Holden Jackaroo driver Bruce Garland and KTM rider Andrew Caldecott today consolidated their positions as favourites to win the major honors in the Vodafone Australian Safari international cross country rally in the Northern Territory.
Japanese rider Takuya Suzuki was an early casualty in the 96-mile competitive stage from Top Springs to Katherine, suffering chest injuries after crashing his Suzuki DR250. The 35-year-old from Tokyo was rushed to Katherine Hospital by ambulance, but was later discharged after x-rays revealed no broken bones.
Caldecott, who has led the Motorcycle division since the start, took the honors in today’s stage and increased his lead to one hour, 56 minutes, 33 seconds on a KTM 660cc Rallye. American Casey McCoy retained second position on a Honda XR400, followed by South Australian Tony Tervoert on a Husqvarna.
British rider Steve Blackney dropped from fifth to seventh after his KTM was slowed by an oil leak. “The head gasket blew toward the end of the first section,” Blackney said. “After two steep, rocky climbs, I saw steam and thought it might have been water, but it was oil smoke. I managed to limp the bike back to the finish on borrowed oil – we must have gone through 10 liters. We’re now out of contention, so that’s disappointing.”
Former 500cc World Road Race Champion Kevin Schwantz was slowed by a flat tire for the second-successive day. “I’m getting better at these tire changes – yesterday it was the back, and today it’s the front,” said Schwantz. “I guess it cost me about 30 minutes, and I lost more time when I went about two kilometers the wrong way and had to turn around and go back.”
The Safari continues tomorrow with a 96-mile competitive stage tomorrow from Katherine to Darwin. The event will finish at Mindil Beach in Darwin on Sunday.
OVERALL POSITIONS (after Day 6 – Friday, August 25): 1. A. Caldecott KTM 660 Rallye 23:25.15
2. C. McCoy (U.S.) Honda XR400 25:21.48
3. T. Tervoert Husqvarna TE610E 25:36.07
4. R. Pollard KTM 640 Adventure 25:49.16
5. G. Hoffman KTM 620 26:54.36
6. T. Kirby Suzuki DR-Z400 27:10.52
7. S. Blackney KTM 660 Rallye 27:21.00
8. C. Ross Honda XR650 27:44.32
9. A. Roberts Honda XR400 27:47.21
10. P. Talintyre KTM 640 Rallye 28:40.00
11. D. Auricht Yamaha TTR250 29:15.44
12. G. Henning KTM LC4620GS 30:37.36
13. K. Schwantz (U.S.) Suzuki DR-Z400 30:48.22
