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Australian Safari - Day 8 (Final Results) September 1st, 2002 |
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Australian Safari - Day 8 (Final Results) September 1st, 2002 |
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 KTM
rider Andy Caldecott could have earned himself a start in next year's
prestigious Paris-Dakar off-road rally after winning a third successive
Moto Division title in the Australian Safari international cross country
event which finished today.The 38-year-old South Australian won the 4,375km event over eight days in rural NSW with a consistent ride in the final stage from Dubbo to Bathurst, while Holden Rally Team Jackaroo racer Bruce Garland claimed a record fifth Safari victory in the Auto Division for four-wheel-drive vehicles. KTM Australia Motorcycles General Manager Jeff Leisk, who travelled on the Safari, said he planned to discuss securing Caldecott a ride in the 2003 Paris-Dakar event when he visited the Austrian motorcycle manufacturer's headquarters in Mattighofen in two weeks. "Andy has done a great job for KTM in the Safari, and I'm keen to see how we can support him with a chance to step up to the next level in the Paris-Dakar," said Leisk, a former international rider who finished runner-up in the 500cc motocross world championship in 1989. Caldecott won the Safari with a total time in 25-hrs 4-mins 41-secs, finishing 25-mins 2-secs clear of second-placed Paul Sinderberry of NSW on a Honda, who was followed by KTM-mounted South African Alfie Cox. "This year was the most satisfying of my three Safari wins, mainly because the field was top-quality," said Caldecott. "I'd like to go and do the Paris-Dakar because it's the greatest challenge in this type of racing, and hopefully KTM can put together the package and support you need to have a decent shot at it." Cox, runner-up in this year's Paris-Dakar, said he had no doubt Caldecott would be competitive if he raced in the 2003 event, which starts on January 1 and covers an 11,000km course over 21 days. "From what I've seen over the past week Caldecott has the speed, experience, and navigation skills you need in the Dakar, plus he doesn't crack under pressure," said Cox. Caldecott said the 2002 Safari course was vastly different to the route of his previous two triumphs when the event was held in the Northern Territory. "The course was tighter this year and there was more emphasis on navigation," he said. "My tactics were to ride flat-out the first few days and we pulled a gap on the others, and then I took things carefully toward the finish to protect my position." Swede PG Lundmark was fourth in the Safari on a KTM, and American Casey McCoy completed the top five on a Honda. For McCoy, it was his third straight top-five finish in three Safari starts since 2000. Cheryl Muldoon, the only women starter, finished 25th on a Yamaha WR250. Craig Fletcher, Motorsports Manager of Safari promoters Octagon, said he was pleased with the organisation of the event, and the public interest and response at the start and finish at Bathurst, plus the overnight stops in Condobolin, Griffith, Wentworth, Broken Hill, White Cliffs, Cobar, and Dubbo. "This was our first time the Safari has been held exclusively in New South Wales, so there were new challenges to overcome," said Fletcher. "Things went remarkably well considering the difficulties of moving hundreds of vehicles and people around some remote areas." "Everywhere we went there was a warm welcome from 'locals' and I think we can build on this year to make the Safari even better next time." Final Results - (Sunday, September 1)
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