Last year's overall winner Cody Upton led the field away on the #1 Honda and overcome a broken left hand to win this year's edition of the Gascoyne Dash in Western Australia.
Building on the success of last year’s new point to point race format that saw competitors racing from Carnarvon on the coast, 205km east to Gascoyne Junction and back, the Coral Coast Helicopter Services Gascoyne Dash built up a head of steam running into this year’s event. A solid field of 51 moto’s entered the iconic event, including 19 quads.
“2018 marked the launch of our point to point format and it is exciting to see so many competitors embrace the concept and return in 2019. We’ve seen an explosion in the SXS and quad bike categories, boosting an already healthy field that stars a number of former event winners.”
“The course stretching from Carnavon to the Junction and back is essentially the same as 2018, with a few deviations around the water from the late seasonal rain. The track is still quite tacky from the wet weather and there should be a lot less dust than usual early in the weekend.” Said Ted Schultz, President of the Gascoyne Off Road Racing Club.
Competitors got down to business on Good Friday with the 11km prologue to determine the starting order at the Carnarvon Speedway.
2018 overall winner Cody Upton led the field away on the #1 Honda. However, opening the course proved to be a tough task with Upton finishing in fourth overall. Taking the coveted number 1 starting position was KTM rider James McCarthy, stopping the clock some 13 seconds ahead of fellow KTM Rider Thomas O’Connell, with the Yamaha of Alex Moore rounding out the top 3 outright. While the leading quad was ATV MX convert, Luke Gaisford on his #14 Honda.
The first day of the main event saw the field race east approximately 205 kilometres from coastal Carnarvon to the outback oasis of Gascoyne Junction.
Day one went to the #1 of Cody Upton. On the return home the following day, the Honda rider not only faced stiff opposition from his fellow competitors and the tough terrain on the race home he would also have to overcome a broken left hand. A rock thrown from a competitor’s bike struck Upton’s hand on the run to Gascoyne Junction on day one, meaning the reigning champion would need to fight through the pain barrier to retain his title. And fight he did!
While not able to match the pace that he set on day one, Upton was able to do just enough to lead the Moto field home to Carnarvon to take back to back Coral Coast Helicopter Services Gascoyne Dash victories. Upton’s hard work on the first leg paid dividends, with #19 James McCarthy forced him to settle for second outright despite an impressive race home, falling 2 minutes 18 seconds shy of Upton. Alex Moore outgunned #292 Thomas O’Connell to jump one place up the leaderboard on the home run. Bringing his #69 Yamaha home four minutes behind McCarthy and 1 min ahead of O’Connell to round out the outright Coral Coast Helicopter Services Gascoyne Dash Moto podium.
#54 Jye Schaap, #12 Damon Meyer, #211 Luke Thomson and #466 Cameron Smart filled 5th to 8th outright respectively, with #23 Michael Lough taking 9th and the Veterans class win. His classmate, #240 Andrew Somers rounded out the top ten. While #122 Rob Pollard was the quickest in the Masters Class and 13th outright.
Amongst the hotly contested quad category, ATV MX specialist #14 Luke Gaisford powered home from the Junction to win his first desert enduro. Finishing 15th outright ahead of #27 Blake Croonen and #30 Colin Balshaw.
Photo Credit: Randall Kilner