Korey McMahon earns a podium finish at the 2024 Hattah Desert Race on the all-new GASGAS EC 500F in an epic race.
After eight gruelling laps around the punishing Hattah Desert Race circuit, GASGAS-supported off-road racer Korey McMahon claimed a hard-earned P6 result aboard his GASGAS EC 500F at the 2024 Hattah Desert Race. It was a result that landed him P2 in the Over 450 Four-Stroke category.
Having achieved an outright podium last year, McMahon entered the 2024 edition with plenty of confidence and quickly made his presence felt by finishing second-fastest at the conclusion of Saturday’s Prologue. He then backed that up with the fourth-fastest time in the Top 10 Shootout, ensuring he’d start near the front of the pack for the four-hour race.
McMahon started strongly on Sunday morning, but as the fast track broke down in the opening laps, he struggled to find is rhythm until later in the race when the track got rougher and drier with each passing lap. With two laps to go and the circuit deteriorating, the 22-year-old was able to regroup and make a couple of valuable passes to ultimately finish the race in sixth overall.
The Kurrajong-based racer will be back in action at rounds seven and eight of the Australian Off-Road Championship at Queensland Moto Park between July 27-28
Korey McMahon: “Last year’s race was a wet one and we didn’t expect this year’s track to be quite as dry and as rough. The small, jittery chop on the track between laps two and six was tough, and I didn’t feel comfortable pushing myself 100 percent. It was frustrating as the bike was running great and I certainly had the fitness, but when the track got really rough on the final two laps, I felt more comfortable and was able to make up some time. Unfortunately, by then it was too late. It was a frustrating day, but we’ve learnt from it and will make sure we’ve got everything dialled for next year’s event – a class podium was a bonus for us and a good result for the EC 500F here!”
GASGAS-supported riders experienced more success across the weekend, with Elliott Bros. Racing’s Madi Healey – Queen of the Desert at the recent Finke Desert Race – setting the second-quickest Ladies lap-time in the Prologue, but was unfortunately a non-finisher on Sunday. A P2 result in the Junior Small Wheels race from Eliza Dennis riding her MC 85 was another impressive effort on Saturday.
2024 Hattah Desert Race – Hattah, VIC
Outright results:
1. Callum Norton (KTM)
2. Angus Riordan (KTM)
3. Jack Simpson (Yamaha)
4. Maximus Purvis (Yamaha)
5. Daniel Milner (KTM)
6. Korey McMahon (GASGAS)