Preview: 2013 Hattah Desert Race

A star-studded cast of motocross, enduro and desert racing specialists will converge on Hattah, near Mildura (Vic), from July 5-7 for the famed Hattah Desert Race.

One of the riders to put his hand up is former world motocross champion Ben Townley (pictured), who retired from full-time professional competition at the beginning of the year. Townley will ride a Honda CRF450R in the Hattah, which is a 304km event – eight laps around a 38km loop.

The terrain is typical Mallee scrub, and includes everything from tight, technical sections winding through trees to wide open blasts through open paddocks and sand hills.

“I am really looking forward to Hattah,” Townley said. “Now I have retired from full-time competition I have the opportunity to do some events like this which are a personal goal.

“I have had to get off the couch and do a bit more training. Bike wise, I feel great riding, but four hours is a long time. Everyone is in the same boat it is going to come down to who rides a smart race.

“I am going to head over to Australia a bit earlier to do some testing, as we will change quite a few things on the bike to suit the off-road race.”
One of Townley’s teammates will be Peter Boyle, who finished third outright in 2009.

Other big guns include 2013 Finke Desert Race 1-2 finishers, Honda duo Todd Smith and Jacob Smith, Chris Hollis (KTM), Ben Grabham (KTM), 2012 Hattah runner-up Josh Green (Yamaha), AJ Roberts (Yamaha), Warren Smart (Suzuki), David Walsh (Honda), Michael Walsh (Honda), Matt Fish (KTM) and Caleb Auricht (Honda). They will all compete in the premier 251-450cc four-stroke class.

Toby Price has won the last three Hattahs, but will sit out this year’s event with injury.