The event is famous for subjecting its competitors to some of the toughest motocross racing conditions known to man, with three 35-40 minute motos, largely in heavy sand, and in temperatures which regularly approach 50 degrees.
Just three weeks back into serious preparation for this year’s racing calendar, Simmonds reminded competitors why he is widely regarded as one of the most naturally talented and toughest riders on the circuit, powering to three race wins from three starts to successfully defend last year’s title from Damon Stokie and Jack Dooley-McDonnell.
Simmonds rode the very same KTM 500 EX-C he used to finish Vice Champion in the 2015 Finke Desert Race, and put the machine’s exquisite combination of sheer grunt and great handling to good use with a perfect three from three holeshots on the day.
There will be no rest for the orange half-litre monster however, as the former pro-motocrosser from Bourke, New South Wales, will point the 500 south for some practice and testing on the road to Finke tomorrow and Tuesday.
Tye Simmonds – “We were pretty lucky again with the weather, I think it was only 36 or 38 out there, not 40 or 45 degrees like it normally is!
The big 500 she was on fire all day today. I felt pretty good, my fitness is coming along; we did three 30 minute motos for the day. The Honda boys kept me really honest in the first one, but in the second one I got a little bit of breathing room, then in the third one I got another holeshot, put down two really hard laps and got a fairly decent lead and got through with the win fairly easy.
We’re three weeks back into training so starting to feel good. The first week at the gym was a bit hard but were already starting to make a bit of progress. We’re already in a better place than they were last year, and it’s good to start the year with wins. We had a few Hondas in tow today, and that’s where we want to keep them – with the KTMs out front!”
Mick Carusi, KTM Team Technician – “Tye went well today. He got three holeshots and pulled a decent gap on them from the start and pretty much just stayed like that all day. The first race which has worked on a couple of things with suspension just to get him a little bit more comfortable, and that was basically it. I couldn’t fault the KTM 500 E-XC all day long. Obviously you’ve got to play around with suspension to get it perfect for the conditions of the day, but it was basically the same setup that the boys raced on at Finke and Hattah, and to kick it all off with a win was a nice way to start the year.”
