Moama's Tony Nott is set to take part in one of the more gruelling off-road challenges you can find in Australia.
The Finke Desert Race is billed as one of the toughest off-road challenges in the land, and year by year, a dedicated group of Echuca-Moama bike riders make the pilgrimage up to Alice Springs.
More than 500 participants in cars and bikes hurtle down the desert tracks of the outback to the remote community of Aputula from June 9-12, navigating dust, rocks, and other impediments at high speed before turning back to Alice.
And Nott, for the fifth time, is gearing up to tackle what shapes as a pivotal running in the iconic race's 47-year history.
The 37-year-old mechanic has competed in the annual dash since 2017, racing in a custom-built Husqvarna 501.
Despite improving results and cracking the top 200 for the first time last year, Nott, from Moama, said he was simply aiming to enjoy the experience after a disjointed build-up.
“The goal was to run in the top 100, but after the lead-up, I think we’ll go up to have a good time and see where it goes,” Nott said.
“Towards the end of last year, I had a crash and dislocated my shoulder, fractured the socket and did the MCL in one go.
“I got better but then there were squashed nerve issues in my arm, so Christmas time I had an operation on the elbow. I wasn’t allowed back on a bike until February.”
Echuca-Moama's Damien Bingham and Peter and Darcy Arnel are also set to join Nott in the running, and while Finke carries a reputation as a challenging circuit, Nott said it’s not entirely inaccessible to new riders, referring to it as a “bucket list” item.
“I wouldn’t say it's the hardest race,” he said.
“Hattah is definitely the hardest on your body because it’s just physically draining and you don’t get a break.
“I highly recommend Finke to tick off the bucket list, because it’s doable for any rider. If you can throw a leg over a motorbike, you should be able to finish it.
“Once you start picking up the pace it becomes quite rough on the body. The track itself changes so much, there’s big square edges, rocks, but it’s not what people expect.”
Nott’s affinity for dirt bikes began when he was five years old, growing up on the family farm.
That was before a serious accident at 17 forced him out of the saddle for an extended period, and put his dream of a Finke debut on hold.
“I was really interested in the race back then,” Nott said.
“It was fairly out of touch for the average person at the time. It’s a remote community now but 20 years ago Alice Springs was pretty out there.
“It was a big feat for someone to go out there and race a dirtbike.
“I was trying to get ready for Finke as a 17-year-old, which would have been my first one, and I flipped the bike on a ride. I tore my knee open, lost all the skin on my back ... it was pretty bad.
“I needed an emergency knee reconstruction and all that. I was on crutches for two, three months.”
The race itself has been the subject of intense scrutiny in recent years.
Finke was cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 race was plagued by restrictions and the death of a spectator, forcing a revamp of safety precautions and an 11th-hour decision to grant car licenses for the race.
But Nott said he was hopeful the 2023 running could proceed smoothly, saying it was one of the more unique experiences in off-road racing.
“It’s just the environment and the thrill,” he said.
“The week that we’re there beforehand is great fun, you’re so far away from home that it feels like nothing can bother you.
“Alice Springs is a beautiful town, I love the place. It has its problems but that comes with a remote community.
“Everyone has a great time and it’s just something different.”
Echuca’s Sam Davie was the highest-ranked star of the show at last year’s race, earning a top-10 finish in the outright bike rankings.
The Finke Desert Race takes place from Friday, June 9 to Monday, June 12.