There was an energized vibe to the 2024 Tatts Finke Desert Race. While plenty of naysayers were talking doom and gloom after the less than usual rider entry numbers, an upbeat and atmospheric sizzle flooded Alice Springs in the week leading up to the race.
Persistent rain washed the dust away and the prospect of lining up to a damp desert track had riders and spectators fizzing. It was like a universal energy had everyone humming to the tune of the desert with high octane oxygen fueling excitement for the weekend ahead.
Pre-race festivities were pumping and the Finke street party held in Alice Springs on Thursday was heaving. Fans flooded the streets to catch the Air Time FMX show and to grab an autograph from some of their favourite riders. Iconic Alice watering hole, Bojangles Saloon, was heaving and the talk of the town was all about defending King of the Desert, David Walsh. With four consecutive Finke wins to his name, could the Alice Springs local make it five in a row and equal the long-standing record set by Randal “The Jet” Gregory who dominated this race on fire-breathing Honda CR500s between 1991 and 1995? It was a tantalizing thought.
FEELING FAST
Approximately 8,000 spectators filed through the gates to catch action of the prologue on
