Duo to endure the Finke

Broome locals Rob McGregor and Damian Slate are gearing up to take on the biggest desert endurance race in the Southern Hemisphere this weekend.

The Finke Desert Race starts from Alice Springs this Sunday, with competitors racing down a gruelling 226km of unsealed track towards the Finke community.

The track will be repeated the other way round on Monday, with two stops for fuel on each leg. Last year’s event attracted about 550 competitors across its divisions.

Scrutineering of equipment and paperwork will take place on Friday, with an 8km prologue to happen on Saturday to determine starting positions for the big event.

McGregor and Slate will enter the veterans division, and ride their KTM 300 and KTM 500s respectively.

The pair entered the race last year, with McGregor finishing 10th and Slate one place behind him in 11th.

McGregor said the aim was to improve this year, in what would be a tough event.

“The major obstacle is fatigue during the race, and the terrain is heavily corrugated with big whoops and dips along the track,” he said.

“Last year I sprained my wrists due to the unstable surface and it is a tough race on the body.

“We both want to finish in the top ten, and better last year’s time and placing.”

McGregor said one of the duo’s goals this time around was to complete a leg in less than three hours.

Both riders were also quick to thank sponsors, which include Toshiba Australia, Ocean and

Earth Training, Assorted Signs, LHM Fabrication and Tyrepower Broome.