KTM rider Darren Griffiths has upset a top-class field to win the annual Tattersall’s Finke Desert Race, which was held over the Queen’s Birthday’s long weekend (June 8-9) in the Northern Territory.

The 39-year-old, a long-time Finke campaigner, clinched his maiden race victory with a stunning five-minute triumph over Victorian Mark Sladek (Husaberg) and defending champion Rick Hall (Honda). Griffiths was never outside the top two during the entire torture test, which took competitors on a two-day, 460km return trip from Alice Springs to the remote outpost of Finke.

Griffiths’ main opposition in the race came from day one pacesetter, Honda’s Stephen Greenfield, who crashed just 30km from the finish line and fractured a bone in his hand. The former Australian Safari champion was unable to continue, handing Griffiths the easiest of victories.

Griffiths’ aggregate time for the Finke was four hours, 11 minutes and 42 seconds (4:11.42) – slower than previous instalments as the course continues to deteriorate. Sladek in turn was comfortable in second (4:16.49) from Hall (4:17.47), and Honda duo Gavin Cunningham (4:18.22) and former winner Michael Vroom (4:23.26). The latter was the main mover on day two after completing the run to Finke in eighth.

Meanwhile, Australian enduro champion Brad Williscroft (KTM) was another Finke non-finisher after his bike broke down on day one. He had earlier started from ‘pole position’ after dominating the June 7 prologue.