2012 AUSTRALASIAN SAFARI - LEG 7 FINAL - JUST BIKES

2012 Australasian Safari - Leg 7 Final

The 24-year-old from NSW is now a two-time Safari winner, after tasting victory in the gruelling event in 2009. While his brother Todd suffered a mechanical failure early, Jake was 'Mr. Consistency' on his CRF 450X, winning several stages, and never relinquishing the leader's spot throughout all seven legs that made up this year's Safari.

Jake said he was still feeling really good after the eight days of racing, but was relieved it was all over. "It's never over 'til it's over, so I was taking it easy to get through the cool beach stages and cross the finish line. Having won last in 2009 it's a really good feeling to win again," he said.

With Todd's win last year, the Smith brothers now have a combined seven podiums in seven Safaris on three different marques - Honda, Yamaha and KTM. The win for Jake Smith and the GHR Honda squad have made it five wins from the last six starts for Honda in the Safari's Moto Division.

WA's Warren Strange, 47, is no stranger to the Safari and he rode his Dakar-built Honda CRF 450X to finish a convincing second overall, one hour 39 minutes ahead of his nearest rival.
"I'm really happy that an old guy like me can do this! I gave up motocross riding when these guys around me were kids!" Strange said. "I've tried to do quite a lot of events this year in my preparation for Dakar so I'm really pleased it has paid off."

The podium was also a huge personal achievement for Strange, having had leukaemia for 20 years. "I've been able to take time off work to train and now I'm following my passion, life's too short," he said.

Third place went to Ryan Ingram. The podium was doubly impressive for the 33-year-old Ingram, as this year was his first attempt at the event.
"I'm feeling pretty good with this being my first Safari, it's the longest event I've contested. It was harder than I thought, a tough week. The stages were good, the longer the better for me. The bike's been great to me too."

Riding a CPW Motosports KTM 450, Ingram's third place was made more secure when Brett Cummings (GHR Honda) was hit with a 45-minute time penalty going into the final leg. The South African was close behind Ingram at the end of the penultimate leg, and would have came within seconds of snatching the final podium slot without the penalty. Consolation for missing the podium came in the form of an entry to the 2013 Dakar rally, as Cummings was the highest placed finisher in the 'Dakar Challenge' component of this year's Australasian Safari.

International entrants dominated the finishers in the Dakar Challenge. Cummings's fourth place was followed by Holland's Melchior van Heertum (eleventh overall) and South Africa's Glen Grundy (21st overall). Michael Johnson (USA) and Alex van Ginkel (Netherlands) failed to finish. Australia's Dakar Challenge entrants, Russell Scoble and Todd Smith, finished 26th and 27th respectively, after early mechanical failures ended ther chances in the Dakar Challenge and the Safari proper. Vernon Strange (Yamaha) failed to finish.

South Australia's David Schwarz upheld his record of finishing inside the top ten with a seventh outright. The 42-year-old Husaberg rider has finished inside the top ten in the last ten Australasian Safaris, a huge achievement for this marathon event given no other competitor has managed more than four.
"Ten years of racing is a long time. I'm tired but happy'" Schwarz said. "This year's stages were great, I really enjoyed it, it ranks right up there with the other Safaris I've done. The variation in the terrain and the styles of riding were great and there were some true Safari stages. It was great to go somewhere new."

In the Quad division, Paul Smith won convincingly from start to finish on his Honda TRX 700XX. Smith has contested each Australasian Safari since quads were introduced five years ago, and won the division in 2010. The 35-year-old Victorian was also in a winning position last year when he crashed and broke a leg, making this year's victory all the sweeter.

"Especially after last year's stuff up and the helicopter ride to hospital with a broken leg, I'm really glad to be on top," a relieved Smith said. "In true Safari form, the event had to throw something at me, and in the last three kilometres I hit a sheep. It was OK and ran away.

"I loved the Gascoyne region for Safari, the stages were awesome - pure evil! It's the least troubles I've ever had on the event and it's a credit to the guys who built the bike. I'm really happy. Next stop Dakar!" Smith added.

2012 Australasian Safari FINAL STANDINGS - Top Ten MOTO Division (unofficial)

Rider Bike Time
1. Jake Smith 2012 Honda CRF 450X 24hrs 56min 25sec
GHR Honda

2. Warren Strange 2012 Honda CRF 450X 25hrs 27min 11sec
GHR Honda

3. Ryan Ingram 2010 KTM 450 27hrs 36min 56sec
CPW Motoparts/Pit n Portal Group/KTM

4. Brett Cummings 2011 Honda CRF 450X 28hrs 39min 18sec
(South Africa) GHR Honda Rallyerider

5. Paul Nappy 2010 Honda CRF 450X 28hrs 40min 37sec
MMS

6. Jamie Chittick 2011 Honda CRF 450X 28hrs 42min 37sec
JC Motorsport

7. David Schwarz 2012 Husaberg FE570 28hrs 48min 28sec
Husaberg Rallye Racing

8. Chad Vernon 2009 Yamaha WR450F 28hrs 49min 25sec

9. Guy Henley 2012 Honda CRF 450X 29hrs 06min 08sec
(South Africa) GHR Honda

10. Michael Heuchan 2012 Husaberg FE570 29hrs 57min 09sec
Husaberg Rallye Racing

2012 Australasian Safari FINAL STANDINGS - QUAD Division (unofficial)

Rider Bike Time
1. Paul Smith 2011 Honda TRX 700XX 31hrs 13min 12sec
GHR Honda
2. Heath Young 2011 KTM 690 Rallye 32hrs 20min 13sec
HA Young Plumbing
3. Neville Yeatman 2010 Can Am Outlander 37hrs 57min 42sec
NY Racing
4. Jason Lucas 2009 Honda TRX 700XX 50hrs 21min 09sec

This year's Australasian Safari course was approximately 3,500km through the mid-west of Western Australia. 115 competitors (moto, auto and quad) started the Safari on September 21, and after a Prologue and seven legs, 92 competitors finished.

For full stage by stage results and further details on the 2012 Australasian Safari, go to www.australasiansafari.com.au