DAMIEN GRABHAM BEATS THE 2011 YILGARN RALLYE ODDS
Although 3 time Australasian Safari champion Ben Grabham was absent due to his Finke wrist injury a quality field including several Safari podium placers such as Damien Grabham, David Schwarz and Matt Fish made the trip to Southern Cross for the 2011 HA Young Plumbing Yilgarn Rallye.
Held over the 24th—26th June 2011 weekend, the event was based at Southern Cross on the edge of the Goldfields of Western Australia and took in around 900 km of station tracks, mining exploration tracks and gravel roads. Essentially a 2 day Safari the event promised to test both rider and machine for reliability over tracks similar to that used in the early legs of the 2010 Australasian Safari.
The weather for the event was perfect with some lead up light rain and cool low to mid 20’s temperatures, there was eager anticipation among the field to hit the long first Special stage. Matt Fish pushed hard on his KTM 530 EXC taking pole in the Friday prologue to lead the field at the start of the first Special, a gruelling 234km loop out from Mt Walton towards Menzies and back. However hesitation with the navigation at Musson Soak allowed Damien Grabham Husaberg FE570 to take the lead, open up a 12 minute gap and David Schwarz close up and put the pressure on. A fuel delivery problem with a QD connector on David’s Husaberg FE570 near the end of the first stage as the fuel levels dropped put paid to his charge and dropped him out of contention.
While not technically difficult the long first Safari stage took its toll on the field with around 26% of the competitors being picked up by the Sweep truck, with tyre & engine issues proving that reliability is key in long distance endurance rally events.
The next two stages proved to be a blistering pace by the two front runners with over 30 minutes back to 3rd placed Russell Scoble. In hot pursuit Fish managed to claw back 3 minutes on Grabham by the end of the Yellowdine Special.
With Grabham leading out on the start of Leg 2 Fish managed to close up within striking range on the tight twisty overgrown fire break just east of Yellowdine. As the special opened up on the exploration tracks around the old Yilgarn Star mine Grabham turned up the wick forcing Fish to try for a pass or settle for 2nd. Unfortunately for him passing at speed in the dust is a risky business and after having a decent off and getting banged up a fair bit his team decided discretion was the better part of valour and Fish retired for the day.
Grabham rode out the remaining 2 specials including a mining blast interrupted Kooly stage that passed around the south Koolyanobbing range. Having lead the race from the front from midway through the first Special to the end of the event Grabham was never headed and took away the Outright and E3 class wins as well as the Fastest Interstate competitor.
Outright
1st Damien Grabham - Husaberg FE570
2nd Paul Nappy - Honda CRF450
3rd David Langstone - KTM 530EXC
E3
1st Damien Grabham - Husaberg FE570
2nd David Langstone - KTM 530EXC
3rd Will Coole - Husaberg FE570
Fastest Veteran David Schwarz - Husaberg FE570
Fastest Interstate Competitor Damien Grabham - Husaberg FE570
Although 3 time Australasian Safari champion Ben Grabham was absent due to his Finke wrist injury a quality field including several Safari podium placers such as Damien Grabham, David Schwarz and Matt Fish made the trip to Southern Cross for the 2011 HA Young Plumbing Yilgarn Rallye.
Held over the 24th—26th June 2011 weekend, the event was based at Southern Cross on the edge of the Goldfields of Western Australia and took in around 900 km of station tracks, mining exploration tracks and gravel roads. Essentially a 2 day Safari the event promised to test both rider and machine for reliability over tracks similar to that used in the early legs of the 2010 Australasian Safari.
The weather for the event was perfect with some lead up light rain and cool low to mid 20’s temperatures, there was eager anticipation among the field to hit the long first Special stage. Matt Fish pushed hard on his KTM 530 EXC taking pole in the Friday prologue to lead the field at the start of the first Special, a gruelling 234km loop out from Mt Walton towards Menzies and back. However hesitation with the navigation at Musson Soak allowed Damien Grabham Husaberg FE570 to take the lead, open up a 12 minute gap and David Schwarz close up and put the pressure on. A fuel delivery problem with a QD connector on David’s Husaberg FE570 near the end of the first stage as the fuel levels dropped put paid to his charge and dropped him out of contention.
While not technically difficult the long first Safari stage took its toll on the field with around 26% of the competitors being picked up by the Sweep truck, with tyre & engine issues proving that reliability is key in long distance endurance rally events.
The next two stages proved to be a blistering pace by the two front runners with over 30 minutes back to 3rd placed Russell Scoble. In hot pursuit Fish managed to claw back 3 minutes on Grabham by the end of the Yellowdine Special.
With Grabham leading out on the start of Leg 2 Fish managed to close up within striking range on the tight twisty overgrown fire break just east of Yellowdine. As the special opened up on the exploration tracks around the old Yilgarn Star mine Grabham turned up the wick forcing Fish to try for a pass or settle for 2nd. Unfortunately for him passing at speed in the dust is a risky business and after having a decent off and getting banged up a fair bit his team decided discretion was the better part of valour and Fish retired for the day.
Grabham rode out the remaining 2 specials including a mining blast interrupted Kooly stage that passed around the south Koolyanobbing range. Having lead the race from the front from midway through the first Special to the end of the event Grabham was never headed and took away the Outright and E3 class wins as well as the Fastest Interstate competitor.
Outright
1st Damien Grabham - Husaberg FE570
2nd Paul Nappy - Honda CRF450
3rd David Langstone - KTM 530EXC
E3
1st Damien Grabham - Husaberg FE570
2nd David Langstone - KTM 530EXC
3rd Will Coole - Husaberg FE570
Fastest Veteran David Schwarz - Husaberg FE570
Fastest Interstate Competitor Damien Grabham - Husaberg FE570
