Yamaha Motor Australia press release:

Active8 Yamaha’s Beau Ralston has completed his final preparations and is ready to tackle the iconic Hattah Desert Race this weekend in Northwestern Victoria.

With a good lead-up to the event and competing at Hattah for the second time, Ralston is confident of a good showing and has his sights set high as he man handles his WR450F around the rolling sand dunes of Hattah in what is a challenging test of man and machine.

“Last year was my first time at this event and I was able to finish fifth outright so it was a positive start here,” Ralston states. “But it also gave me plenty of knowledge about the track and the event so I feel I was able to prepare better this time around and hope that reflects in the result.

“I have been riding in the area for about a week now and we have the bike working awesome. The whole team has been behind me and nothing less than a podium finish is what we are after,” Ralston ends.

With regular Active8 riders, Josh Green and Tayla Jones sidelined due to injury, the team will lend support to Riley Graham as he contests the 250cc division on his YZ250FX. Graham, from just over the border in South Australia has plenty of experience in the Hattah event and looks forward to a good showing and the extra support from the Activ8 Yamaha team.

“We decided to assist Riley because he is riding well and does a great job representing Yamaha at the AORC rounds,” comments team manager, AJ Roberts. “The injuries to our riders means we have plenty of staff here to take care of Riley and we think he will be a real threat in the 250cc class.”

With the event still going strong after 15 years, the Hattah Desert Race has cemented itself as a prestigious race on the off- road calendar. Over 600 riders are entered for 2016 and competitors will face a grueling weekend that will see them complete eight laps around the 38kilometre track that will push them to their physical limits. The winner will be crowned Sunday afternoon.

The weekend will also see the kick off of the ISDE team fund raiser which is raising money to send the Australian team to Spain in October for the International event. Yamaha Motor Australia have provided a WR450F a TTR50 and EF2000 generator, with a retail value over $15000 worth of prizes and all proceeds will go towards funding the team as they defend their world championship status.

Tickets will be available at a range of racing events, including the remaining AORC rounds, selected MX National rounds and the Newcastle Supermoto event between now and September 11.

If you are attending any of these events, tickets will be available and help Australia defend its world championship at the biggest off road event in the world.