Crossing the Australian Continent by Raptor
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Crossing the Australian Continent by Raptor
Image Gallery ( 24 images )September 25, 2005 As we reported last week, a pair of Yamaha’s potent fuel injected YFM700R Raptor All Terrain Vehicles has just completed a trans-Australian crossing. Matt Brown and Ross Ledger left Byron Bay Lighthouse, the eastern-most point of Australia and spent two weeks in the harshest environment this side of the moon before arriving in Steep Point, WA and earning a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest trip ever completed on an ATV. The pair kept a daily diary and took pics along the way. This is the diary kept by a team of Matt, Ross and the support crew, in their own words, and these are the images taken by the support crew. If you’ve ever wondered just how big Australia is, check out the image library.
The day had finally come, after months of planning the crew were in Byron Bay, the most Easterly part of the Australian continent and were about to embark on the longest recorded ATV ride in the world. The journey would see them travel across Australia from the most Eastern point in Byron Bay, New South Wales to the most Western point at Steep Point in Western Australia. The five thousand plus kilometres trip would cross through some of Australia's harshest environments and would push the machines and riders to the edge.
This day had not come fast enough for the crew but with a pair Yamaha's latest ATV weapons, the fuel injected Raptor 700's the trip was sure to be an adventure. Securing the Yamaha's as the choice of ATV's for the trip was an integral part of the trip but it did not come without its fair share of obstacles. Read on to see how the trip became a reality and what was involved in completing such a feat.
The Crew
The riders Matt Brown from Bathurst and Ross Ledger from Brisbane were backed up by David McNamara, John Sherlock and John Kelly both from Brisbane in a Ford F250 which carried the supplies and spares for the grueling journey.
Matt Brown at the tender age of 34 has been riding off road motorcycles for some fifteen years and has been a long term supporter of the DSMRA attending many trail rides throughout Australia. Matt rode his Yamaha WR 400 on a Sydney to Brisbane ride consisting of some 1700Km of mainly dirt trails and tracks. Matt has also travelled to Cape York Peninsular by bike as well as several trips in his modified Ford F250 that will be the back up vehicle for the record attempt.
Ross Ledger at 38 years of age has spent most of his life with his hands wrapped around handlebars off some sort. From motocross, enduro and road bikes to jetskis he has a passion for anything with handlebars and horsepower. Ross has ridden the famous Cape York track several times as well as endless enduro rides throughout Australia.
David McNamara also 38 years of age was responsible for driving the Ford F250 support vehicle. Like Ross, David is also a keen rider of anything with handlebars and horsepower but has also done extensive travelling throughout Australia by four wheel drive and motorcycle. With seven Cape York trips, two Simpson Desert crossings, the Gibb river road and two trips around Australia David is very well experienced in trip planning, coordination and execution for such a trip.
John Kelly - well he just lifts heavy things! No, really John's experience with motorcycles was invaluable in maintaining the ATV's and the support vehicle during the trip. John has also had extensive travel overseas and his driving skills will help during the long spells in the support vehicle. John was also the official photographer for the trip and as such was responsible for capturing the adventure on both still and video footage.
