Victorian Riders Impress in the 2022 Tatts Finke Desert Race
The 46th running of Australia’s toughest off-road endurance event, the Tatts Finke Desert Race, is now complete for 2022. This year, approximately 150 of the best Victorian off-road riders lined up on the grid, in an event that pushes even the most experienced off-road endurance riders to their limits – riding through a total of 452km of different terrain, ruts, whoops, rocks, sand, and dirt.
It was all eyes on the top two Victorian riders entered; Mildura brothers Brodie and Nick Waters, who took home an impressive result in last year’s event, both finishing in the top 10 in 2021.
Running the number 6 plate from last years’ result, 30-year-old Brodie Waters [Team Waters AMX Superstore] continued his impressive form once again in 2022.
A strong prologue result saw Brodie rolling out the grid in P4 out of a competitive 500 plus rider grid, also seeing him line beside [now] three-time King of Desert and Northern Territory local man, David Walsh. Brodie finished Day 1 of the 226km trek from Alice Springs to Finke in 4th place, stopping the clock at 1 hour, 51 minutes and 30 seconds.
Unfortunately, unbeknown to Brodie, a costly mistake saw the podium contention rider start 30 seconds earlier than he should have. Although he crossed the line on Day 2 in 4th overall, this place would soon be taken off him as 30 seconds was added onto his overall time – pushing him down to 5th overall and only 8 seconds off 4th place, with a combined time of 3 hours, 42 minutes and 50 seconds.
It was a different story, however, for the #7 rider Nick Waters [Team Waters AMX Superstore]. Nick, the youngest of the Waters brother trio, was the talk of the paddock after putting in competitive times throughout pre running which would see him inline for a podium. Unfortunately, a costly prologue saw Nick starting the 2022 Tatts Finke Desert Race from 7th on the grid. Knowing he had the pace to be at the front, determination got the better of the 28-year-old, which resulted in a hefty crash a few kilometres out from the first fuel stop on Day 1.
In true motorcycle racing fashion and despite carrying some heavy injuries after his high speed crash, Nick picked himself and the bike up as he attempted an impressive feat to continue the race. But after running a few kilometres and making it to the fuel stop, Nick made the tough call to retire from the race. Upon further examination at the Alice Springs hospital, Nick suffered from a concussion and two badly bruised lungs that were operating at approximately 45 per cent capacity.
Moriac resident, Danielle Foot, flew the flag high for the females as she made Finke Desert history as the first Female to complete ‘the double’. The 22-year-old Victorian took on the gruelling challenge of running the Finke Desert course twice – Co-driving as navigator for her Dad, Ashley Foot, in the can-am 900cc Turbo, as well as competing in the bike category on her Husqvarna 250TE-I. Danielle came home in 82nd overall, 1st overall in her respective class (combined with males), as well as taking home the win in the female class, with an overall time of 4 hours, 58 minutes, and 32 seconds.
Our top 10 fastest Victorian riders of the 2022 Tatts Finke Desert Race:
P5 – Brodie Waters (Mildura)
P8 – Sam Davie (Echuca)
P12 – Sam Handley (Yarra Glen)
P14 – Dean Ross (Traralgon)
P17 – Ryan Cossens (Numurkah)
P28 – Beau Taylor (Glenlee)
P30 – Kyle Simpson (Cobram East)
P41 – Jason Stewart (Mildura)
P43 – Kurt Spence (Barongarook)
P44 – Liam Hilderbrand (Portland)