In front of over 15,000 spectators, Yarrawonga’s Daniel Van der Hoeven finished just outside the top 150 in one of the world’s most gruelling off-road motorbike competitions.
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The annual 460km-long Tatts Finke Desert Race was held in the Northern Territory over the June long weekend (10-11) and is a two-day day round trip from Alice Springs to Finke.
Not only did the 19-year-old Mudgee Dirt Bikes representative fare excellently in his first ever attempt at the event, he completed it without a fifth gear.
“I snapped the selector fork right after the starting grid,” Daniel said.
“I didn’t have a fifth gear and when I tried to select it, the bike would stall.
“It happened straight off the bat and I didn’t know what causing it.”
Daniel’s placing of 154th could have skyrocketed had he had a fifth gear as it would have allowed him reach top speeds throughout certain parts of the race.
“In the prologue – the time trial before it – I came 111th
469 riders finished the race and over 100 failed to reach the finish line, making Daniel’s placing, with a broken selector fork, even more impressive.
While Daniel found the race difficult, it was made easier by a long stretch of training that he underwent in the lead up to the trip.
“I tried really hard to prepare to every day,” he said.
“I was jogging, doing pull-ups, sit-ups… anything I could to try to prepare myself.
“It’s hard, it’s a pain when you’re there but when you finish it’s a nice feeling.”
He might be new to the Tatts Finke Desert Race but Van der Hoeven started riding motorbikes 12 years ago when he was 7.
“It’s a huge achievement to just finish.
Some of the other riders have been doing it for ten years.”
He isn’t fishing for more excuses but not only was Daniel unable to reach his final gear, he arrived at the event without Steg Pegz – an accessory almost every other rider had.
The pegz go down the side of the bike and allow you to relieve pressure on your arms by taking control with your legs.
“I learned about them once I got there and I’m pretty sure I was one of the few riders that didn’t have them.”
Daniel isn’t sure if he will compete in the next Tatts Finke Desert Race but will be back on the bike for the next Mudgee Dirt Bikes Club Championship.