The Tatts Finke Desert Race enjoyed humble “there and back” beginnings in 1976, with Northern Territorian Geoff Curtis victorious on a Yamaha 250.
Fifty years later, it’s arguably the biggest standalone event on the Australian off-road motorsport calendar, revered for its challenging and demanding nature.
It now enjoys so much racing capital that it’s become a yearly pilgrimage for hundreds of riders and drivers, with a primary goal of making the finish line in the 460km return epic from Alice Springs to the remote Indigenous community of Aputula. For others, it’s a burning passion to win.
In 2026, that interest has gone to another level as competitors come from far and wide to compete in the 50th anniversary event from June 6-8, which will also honour the original 56 pioneers from 1976 and the evolution of Australia’s most gruelling off-road motorsport event.
In the motorcycle division, a staggering 676 riders will contest nine separate classes, with the battle for outright honours again coming down to the speedsters in the big-bore four-stroke classes.
Both categories have huge numbers, with the standouts including David Walsh, defending champion Corey Hammond, Callum Norton, Campbell Hall, Mitchell Outram and Brodie Waters. And that’s just a small sample, with nine of last year’s outright top 10 returning in 2026.
Walsh, who was the undisputed King of the Desert after five victories in a row between 2019 and 2024 (the event wasn’t held in 2020 due to COVID), originally said his farewells at the end of 2024 but has now returned as part of a renewed Honda offensive alongside Hammond and Waters.
Two years on, Walsh’s competitive instincts and relentless work rate are as strong as ever as he looks to win a sixth Finke title. Walsh still holds the moto race record of three hours, 35 minutes and 45 seconds, which he set in 2022.
Hammond, from Windsor Downs in NSW, will join elevated company – the likes of Toby Price, Ben Grabham and Honda CR500-riding icon Randall Gregory – if he wins back-to-back events.
Norton is one rider who knows that Finke doesn’t hand out its rewards easily. Due to a combination of a red-hot Walsh in his prime, a few own goals, illness and injury, the Victorian hasn’t quite nailed the perfect Finke formula yet – although two runner-up finishes are proof that he’s been on the cusp of greatness.
And on sheer velocity alone, Norton is undoubtedly the closest match to Walsh, which is a great place to start on the new Desmo450 MX machine in Saturday’s prologue.
Meanwhile, Hall and Waters completed the podium in 2025, so they’ll be in the mix again, as will others such as Outram and Kodi Stephens.
In the individual classes, Waters (251-450cc four-stroke), James Heenan (Sherco, 35-44yrs), Kenneth Hicks (Honda, 45-54yrs) and Madison Healey (KTM, Women’s) will all be in defence mode in 2026. The other moto classes are up to 251cc and above two-stroke, 451cc and above four-stroke, 250cc two-stroke, 250cc four-stroke and Veterans (55yrs and over).
The Tatts Finke Desert Race is also introducing a junior demonstration in 2026, giving young riders the chance to experience desert riding on the prologue track.
The prologue for the 2026 Tatts Finke Desert Race will be held on Saturday, June 6, which will determine the starting order for the run to Finke on Sunday. Then it will all happen in reverse on Monday.
A full week of celebrations will also be held, including a 50th Finke celebration dinner and a Finke street party and night markets on June 4.
