Western Australian Darren Griffith (KTM) will be out to become the fifth rider to win successive Tattersall’s Finke Desert Races when the annual torture test is held in the Northern Territory from June 12-14.

A total of 280 riders have entered for the 29th instalment of the iconic event, which takes riders on a lonely two-day return trip from Alice Springs to the remote outpost of Finke – a combined total of 480km.

Griffith out pointed a strong field to prevail in last year’s staging from fellow Victorian Mark Sladek (Husaberg) and 2002 winner Rick Hall (Honda). Both of the minor place getters will return in 2004 as they attempt to prevent Griffith from becoming the first person to win back-to-back titles since Honda’s Stephen Greenfield in 1997-98. Other riders likely to challenge for outright honours include multiple Australian enduro champion Brad Williscroft (KTM) and 2001 winner Michael Vroom (Honda)

Sladek, who also finished second in 2001, is primed to break through for his maiden win in 2004, although the event continues to offer more and more challenges.

“In 2001, on some of the open stretches we could hold our bikes wide open,” recalled Sladek. “Now a lot of whoops have built up, and you’ve got to ride within your limits a little bit more. Still, in that sort of terrain, the big 500cc two-strokes still sit on about 180kmh, while the 450cc four-strokes are only marginally slower.

“I admire the guys like (Rick) Hall who still continue to ride the big 500cc two-strokes in the Finke – it requires a huge level of fitness.”

The Finke Desert Race was first held in 1976, with Yamaha rider Geoff Curtis the inaugural champion. Since that time, the cream of Australia’s off-road talent has taken aim at the event – a bitter experience for many. Nonetheless, the roll call of past Finke winners is still impressive, with the likes of motocross legend Stephen Gall and enduro icon Phil Lovett joining three-time winner Greenfield on the illustrious trophy. However, one rider has eclipsed them all in terms of victories - Alice Springs resident Randall Gregory, who won five in a row from 1991-95 before injury eventually curtailed a great career.

At the hardware level, one brand has dominated the Finke – Honda. The world’s largest manufacturer has prevailed in 50 percent of the races, including an unanswered run from 1991-2002 when Gregory and Greenfield were at their irrepressible best.

The 280 riders in this year’s event - including sidecars and quads - will be spread over 10 separate classes, to be joined by 85 motor vehicles. The event will kick off with a prologue in Alice Springs on June 12, which will determine starting positions for the opening 240km shuttle to Finke the following day.

FINKE HALL OF FAME
1976 Geoff Curtis Yamaha
1977 Phil Stoker Suzuki
1978 Geoff Curtis Yamaha
1979 Peter Stayt Yamaha
1980 Geoff Curtis Yamaha
1981 Phil Lovett KTM
1982 Phil Lovett KTM
1983 Stephen Gall Yamaha
1984 Peter Stayt Yamaha
1985 Phil Lovett KTM
1986 Stephen Gall Yamaha
1987 David Armstrong Kawasaki
1988 Alan Roe Honda
1989 Mark Winter Honda
1990 Mark Winter KTM
1991 Randall Gregory Honda
1992 Randall Gregory Honda
1993 Randall Gregory Honda
1994 Randall Gregory Honda
1995 Randall Gregory Honda
1996 Dan Ashcraft Honda
1997 Stephen Greenfield Honda
1998 Stephen Greenfield Honda
1999 Rick Hall Honda
2000 Stephen Greenfield Honda
2001 Michael Vroom Honda
2002 Rick Hall Honda
2003 Darren Griffiths KTM