Jonte Reynders and his Pirelli Motul Sherco Racing Team 300 SE Factory were an irrepressible combination at the 2021 Hattah Desert Race in Victoria on July 3-4, with the Tasmanian easily winning the open two-stroke class.
After eight laps of the 37km natural terrain circuit, the 24-year-old finished a resounding four minutes and 32 seconds ahead of Nathan Lamb, with Blake Halls (300 SE Factory) making it two Shercos on the dais in the 251cc and over two-stroke class.
It was Reynders’ first class victory at the annual Victorian showpiece, and his overall time on the #214 machine – four hours, 37 minutes and eight seconds (4:37:08) – also saw him finish 13th overall.
HATTAH VIDEOReynders was riding the same 300 SE Factory which
won the corresponding class at the 2021 Finke Desert Race with Ben Grabham at the helm.
“My Sherco 300 was flawless; it never missed a beat and the suspension settings thanks to Chad’s Offroad Setups were perfect,” said Reynders.
“Mid-way through the race I didn’t have anyone in front or behind me and it was hard to know if I was gaining or losing time. But my last three laps were solid and I charged to the finish and made a few passes along the way.
“My aim was to win my class, and I’m satisfied we the job done. A massive thanks to the team for the effort it put in – the result wouldn’t be possible without them.”
Reynders’ factory teammate, Justin Carafa (500 SEF Factory), finished the event in 4:46:49, which was good enough for eighth in the over 450cc four-stroke class and 19th overall. Carafa hit a tree on lap two and battled through the balance of the event with a sore hand.
It was a disappointing event for four-time Hattah winner Grabham (450 SEF Factory) in the second leg of his mini comeback to desert racing – Finke was part one – after he failed to finish.
Meanwhile, local flyer Nathan Trigg (Mallee Motorcycles 450 SEF Factory) sat out Hattah after the knee he injured in the prologue at Finke wasn’t yet ready for the rigours of competition.
The overall winner at Hattah was defending champion Daniel Milner ahead of Mason Semmens and Callum Norton.
2021 HATTAH DESERT RACE RESULTSNext up for the Pirelli Motul Sherco Racing Team is a round of the Tasmanian enduro series in Yolla on July 10, followed by rounds five and six of the Australian Off-Road Championship in Queensland on August 6-7, where Reynders is currently in second position overall and leading two-stroke rider.
Related reading:2022 Sherco enduro range2022 Sherco pricing and availability