Image: Simon Dower.

KTM Desert Racing Team rider Ivan Long has made his first competition appearance in his new team colours a victorious one, winning the famous Deep Well Motocross event, south of Alice Springs in Australia’s Northern Territory.

Long, 24, powered his KTM 450 EXC to victory in the event ahead of Daymon James Stokie and Lachy Summers, with Caleb Auricht and Kenny Armstead filling out the top five positions.

“It’s a great track, whoops the size of Finke whoops, red dune jumps, drop offs and flowing bowl turns where you can really carry corner speed,” Long explained. “It started off pretty cool in the morning but the afternoon motos were in 40-45 degree heat so I had to focus on the food and fluid intake.

“The first race I made a mistake in the second corner and had to fight all the way up to fourth, but when I won the second, Damien Stokie and I were equal on points going into the final which I won, so that was awesome.

“In the new team I’m as determined as ever to run with the fast guys and prove that I’m fitter and stronger. The standard 450 EXC was really fast off the starts, had a high top speed through the whoops and was comfortable to ride all day.”

Held deep in the dead heart of Australia the Alice Springs Motorcycle Club’s unique motocross event has no trouble with neighbours and boasts arguably the highest maximum speeds, highest maximum temperatures and longest natural terrain track in the world.

It also boasts a list of previous winners that includes Red Bull KTM’s Dean Ferris, seven-time national enduro champion Brad Williscroft, as well as Finke desert race winners Ben Grabham and Michael Vroom.

“Deep Well is a great event and a pretty big deal for all the Alice Springs guys, with a win list that includes some big names such as Dean Ferris,” team manager Grabham commented. “The race is three, 40-minute motos on an awesome fun 10-kilometre natural terrain track with dune jumps, clay pans and maximum speeds up to 170kph!

“The temperatures are also extreme – the three times I’ve done it it’s been 43-46 degrees out in the desert. It’s great to see Longy do so well. He just went there to have some fun on his practice bike, which is a standard 450 EXC with some suspension work from Stephen Greenfield at GDR Suspension, who are working with us this year.

“I knew he was riding good early in the year from our testing, but the win also really shows just how good our enduro bike is.”

Long’s victory in the event came courtesy of a fourth in the opening moto, followed by back-to-back wins to wrap up the crown.