Ténéré Tragics Take on the High Plains

They may be Tragics fans of Yamaha’s adventure bike, the Ténéré, but they sure know how to have fun adventure riding as mates – all 80 of them. If you love the thrill of adventure and happen to own a Ténéré (of any model) this is the family you’ve been looking for all along! The ‘Tragics’ latest trek took them from Bathurst down to Thredbo, for all the stories from the trip, here’s the news from Yamaha…

Cessnock’s Potters Brewery was all hands to the pump as 80 Ténéré Tragics congregated for the start of their annual ride in honour of the legendary Dakar Rally-bred adventure bike.
The five day adventure ride staged last week took riders and crew through Bathurst, Goulburn, Tumut and Cooma to end at the Alpine Hotel in the NSW Snowy Mountains resort of Thredbo.
Participants were treated to a Yamaha bLU cRU ADV Skills Session with Yamaha legend Stephen Gall staged near Cessnock the day before the run started. 23 Tragics gained riding instruction that was put to good use over the next five days riding a range of Ténéré models from original 600s right through to new XTZ1200 Super Ténérés.

Factory CDR chief technician and long-time Ténéré adventure rider Gary Benn rode up from VIC to his first event with a special XTZ750 twin fitted with many original Dakar Rally bike parts. Yamaha Factory Rally Dakar racer Rod Faggotter, made a special guest appearance to ride with the Tragics on the final two days. Stephen Gall hosted an exclusive Q&A session with Rod at the end of day four at Cooma that offered a unique insight into his recent experience in the 2019 Dakar Rally. Five first model 1983 XT600ZL Ténérés joined the run this year – Dave Bottomley, Neil Asplin, Matt Parker-Charlton, Shane Johnston and organiser Andrew Clubb were the riders of the coveted original model large-tanked singles.

Andrew Clubb: “It’s been another huge week filled with so much Ténéré spirit! The run this year included stacks of the best Ténéré riding in central and southern NSW and while conditions were mostly dry, storms late on day two near Crookwell and overnight rain before the start of the final day from Cooma made for ground conditions that were absolutely perfect… and put plenty of smiles on the Tragics’ faces. The Tragics are an awesome pack brought together by the legendary Ténéré brand that we celebrate all week long on the Ténéré Tragics Run. The planning starts now for next year’s tenth anniversary Tragics Run, and you bet the Tragics are pumped that the new Ténéré 700 is coming in December.”

2019 TÉNÉRÉ TRAGICS AWARDS WINNERS

First Registration: Justin Hayden
Last Registration: Angus Dudley
Oldest Rider: Neville Ham (67 years old)
Youngest Rider: Alex Dostal (21 years old)
Most Kilometres to the Event: Francis Smith, rode from Burketown, Queensland Gulf Country, the long way (3000km plus)
Happy Camper: Hayden Brown
Tyre Warmer Award: Dave Readford
Band-Aid Road Rash Award: Keiron Jeffrey
Encouragement Award: Tony De Oliveria, in only his second ever dirt ride on an XTZ750 Super Ténéré he only just purchased via Gumtree, Tony dived in at the deep end for his first Tragics Run … and thought “What the hell have I done!” after day one. He soldiered on, and despite running out of brakes on day three, sourced new brake pads and carried on to the finish at Thredbo.
Sweeps Recognition Lack of Navigation Award: Wayne Stevens (rode a few hundred ‘bonus’ kilometres over the five days)

Sweeps Recognition Puncture Power Award: Graeme Bensley, Curtis Williams, Dave Wilson, Dave Harrison, Grant Merrick, Mark Pavitt; riding as a pack, they scored six flats through the week, and fixed them all themselves
Spec Savers 20/20 Vision Award: Jerry Young; thought he saw a lost dry bag on the trail… it was a dead wombat
Captain’s Choice 600/660: Charlie Fearon, XT600Z 3AJ
Captain’s Choice 750: Gary Benn, XTZ750
Captain’s Choice 660: Andy Patterson
Captain’s Choice 1200: Phil Halpin
Ténéré Spirit Award: Queenslanders Mike Ruoso, Dave Bottomley, Ken Henderson, all rode the very first Tragics Run in 2011 – never knew each other – but have now become best mates and team up to get each other through each Tragics Run.
Truly Tragic Award: Dave Wilson, dealer principal at Lithgow Bike Stop, and a proud member of the ‘100% Tragic’ club of ten riders who have ridden all nine Tragics Runs. Dave is always willing to leap in and help his Tragic brothers and oozes the Ténéré spirit.