The battle lines have been drawn in what is shaping up to be the biggest and best Hattah Desert Race in its 20-year history. Motul Pirelli Sherco rider and Mildura local, Nathan Trigg is eyeing off what could be the first hometown win since Warren Smart back in 2008.
Trigg placed 7th in the 2017 Hattah Desert Race but enters this year’s event as part of the Motul Pirelli Sherco Team on a very fast Sherco 450 SEF-R.
“I’m a big believer in making sure I get to the finish line above all else,” said Trigg. “The results will be what they will be but if I get to the finish line having done my very best then I hope that is good enough.”
Trigg was the fastest 450cc machine at the recent Finke Desert Race in Alice Springs and placed 10th overall. With the Hattah event far more familiar to him and on terrain similar to his own practice track in Ouyen, Trigg expects to be in the mix at the front of the pack.
“This Sherco is a great bike,” Trigg explained. “It’s fast and it has great suspension and handling, so I can’t see why I wouldn’t be fighting for a good position. The field is stacked with good riders this year so it certainly won’t be easy but I’m prepared for tough race.”
Joining Trigg on the Motul Pirelli Sherco Team is Andy Wilksch who will race a Sherco 300 SE Factory edition two-stroke. Wilksch recently placed 3rd in the open two-stroke class in the Finke Desert Race and is keen to bag a win at Hattah.
“I love racing at Hattah,” said Wiilksch. “It’s a fun but tough race and I love the layout of the track. I’m feeling good at the moment and the new 300 SE Factory model is a weapon. I’m not predicting anything other than to give it my best shot. The bike is solid and Chad’s Off-Road Setups has it handling perfectly so I’m just really keen to get racing. That’s where the talking is worth nothing and racing is everything. I would love to win my class, so we’ll see what I can do.”
Nathan Trigg and Andy Wilksch will both kick off the Hattah Desert Race weekend by meeting and greeting fans at the official race scrutineering on Friday July 6, from 3.00pm at Quandong Park Sports Reserve, Red Cliffs.
Race prologue is at 9.30am Saturday July 7 and the main race starts at 9.30am, Sunday July 8 at Boonoonar Road, Colignan, approximately 40-minutes-drive south of Mildura.