Washougal, WA (6/11/2009) - Team MXN Can-Am Press Releases Australia’s toughest off-road race, The Finke desert race has been run for another year.With what seemed to be in excess of the population of Alice Springs watching the entire
weekend of racing, MXN Can Am rider Michael Roycroft was anxious to get his first taste ofthe Northern Territory dust.

Prologue (Race Day 1)

Michael was able to qualify 12 in the ATV class

Racing started on Saturday with the prologue stage, which determined Sunday’s race position. Over 50 ATV’s lined up for Class 9 action. With past Finke winners Paul Smith and Rick Beer racing with the Can Am X Team, Mick was given some great tips on how to finish the race in one piece. Michael managed to qualify 12 in the ATV class, which gave him a reasonable position for Sunday’s first leg to Finke, the prologue time did not count toward the race time. On the Saturday night Michael said he was pleased to start somewhere in the top 100 overall for Sundays event against the faster more nimble two wheelers.

Sunday (Race Day 2)

With 2 fuel stops along the say, Mick was able to make his way to 6th position

Sundays’ leg of 240km from Alice to Finke (Apratula), was going to be tough, starting on the line with 7 other two-wheelers, it was a sprint to the front to make sure he was not going to get filled in with dust. The two fuel stops at the 80km and 150km marks were Michaels chance to catch a breather even though they only lasted 15 seconds. Michael was gaining positions all the way up to Finke passing Can Ams Rick Beer along the way and a race favourite Cameron Wade to be in 6th position overall by the end of the day, with a total time of 2hrs 57min.

Michael said at the end of the day, “it was relatively easy out there today, nothing I didn’t expect but I am feeling good and cannot wait to race back to Alice. The bike is working well and everything is going to plan”.

Monday (Race Day 3)

MXN Can-Am's Michael Roycroft was able to work his way to 3rd overall

Mondays’ leg kicked off at 12pm with all Quads and bikes leaving on the grid in 1 min intervals based on yesterdays overall time. Michael left in 6th place in the Quads and was seeded on the Grid with 7th place Brett Clissold and five other two wheelers. Dust and Whoops were going to be a major problem today with over 600 competitors on bikes and Buggies chopping up the track on Sunday’s leg. Michael was travelling well and managed to pass 5th place James Creber 15km into the leg, he also moved into 4th place when he passed last year’s winner and X team member Paul Smith on the whoops at the 130km mark. Little did Michael know that this had actually moved him into second spot as Team KTM rider Chris Brenton and Team Polaris rider Aaron Ovens who were running in first place and 2nd place respectively after day one had both suffered electrical problems with their machines. At the 140km mark, Michael was feeling good and battling it out with Paul until the dust of his X team member’s machine became too much for him to handle. Paul had taken off and Michael had to put his head down to chase him down to the finish. The rest of the race was long and drawn out and at one point the “Km’s didn’t seem to count down” Michael said after the race. After finishing Michael thought he was in 5th place overall, but after only seeing Luke Beechey and Paul Smith on the line he was quickly told he was in 3rd place overall.

Mick said after the race “ I am stocked to be on the podium as this is my first Finke and I could not have asked for anything better, all I wanted was to finish in the top 10 but I will take this result anyway. The bike worked awesome, the X team gave me all the support I needed this weekend to get here, with the fuel stops, the transport and the bikes. I would like to thank Mick Andrewartha, the 3 Tors club for the fuel, my mechanic Thomas for building such an insane bike and all my sponsors for 2009.

2009 Tattersall's Finke Desert Race - 6/8/2009
Competitor	Day 1 Score	Day 2 Score	Overall	Rank
Luke Beechey	2:48:04.20	2:45:05.00	5:33:09.20	1
Paul Smith	2:53:15.30	2:55:12.00	5:48:27.30	2
Michael Roycroft	2:57:31.50	2:54:19.00	5:51:50.50	3
Brett Clissold	2:57:56.10	2:55:50.00	5:53:46.10	4
Wade Cameron	3:03:44.40	2:51:12.00	5:54:56.40	5
Ben Hall	2:58:02.80	2:58:50.00	5:56:52.80	6

Team MXN next race is this weekend at the first round of the NSW club MX series at Barleigh Ranch MX track. Check out all the up to date news and race results at http://www.47industries.com/09roycroft.htm Or contact them at mxn@onthenet.com.au

Team MXN Can Am would like to thank the following sponsors for there support for 2009. MXN, Can Am, CRBMetal designs, Hardiman ATV, Lonestar A-Arms, Fox racing shocks, Austraco, Motoworks Pipes, ITP tyres, Fury rims, Big M Edge milk, Quad squad, Flexx Bars, Pro Grip Goggles, Acerbis, Mother Energy Drink, Coolabah Tree Café, 47 industries, Can Am Newcastle, Nestle Peters Drumstick, Instalair, Tubby Signs and Graphics, CRC sprays and lubricants and Car Cube