2012 Australasian Safari - Leg 4
The Leg 4 course comprised dry creeks, claypans and fence lines around the remote Kennedy Ranges. It finished in the small community of Gascoyne Junction, where the Safari crew increased the town's population by 500 percent!
Leg 4's competition saw Jake Smith (GHR Honda CRF 450X) increase his lead in the overall standings, with Warren Strange - also on a GHR Honda - moving into second position after Yamaha Desert Racing's Rod Faggotter was out on Stage 9 with wheel bearing failure.
Faggotter can still line up for leg 5, but will be slugged with a 12 hour time penalty for missing the Leg 4's two control points. Faggotter's loss is a gain for Vern Strange (Yamaha Desert Racing WRF 450), who has moved into third overall and continues to lead the Dakar Challenge competition.
Jake Smith said despite the difficult navigation required today, he had no issues.
"I had a good day. The tracks were really technical, it certainly wasn't easy. It was pretty cool when you dropped down into the range - the scenery was pretty nice."
Warren Strange (GHR Honda CRF 450X) said he took the conservative approach today with the interesting track.
"The track was a challenge, I went sideways during the second stage, hit a rock and fell off but am not hurt. I rode conservatively today to maintain my position, to preserve the tyres and the motor."
Ryan Ingram (CPW Motoparts KTM 450), who has moved into sixth overall and is currently the highest placed KTM rider, said he had a very good day.
"The track was very rough and rocky and the bike is going perfect in it." His manager Don McGrath chipped in: "Tomorrow he's gonna have to ride it like he stole it!"
Privateer Ivan Erceg, on a Honda CRF 450X, also enjoyed Leg 4's opening stage.
"I really liked it - it was fast, sandy and along fence lines - those tracks suits me. The rocky stages made me ride more carefully. The bike's in good nick but I'm not!" he laughed.
Dutch entrant Simon Schimmel (CPW/AvG Motorsport KTM 450 EXC) said he had the best day on the Safari so far.
"I want the GPS co-ordinates for all these beautiful viewing spots - I want to come back to all these places with my wife. It is like Apache land, they should shoot movies here!"
At the end of Leg 4, Jake Smith holds a 22 minute lead over Warren Strange, with Vernon Strange in third. Erceg holds onto fourth overall, despite finishing Leg 4 in seventh place, with South Africa's Brett Cummings (GHR Honda Rallyerider CRF 450X) completing the top five. Other international entrants inside the top ten include the USA's Michael Johnson (GHR Honda CRF 450X) in seventh, and Alex Van Ginkel (CPW/AvG Motorsport KTM 450 EXC) from the Netherlands, who's in eighth.
One to watch in the Aus Safari's closing stages will be David Schwarz (Husaberg Rallye Racing FE 570). After a poor start that saw him in 22nd place at the end of Leg 1, the experienced Safari and Dakar entrant has been steadily improving, and sits in 13th overall with three days remaining.
In the Quads, division leader Paul Smith said he had an awesome day.
"I loved it. I got lost halfway through the last stage. It was really technical, but that's the sort of riding I like - it's keeping me on my toes. I saw two emus today and the scenery is just beautiful - I'm getting the full fauna experience!"
Glenn Brown (Honda CRX700) was second quickest on Leg 4, but still sits in third overall behind Heath Young (KTM 690 Rallye). With more than an hour's lead over the rest of the field, Smith is in the box seat to win the Quad division.
With the halfway point of the 2012 Australasian Safari reached, the "home stretch" will start with Leg 5, which remains in the Gascoyne River region with a 147km stage to start the day circumnavigating the huge Bidgemia pastoral station. Competitors will face a rough overgrown run and flood-damaged river plains with many sandy creeks and river crossings. The huge 301km second stage follows a disused road including a stony floodway, fence lines, and hidden rocks. A highlight will be crossing the Gascoyne River, finishing with fast flowing rally roads.
For more information on the 2012 Australasian Safari and the latest results, visit www.australasiansafari.com.au
Images: Keith Hedgeland and Sabine Albers, courtesy of Australasian Safari/Bright Communications
