A new-look STE KTM Racing Team will lead KTM Australia’s charge in the 2025 Finke Desert Race, led by Callum Norton and Liam Walsh. The news comes after five-time King of the Desert, David Walsh, retires.
KTM Australia and STE Racing have joined forces for this year’s Finke Desert Race set for June 6-9 in the Northern Territory, launching the STE KTM Racing Team with last year’s runner-up Norton and Walsh – the younger cousin of David – to compete aboard KTM 500 EXC-F machinery.
A prominent team and highly-decorated in their own right, STE Racing together with Norton raced to a spectacular victory at the Hattah Desert Race last year and has been a consistent class front-runner since further refining its Finke Desert Race program in 2023.
Since then, both KTM and STE have worked together to achieve success, with 2025 marking the formal combination of the pairing to create the STE KTM Racing Team and head KTM Australia’s official desert racing effort.
Kyle Blunden, KTM Group Australia Motorsport Manager: “We’re excited to announce our new partnership with Jason Stewart and STE Racing to lead the KTM desert racing program from 2025. Jason brings a wealth of experience and passion to the team, and we’re confident he’ll continue to elevate our presence in desert racing. We’d also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Aaron and Kay Heath for their incredible efforts over the past three years. Under their guidance, the HMG KTM Desert Racing Team delivered three-straight Finke Desert Race victories with David Walsh and numerous other event wins with Liam Walsh – achievements we’re extremely proud of. A special thank you goes to David Walsh, who retires from professional racing after equalling the all-time Finke consecutive win record. David has been a cornerstone of our desert racing efforts and a true KTM ambassador. As he now focuses on family and his growing business, AusCon NT, we’re grateful he’ll continue to support the STE KTM Racing Team at this year’s Finke. With the 2025 Finke Desert Race fast approaching, all eyes are now on Callum Norton and Liam Walsh as the team finalises preparations in Alice Springs alongside Choice Suspension. We can’t wait to join the desert racing community again for another incredible King’s Birthday weekend.”
Jason Stewart, STE Racing Team Owner: “To join forces with KTM like this is invaluable. In my opinion, the KTM 500 EXC-F is the best motorcycle in the world, and for us over the last couple of years, we haven’t done too much to them at all in racing at this level. This year, though, since KTM has been more involved, the bikes have just gone to a whole new level, with Mick [Carusi] and Danny [Apro] helping out on the motor side. We’ve seen really large gains, both our boys are happy with how the bikes are performing with the help from both WP and Choice Suspension, and their confidence is just on another level. KTM has been unbelievable to work with on all aspects so far, and we’re thrilled to represent them in this way.”
With five-time Finke Desert Race Champion David Walsh announcing his retirement from competition this week, the Alice Springs legend will assist in mentoring both Norton and Liam Walsh, providing an instrumental insight as the two young racers look to further their desert racing careers.
David Walsh: “I’m really excited to join forces with the STE KTM Racing Team program. I’ve known Jason for a while now, and have been teammates with Callum in the past too, so I knew it was going to be a great group of people. To combine the team and be able to put our heads together for the Finke event and make the outfit stronger overall is great. For me, in stepping away from racing, I’ve been going down to the track to help the guys out, helping them with set-up, as well as lending them some advice that I’ve learned over the years in racing. To combine STE and KTM, who have been an unbeatable force out here in the desert, is really massive, and I’m excited to get to race weekend and see what both Callum and Liam can do on track.”
For Norton and Liam Walsh, the STE KTM Racing Team partnership has provided an added boost to the overall confidence in their preparation, as each of them aims for the top step of the podium at the notoriously challenging event held annually over the King’s Birthday long weekend.
Callum Norton: “Joining both KTM and STE to become the official desert program is massive. From what started as a casual team in 2023, we’ve grown into something bigger now and I’ve been able to achieve some great results with them. Having both Mick and Danny working on our bikes, they’ve already created a beast of an engine package! Those guys being part of the program just adds another one or two percent, which is everything that you are chasing out in the desert. Our goal is to go for the win this year. We were runner-up last year, and Hattah was good to us, but we’re looking for the Finke victory in 2025.”
Liam Walsh: “It’s an exciting time to have STE Racing and KTM join forces, and I’m excited to take on the Finke Desert Race again in 2025. We have a great group of people around us and the success of the KTM 500 EXC-F speaks for itself, so this is another really great opportunity that I’m excited to be a part of.”
