Ben Baker: From Bastard to Champion

Late last year, we launched the biggest, baddest, richest competition Transmoto has ever run: the ‘Tribe Ticket To Ride’ comp. Simply by joining Transmoto Tribe – or being an existing Tribe member – you were automatically entered into the draw to win a 2020-model Husqvarna FE450 (worth $15,395). And to sweeten the deal (by about seven grand!), the Husky winner was also lavished with a free entry – for him and his teammates – into all seven 2020 Transmoto Enduro Events. Seriously, for a dirt bike dude, do prizes come any tastier than that?!
As we officially announced in mid February, a bloke called Ben Baker was randomly drawn as the lucky winner. So, now that Ben has collected his FE450 from his local dealer, Nowra Motorcycles on the NSW south coast, we caught up with him on the phone…

“Mate, I literally didn’t believe you blokes when you called up to tell me I’d won,” Ben explained over the blower. “I’d been a Tribe member for a while before Transmoto ran this ‘Ticket To Ride’ competition, and I actually had no idea that I was even in the draw to win. I have to admit, I didn’t even know about the comp [laughs]. Anyway, when it finally sunk in that you blokes weren’t pulling my leg, it was a pretty amazing feeling. By the time you add the value of the bike and seven team entries together, it’s about 20 grand worth! It also makes for an awesome excuse – especially for the missus! – to get away and do some more events because costs can add up for races that involve more travelling.”

Ben lives near Cooma, about 100km south of Canberra, but soon discovered his nearest dealer was Nowra Motorcycles. “I was itching to get my hands on the bike, so driving three hours to Nowra was the least of my worries,” he says. “The boys there at the dealership really looked after me. They gave me in a Husky T-shirt and cap for the handover shot, chipped in a few filters and gear, and sent me on my way. I couldn’t wait to get out and ride this new Husky – which is kind of two generations newer than my previous bike, a 2016-model KTM 450EXC-F. The new FE450 completely different to ride; the bodywork, the suspension and the power. It was really cool to be able to muck around with the traction control and mapping too. I got to put about four or five hours on the thing before this Coronavirus took over our lives. I’m spewin’. Now every time I go into the garage, I see the thing sitting there looking at me. I was hoping to have a couple of Transmoto events under my belt by now. Last year, I raced your 12-Hour and the Wangaratta 8-Hour, but I’m really looking forward to racing at some other venues this year as well.”

And how did Ben’s mates respond to the fact he’d won a free team entry into all seven Transmoto events this year? “It was funny cos I quickly went from being a bastard for winning the bike, to a champion for winning the free entries,” he says with a laugh. “Let’s just say my phone was running hot there for a bit with potential teammates offering their services. In any case, I hope you blokes can get your events underway again soon, cos they’re awesome. And I know a lot of people who can’t wait to get amongst it.”

WHAT ELSE DO YOU GET AS TRIBE MEMBER?

• 48-hour priority entry to all Transmoto events (don’t miss out cos most events sell out);
• Special offers and discounts from industry brands that you won’t get anywhere else;
• Invitations to member-only ride days on private properties;
• Chunky discounts on all Transmoto gear;
• A Transmoto apparel pack (valued at $120) delivered to your front door; and
• Heaps more to froth over.

If that gets your juices flowin’, then hit that big gold button below…