The first weekend in August signals the start of the annual Yellow Mountain Cross Country Desert Race.
The race is a two day event consisting of approximately 220 Kms each day, just like the famous Finke Desert Race. Each year the race starts and finishes alternately at either Tottenham or Condo.
The 2013 race started and finished at Condobolin for those lucky enough to get an entry. Entries were limited to 220 and filled quickly.
Entries opened at 7am on the 22nd of June and within an hour and a half 300 riders had nominated such is the popularity of the event.
Racing between the townships of Condobolin and Tottenham in central western NSW, with a track that is marked by arrows and the terrain consists of open red soil plains to snotty mallee trails to rocky hills. Two fuel stops are required to do the distance.
Qualifying had Jacob Smith in position one, with big brother Todd starting fourth. Riders started two at a time and by the second fuel stop Jacob and Todd were at it again banging bars all the way on their Honda 450's.
The outright leaders on the track meant that they were finding the course and looking for the arrows first. Todd had a small lead over his brother and missed an arrow riding off the track and damaging the header on the bike. He got going again and swapped spots with Jacob at least 20 times to the day one finish line.
While the boys were dicing at the front Jake Haddrill had a good time on the track and now enjoyed a 40 second lead on his Yamaha at the end of day one on corrected time.
Day 2 had Todd start next to Jake Haddrill with his brother Jacob Smith on the second row. As the day rolled out Todd took to the front of the field and set about dictating the race from the front.
Once again Jacob caught his brother the track and they both had a moment missing a gate and losing some valuable time. Finding the correct track had Todd leading again while Jacob unfortunately had a front brake problem.
This meant he could not ride at his normal pace and had to settle for third outright.
Jake Hadrill rode well and was in sight of Todd with 30kms to go. Todd on seeing Jake Haddrill after a U turn through a gate turned up the pace to bring home the victory.
This was Todd's second straight victory at Yellow Mountain and backs up his outright win recently at Finke.
Ben Burrell on the team KTM finished 4th outright in the race.
Outright Results
1. Todd Smith CRF 450 R 4:51:40
2. Jake Haddril YZF 450 4:52:07
3. Jacob Smith CRF 450 R 4:55:51
4. Ben Burrell KTM 450 5:03:42
Todd is setting out to WA this week to race the last round of the WA Desert Tri-series the Kumarina 500. He will then join his brother Jacob again in WA to defend the teams title at the Australasian Safari in September.
