Source: BigPond Sport

LUCKY 7 V8 Supercar Driver Tim Slade will turn his talents to off-road racing when he competes in the Queensland round of the Australian Rally Championship later this month.

While Slade has no experience in rallying, he couldn't resist the opportunity to test his skills in a Polaris RZR 900 XP as part of a Side-By-Side Challenge event.

"Apart from a bit of paddock bashing out in the paddocks, I haven't done anything more serious than that," Slade told BigPond Sport.

"Dad did a little bit of rallying back in the day and I remember being around rallies when I was a little kid. It's something I've always been interested in. Anything motor racing related I'm interested in."

Motorsport and Event Co-ordinator for Polaris Australia, Lincoln Burns says Slade is in for an eye-opener.

"The biggest thing Tim will notice in the RZR is the suspension characteristics," says Burns.

"It is so forgivable  and can handle any terrain at any speed, that's what he'll notice the most. Coming from a V8 Supercar where you don't want to hit a kerb and break something, he'll be able to fly over the biggest bumps at 100 kilometres per hour and won't even feel it."

While excited about testing out a new set of wheels on foreign terrain, Slade isn't tempted to make a permanent switch to rallying.

"For me I've got to remember it's all a bit of fun," says Slade.

"I have my priority with my V8 Supercar career. I'm not going to go out and do anything stupid. I want to enjoy something new and learn lots along the way, as a rallying format is different to what I'm used to with timings and services and having someone beside me telling me what to do!"

For more on Polaris RZR 900 XP: www.polarisindustries.com.au
For more on Tim Slade and Lucky 7 Racing: www.luckyseven.com.au

Video by Reckless Desire Productions

THESE are the times you wish you have a camera.

Fortunately, there were two.

Bundaberg's Josh Dick was the only quad bike rider to get a taste of Dundowran Park's newly designed motocross track during the latest round of the Hervey Bay Motocross Club Series on Sunday.

He was also the only one to bite the dust.

The 22-year-old was taking part in a demo run when on the second lap he caught a rut that tipped his bike and sent him flying.

"I wasn't expecting it to happen," he said of the crash.

"I've raced here since I was 18 and I've never fallen off like that before."

Not only was the vision of the crash caught on his helmet camera, but the moment he was tossed from his Can-am DS450 quad bike was snapped by Chronicle photographer Karleila Thomsen.

While Dick's pride was slightly dented, he hadn't lost his sense of humour.

"I had to do a full test and took a soil sample as well," he joked.

Dick, who was not injured, said despite coming off his bike he enjoyed the chance to experience the all-new track design.

"It's a lot better than the old one," he said.

"It's real tight, it flows a lot better and it's a bit longer which I like."

Nice work Dickie!

Photographs courtesy Len @ ATV Pro https://www.facebook.com/pages/ATV-PRO/239055199464642

2012 MX Nationals

12th & 13th May

Australian Pro Quad MX Championships Round 2

4TEEN Press Release

Held at Wanneroo Park on the weekend, the infamous sand track claimed to be one of the toughest in Australia, with varying degrees of difficulty of Jumps, step up and step downs, and becoming one of the most whooped out tracks of any in the MX nationals series, did'nt fail the crowds on the weekend. Perfect weather all round, with approximately 5500 spectators spread across the many newly installed or non permanent viewing and VIP areas, the AJS Club showcased to all what they had accomplished in just 10 months of solid construction and many hundreds of hours of work from the members and committee.

Racing stretched across two long days with Rookie Lites featuring WA's fastest Juniors, B&C Grade Amateurs, Pro Quad Championship MX1 and MX2 The Pro Quad Championship leader and Australia #1 Luke Gaisford was out to hold his lead on the Championship and take away another round win.

Being in fine form Gaisford got away to a great start in the first moto, claiming the first holeshot of the day but giving that up early on a berm in the middle of the track bottoming out his quad for enough time for a couple of riders to pass him. Unfortunately by the time he made the passes and got into second, Ryan Lancaster had built a lead that he couldnt close. Second place was nothing to be sneezed at but Gaisford was angry he had made a rookie mistake and it had cost him the win.

Race 2 was another good start and Gaisford was up in the front few and going strong until hitting a corner and finding Ryan Lancaster lodged into the rear of his bike, untangling quads is hard work, and by the time they got them apart the whole grid was half a lap in front, Luke took off quickly and within 2 laps started passing back markers and then getting into more groups of riders, Lancaster passed him and lead through some more riders til two laps to go. Both were now up into the top five riders, Lancaster took the inside line behind Mitch VanVliet, Gaisford took the outside and passed them both along with Jordan Dummet, last lap board was shown and the leader Daniel Middleton from NSW riding Lukes practice bike and for team 4TEEN for the weekend was in his sites, Gaisford and Lancaster closed the gap but Middleton pushed for the last lap to hold on for his first ever Pro Race win at Nationals with Gaisford and Lancaster coming across the line for 2nd and third.

Race 3 the last one for Saturday was on an extremely rough track and Luke Gaisford got out in front just after Wanneroo Jump, Lancaster and Dummett hit each other and Lancaster again had to make a huge effort to retrieve some good points, Luke had checked out in front amd lead from start to finish  with New Zealand rider Andrew Vincent finding his sand form finishing the race in second, Ryan Lancaster in third Daniel Middleton took 4th across the finish line about half a wheel in front of Joel Mortimer.

Race 4 on Sunday morning saw some sore and sorry bodies on the start line, injuries aside everyone was out to make an impression in front of the huge crowds and it was sheer determination that got Lancaster across 1st after two horrible moto's,  Gaisford cruised across in second with Joel Mortimer sealing that third spot in front of Daniel Middleton and Tasmania's Jye Stokes.

All in All Team 4TEEN had a great weekend both riders on the podium, couldnt have gone any better Luke Gaisford 1st Ryan Lancaster 2nd Daniel Middleton 3rd

Luke and Daniel proudly wore their team 4TEEN shirts on the podium and celebrated with the many family and friends that made the whole weekend possible.

Daniel especially liked to thank Luke for the use of his 4TEEN Honda, Simone Gaisford for Pit Boarding and bike Maintenance, David Norman Transport and running around and the Bosnakis and Gaisford families for accommodation etc.

Luke thanked all his sponsors and especially TAW cylinder heads and TRS along with Malibu Fresh Essentials for helping his team 4TEEN with a successful hectic start to the season. Short break and on May 27th we head to Collie's Stockton Park for round 2 of the WA State Round.

Photo Credits to: ATVPro and WAQuadMX.com

Article Credit: WAQuadMX.com