FACTORY HONDA READY FOR THE CHALLENGE OF HATTAH

Fresh from victory at the Finke Desert Race, Honda Racing Australia returns to the desert this weekend as the Peter Kittle Motor Company Honda Team prepares to tackle the iconic Hattah Desert Race.

Following an outstanding debut campaign that delivered a Finke victory with David Walsh, the Factory Honda off-road program continues its expansion with riders Corey Hammond, Brodie Waters and Sam Pretscherer lining up for one of Australia’s toughest endurance events.

While confidence is high following the team’s recent success, Hammond was quick to point out that Hattah presents an entirely different challenge.

“Finke and Hattah are completely different races,” said Hammond.

“We spend months preparing specifically for Finke, whereas Hattah is almost a four-hour sprint that combines elements of motocross, enduro and cross-country racing.”

“It’s probably not my strongest event, but the bike has been fantastic and the team has done a great job with the preparation we have been able to do. Realistically I want to be inside the top ten outright, but if everything comes together, a top-five result is definitely the goal.”

For Waters, who continues to balance the responsibilities of both rider and team manager, expectations remain similarly measured.

“We haven’t really stopped since Finke,” said Waters.

“Managing the team while racing at this level is demanding and I need to be realistic with my expectations. My priority is to put together a smart race, finish inside the top ten and continue showing the strength of Honda’s off-road package.”

Waters believes the addition of Pretscherer significantly strengthens the team’s chances.

“Yarrive and Honda Racing Australia are serious about building a competitive desert program,” he said.

“Our first objective was to win Finke and we achieved that. The next step is proving we can consistently compete for podiums and victories across the country’s biggest off-road events.”

“That’s why bringing Sam home from America to race with us was so important.”

Pretscherer arrives in Australia following a successful campaign in the United States with SLR Honda and is excited by the opportunity to race for the newly formed Factory Honda desert effort.

“I’ve followed what the Honda Racing Australia motocross and supercross teams have built, as well as what they are doing with the Quad Lock Honda Team in America,” said Pretscherer.

“The professionalism and preparation have stood out from the moment I arrived. The bikes, testing program and support are as good as anything I’ve experienced.”

“We’re absolutely racing for the win this weekend and anything less than a podium would be disappointing.”

Despite his confidence, Pretscherer understands the realities of endurance desert racing.

“Hattah is a long race and you have to respect it,” he said.

“You need to be patient when patience is required and aggressive when opportunities present themselves. The goal is to be in contention when the final hour arrives.”

“I can say with confidence that the CRF450RX is competitive and I am genuinely excited to race it. I want to thank Peter Kittle Motor Company and Honda Australia for giving me this opportunity.”

With momentum building following the team’s historic Finke success, Honda Racing Australia enters Hattah determined to prove its desert racing ambitions extend well beyond a single result.

The objective is simple, continue building, continue learning and continue chasing podiums in Australia’s toughest off-road races.