2019 Tenere Tragics Rally
Cessnock’s Potters Brewery was all hands to the pump as 80 Tenere Tragics congregated for the start of their annual ride in honour of the legendary Dakar Rally-bred adventure bike. The five-day adventure ride staged last week took riders and crew through Bathurst, Goulburn, Tumut and Cooma to end at the Alpine Hotel in the NSW Snowy Mountains resort of Thredbo.
Participants were treated to a Yamaha bLU cRU ADV Skills Session with Yamaha legend Stephen Gall staged near Cessnock the day before the run started. 23 Tragics gained riding instruction that was put to good use over the next five days riding a range of Tenere models from original 600s right through to new XTZ1200 Super Teneres.
Factory CDR chief technician and long-time Tenere adventure rider Gary Benn rode up from VIC to his first event with a special XTZ750 twin fitted with many original Dakar Rally bike parts. Yamaha Factory Rally Dakar racer Rod Faggotter, made a special guest appearance to ride with the Tragics on the final two days. Stephen Gall hosted an exclusive Q&A session with Rod at the end of day four at Cooma that offered a unique insight into his recent experience in the 2019 Dakar Rally.
Five first model 1983 XT600ZL Teneres joined the run this year – Dave Bottomley, Neil Asplin, Matt Parker-Charlton, Shane Johnston and organiser Andrew Clubb were the riders of the coveted original model large-tanked singles.
Andrew Clubb
“It’s been another huge week filled with so much Tenere spirit! The run this year included stacks of the best Tenere riding in central and southern NSW and while conditions were mostly dry, storms late on day two near Crookwell and overnight rain before the start of the final day from Cooma made for ground conditions that were absolutely perfect… and put plenty of smiles on the Tragics’ faces. The Tragics are an awesome pack brought together by the legendary Tenere brand that we celebrate all week long on the Tenere Tragics Run. The planning starts now for next year’s tenth anniversary Tragics Run, and you bet the Tragics are pumped that the new Ténéré 700 is coming in December!”
2019 Tenere Tragics Awards
- First Registration – Justin Hayden
- Last Registration – Angus Dudley
- Oldest Rider – Neville Ham (67)
- Youngest Rider – Alex Dostal (21)
- Most Kilometres to the Event – Francis Smith, rode from Burketown, Queensland Gulf Country, the long way (3000km plus)
- Happy Camper – Hayden Brown
- Tyre Warmer Award – Dave Readford
- Band-Aid Road Rash Award – Keiron Jeffrey
- Encouragement Award – Tony De Oliveria, in only his second ever dirt ride on an XTZ750
- Super Ténéré he only just purchased via Gumtree, Tony dived in at the deep end for his first Tragics Run … and thought, “What the hell have I done!” after day one. He soldiered on, and despite running out of brakes on day three, sourced new brake pads and carried on to the finish at Thredbo.
- Sweeps Recognition Lack of Navigation Award – Wayne Stevens (rode a few hundred ‘bonus’ kilometres over the five days)
- Sweeps Recognition Puncture Power Award – Graeme Bensley, Curtis Williams, Dave Wilson, Dave Harrison, Grant Merrick, Mark Pavitt; riding as a pack, they scored six flats through the week, and fixed them all themselves
- Spec Savers 20/20 Vision Award – Jerry Young; thought he saw a lost dry bag on the trail… it was a dead wombat
- Captain’s Choice 600/660 – Charlie Fearon, XT600Z 3AJ
- Captain’s Choice 750 – Gary Benn, XTZ750
- Captain’s Choice 660 – Andy Patterson
- Captain’s Choice 1200 – Phil Halpin
- Tenere Spirit Award – Queenslanders Mike Ruoso, Dave Bottomley, Ken Henderson. All rode the first Tragics Run in 2011, never knew each other, but have now become best mates and team up to get each other through each Tragics Run.
- Truly Tragic Award – Dave Wilson, dealer principal at Lithgow Bike Stop, and a proud member of the ‘100% Tragic’ club of ten riders who have ridden all nine Tragics Runs. Dave is always willing to leap in and help his Tragic brothers and oozes the Tenere spirit.
