CAN-AM CONFIRM FACTORY ENTRY IN 2008 AUSTRALIAN SAFARI
29/Jul/2008
The
Quad bikes will have their own separate category for
the first time in the history of the Australasian
Safari, with the factory Can-Am X Team already
signalling their intentions to compete with two
highly-credentialed riders.
Paul ‘Smitty’ Smith and Darryl ‘Bullet’ Knight will ride
Can-Am’s Renegade 800X quad and push for the inaugural
quad bike victory in 2008.
Two-wheel motorcycles have traditionally competed in
Australia’s toughest off-road event, and while some
four-wheeled quads contested the Safari in 2000, this is
the first time they have had their own stand-alone
class, and they are expected to provide plenty of
thrills for both riders and spectators.
The Can-Am Renegade 800X quad is a ‘monster’ of a bike
which weighs over 350kg, but is pushed along by a
fuel-injected Rotax 800 V-Twin engine, with on-demand
four-wheel drive transmission and long travel
suspension.
The move to compete in the Safari is part of Can-Am’s
campaign to build the sport of quad bike racing. It is
pushing the category, and promoting recreational riding,
like no other manufacturer before them.
Fresh from his second win in the Finke Desert Race, Paul
Smith should start favourite to take out the Safari quad
bike section. Smith is also a regular competitor in the
Victorian MX racing series, and the Tri-State MX series.
While he’s confident of doing well, Smith knows the
Australasian Safari will be a unique challenge.
“I think for all first timers to Safari, the amount of
kilometres and the navigation will be our biggest
challenges,” Smith said.
“I am a very competitive person. My eyes are on winning,
for sure, but I think my main aim is just to finish each
day as it comes.”
Competition will be particularly tough from his
team-mate ‘Bullet’ Knight, but Smith is also hearing
whispers of some major international competition as
well.
“There is a rumour that an ATV has entered from South
Africa, and (the rider) is a former quad class winner in
Dakar. If this is true, I think he will be the man to
beat,” Smith adds.
As a multiple Finke winner, Smith isn’t too concerned
about the road or weather conditions during the event,
but he obviously has his preferences.
“Just enough rain to settle the dust would be nice, but
as we saw in the Finke Desert Race this year, the wetter
and slipperier it gets, the bigger the advantage for the
quads over the two wheelers.
“The Renegade 800X is an awesome bike that should be
able to do the distance without too many issues.”
To cope with the rough and tough conditions of the
rugged Western Australian outback, the Can-Am X Team
will have a service support crew of five people
following them in the event.
Regardless of his result at the end of the day, Smith is
grateful that quads have finally been allowed to compete
in the event.
“I'd just like to thank (Event Director) Justin Hunt for
getting quads into the Safari. I know there was a lot of
red tape to make it happen, but this should open a lot
of doors for quad racing now,” he says.
For his assault on the 2008 Australasian Safari, Smith
has sponsorship support from Can-am, Kenda, Axo,
Hardiman ATV, Fox Shox, Maxima Oil, Cernic's, Luke
Beechey Motorsports, 47industries, Colac Motorcycles and
Vortex.
Entries for the Australasian Safari close on Friday,
July 25, with a strong field expected for the second
running of the event in Western Australia.
Starting in Kalgoorlie on Saturday August 23, the
Australasian Safari visits Sandstone, Meekatharra, Mt
Magnet and Geraldton, before finishing in Perth on
Saturday, August 30.
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