Preview: 2014 Finke Desert Race

The 2014 Tatts Finke Desert Race will be held this Queen’s Birthday long weekend (June 7-9), with Honda rider Todd Smith out to defend his mantle as the king of the Northern Territory desert.

The FDR is an institution on the off-road calendar in Australia, beginning in 1976 as a ‘there and back’ challenge for a group of local motorcycle riders from Alice Springs to the Finke River and return. After the success of this initial ride, the event was born and it has been held annually on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend ever since, appealing to motorcycle, quad, car and buggy riders and drivers across all racing backgrounds.

Alice Springs riders have traditionally performed well at the FDR – especially in the early years as local knowledge really came to the fore – but over the last decade interstate riders have taken over the mantle, including names like Ben Grabham, Toby Price and Smith.

Since 2007, Grabham has won four times, Price twice, and in 2013 Smith got his name on the trophy for the first time, with his sibling and Honda teammate Jacob in second ahead of Yamaha’s Josh Green. Price missed last year’s event due to injury.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see the 2014 FDR victor come out of that quintet, but if the script is thrown out the window expect riders like Peter Boyle – the KTM teammate of Grabham and Price – current Australasian Safari champion Rod Faggotter (Yamaha), Caleb Auchricht (Honda), Ivan Long (KTM) or local Jack Dooley-McDonnell (Honda) to fill the void.

There are 393 motorcycle entries across eight classes – including AFL great Tony Lockett in the over 45 veterans’ class -- while 38 quad riders and 91 cars/buggies will also compete. For the full list of competitors, visit www.finkedesertrace.com.au/competitors.

The total distance of the event is 460km return – 230km each way – with the top bike riders expected to complete the journey in about four hours. The race is run along sections of what was the Old Ghan Railway service track -- adjacent to the railway line -- along a winding corrugated track, which snakes through typical outback terrain of red dirt, sand, spinifex, mulga and desert oaks. Even though the railway was realigned and rebuilt in the early ’80s, with the old tracks being pulled up, the race continues along its original course.

The event prologue will be held on Saturday, June 7, which will determine the starting positions for the run to Finke on the Sunday.

For spectators, camping is allowed anywhere along the course, except the start-finish area. All campers are asked to make a gold coin donation to the Finke Desert Race for the pleasure of staying out under the stars.

For more information on the FDR, visit www.finkedesertrace.com.au.