of the four stages in the seventh and final leg, held on the sand dunes in Esperance.

“I’m delighted to win my first attempt at Safari. We stayed out of trouble and the beach sand was something I was more familiar with from my practice runs,” said Lowndes. “We got the Colorado airborne a couple of times on the dunes and it was a really great day.”

Kerry Turley/Naomi Tillett (Patrol) and Anthony Flood/Tom van Kaan (Mitsubishi Pajero) completed the top five in auto.

Meanwhile, battle hardened Bathurst rider Grabham made it a third win in four years, and also led home a KTM trifecta, with Todd Smith and Mathew Fish completing the dais on their 530EXCs.

Grabham, who held the lead for all but one leg during the Safari, finished over 18 minutes ahead of Smith.

“It was a fun way to finish, riding across the sand dunes and the beach, although getting through the sand was a bit tough,” said Grabham. “After all the hard work, it’s a big relief it’s over not just for me, but also for the mechanics and the whole team."

Smith completed the Safari despite nursing a shoulder injury sustained on the first day of competition.

“It’s been a pretty rough week, but I just don’t like to give up on things. You finish what you start,” said Smith, who lost his brother and defending champion Jacob to a broken ankle during the event.

“It will take me about a month to recover, but now I’m now looking forward to having a party -- otherwise known as leg eight!”

Fish was ecstatic with his third place, where he finished ahead of David Schwarz (Husaberg FE570), David Beavis (CRF450X), Kenny Scott (Honda CRF450X), Robert Lang (KTM 450EXC) and James Chittick (CRF450X).

“I didn’t finish last year and it’s my fourth attempt at a podium finish, and I’m finally there,” said Fish. “I had a great day today and the beach finish topped it off.”

The leading international rider was Sweden’s Annie Seel (FE570) in 15th.

Paul Smith was the victor in the quad division, enjoying a relatively hassle-free journey on his Honda TRX700XX.

The event commenced with 112 vehicles and only 64 finished, a 40 per cent attrition rate. The moto divisison lost a number of big names along the way, including AJ Roberts (CRF450X), Ivan Erceg (530EXC), Jacob Smith (CRF450X) and Rod Faggotter (Yamaha WR450F).

Over seven days, the event traversed Western Australia, starting on the coast in Perth, travelling east through the wheat belt to the historic goldfields, then south to the beaches of Esperance.

Check out the official Carsales Australasian Safari site for more information on the event.