Josh Green earned his first overall Hattah win aboard his Active8 Yamaha. Image: FourOhFour Shots

Active8 Yamaha’s Josh Green has won the 2013 Hattah Desert race held over the weekend in the surrounding desert of Hattah in country Victoria.

Nearly 350 riders took up the challenge but it was Green that landed on the top of the podium. Green kicked off the weekend strongly, taking pole position after the Saturday prologue, a full second ahead of his nearest rival.

Faced with eight 38 kilometre laps of sandy, whooped out terrain on the Sunday, the event becomes the ultimate test of fitness, rider skill and bike durability.

Green was involved in a tight four way battle during the opening two laps but eventually broke clear and stretched his lead to a comfortable gap by the half way stage.

After finding his flow and pushing through almost four and a half hours of racing, Green took his first win of the event in just two attempts.

“The speed on the first two laps was crazy,” said Green. “A few of us were going backwards and forwards and it seemed really difficult to lead. But after a few laps, I seemed to find my flow, got to the front and was able to just ride my own race.

“I had a drama free run the whole race until the final lap when I crested a hill and jumped into a fallen lapped rider. It was a bit scary as I didn’t see him until I was already committed but luckily no damage was done and I was able to pick it up and get to the finish line.”

When the finish flag flew on the eighth and final lap, Green held a lead of over two minutes ahead of his closest rival Jarrod Bewley.

“I’m pretty pumped to win,” he added. “The Hattah race is such a cool event and the atmosphere is awesome. This is only the second time I have done it but I love racing here and the loop is unreal to ride.”

Husaberg Australia rider Bewley continued his resurgence in Australian off-road racing by finishing second overall in the famous Hattah event.

The Oberon resident and his Husaberg also set the fastest single lap time of the event, with a time of 31:28.869 on the second rotation.

Peter Boyle rounded out the top three overall aboard his Honda, finishing round four minutes behind Bewley following four hours of gruelling racing.

Green’s Activ8 Yamaha teammate Tom McCormack finished fourth overall aboard his Yamaha YZ450F, following him accross the line was Motorex KTM HSE Racing’s Ben Grabham in fifth.

Ben Townley also made his Hattah Desert Race debut over the weekend with Carlton Dry Honda Racing, the Kiwi finished 15th overall on his first outing at the event.

2013 Hattah Desert Race
Colignan, VIC

Outright results:
1. Josh green
2. Jarrod Bewley
3. Peter Boyle
4. Tom McCormack
5. Ben Grabham
6. Warren Smart
7. Chris Hollis
8. Ivan Long
9. Matt Fish
10. Nathan Trigg

Click here for detailed results