2018 KTM Australia Adventure Rallye
This year’s third-annual KTM Australia Adventure Rallye – dubbed the ‘Outback Run’ - marked a true first for the KTM Adventure family. Held from 1 to 8 June, the Outback Run was the biggest event in the short history of these Adventure Rallyes and one that’s unlikely to be repeated for some time.
Orange Army on the Move This true adventure saw 244 KTM-mounted participants travel 2700 kilometres in seven days, camping under the stars each night and enjoying experiences like the magnificent Maryfield Station and the start of the iconic Finke Desert Race, where Toby Price, David Walsh and Jack Simpson delivered a KTM clean sweep of the outright podium.
In between, the orange riders traversed all kinds of awe-inspiring locations, from Heytesbury Cattle Co’s Humbert River Station to North Star Pastoral’s Limbunya Station via the spectacular Gregory National Park, as well as Suplejack Downs Station, with the last leg running from Tilmouth Well through to Desert Edge Motorcycles in Alice Springs for the final bivouac.
Playing an instrumental role in the 2018 Adventure Rallye, North Star Pastoral generously opened their stations and provided top hospitality for all the riders and staff involved. Without North Star Pastoral, the Outback Run simply wouldn’t have been possible.
A sense of the scale of the Outback Run comes from the fact that a total of 45 staff were required, including representatives from KTM Australia, North Star Pastoral, Motorex Australia and a range of highly-valued volunteers. Factory support was also appreciated in the form of KTM Marketing Technician Clemens Maschler, who made his way from KTM HQ to Australia for the event.
Special guests included KTM Adventure Ambassador Chris Birch and KTM Enduro Racing Team’s reigning AORC champion and 2018 A4DE winner, Daniel Milner.
With more than 240 KTMs in convoy through ultra-remote areas of the Northern Territory over seven days, the logistics required for an adventure of this scale are extensive and included road trains carrying luggage, lights, power and even a purpose-built kitchen. Helicopters and 4WD back-up vehicles were also employed, plus a Royal Flying Doctor Service 4WD.
While there was a higher injury rate encountered on the opening day than previously experienced (five riders were hospitalised with varying injuries), the event’s comprehensive medical plan, which included the assistance of the Racesafe Medical Team, an on-site helicopter and the excellent response of CareFlight, ensured all riders were treated in Darwin Hospital within hours of their incidents.
Having Fun and Doing Good The KTM Australia Adventure Rallye Outback Run created fantastic camaraderie, with many riders venturing outside of their comfort zone and rising to the occasion of camping and riding in rugged outback landscapes. Many accomplished what they had never thought possible, making for an amazing sense of achievement. Nearly 90 per cent of the riders who entered completed the Rallye and each received a special finisher memento of their achievement.
A community partnership with the Royal Flying Doctor Service - in which riders were encouraged to raise funds through the Everydayhero website in addition to donations made during the Rallye - resulted in $108,131.65 going to the RFDS. Part of that fundraising included KTM Australia auctioning off the coveted ‘001 Rider’ plate.
An Epic Adventure The final word on this year’s KTM Australia Adventure Rallye go to KTM Australia’s General Manager, Jeff Leisk. “Bringing our KTM Adventure Rallye concept to the Outback has been a long time in the making and to see it come to fruition because of the KTM and North Star Pastoral partnership, and the support of the KTM dealer network and KTM adventure riders, is outstanding,” said Leisk.
“We will most likely not see an adventure of this scale again – but to be able to visit these remote outback regions, areas where not many people have ever been before, is such a privilege. We couldn’t have done it without Colin, Jo and the team from North Star Pastoral, so again a massive thank you to them for their graciousness and hospitality.
“It’s still sinking in how many kilometres we travelled, how remote we were and what we experienced, but extreme adventure is the KTM way and I think every rider there and this entire event personified that ethos. To sum it up in one word: EPIC!”
Tassie in 2019 Plans are already underway for the 2019 KTM Australia Adventure Rallye, which will be held in Tasmania during late March/early April. Further information will be released via KTM dealerships and online at: ridektm.com.au
Words & Photos: Courtesy of KTM Australia
