Grant Denyer’s Simpson Desert Double Crossing

Australian TV personality, Grant Denyer and his best mate Adrian Christie, took two Yamaha WR250Rs on the adventure of a lifetime. The pair spent three days and nights battling the Simpson Desert, 176,500km2 of red sandy desert in central Australia that straddles the Northern Territory, South Australia and Queensland .

“I love doing what others can’t or won’t,” Denyer explained while reliving the great adventure. “The Simpson is a hardcore place to manhandle a motorcycle, particularly when you don’t have a support vehicle. You’re taking a chance with it, and it’s kinda nice to walk up to the line of danger and put a toe over it and hope for the best.”

Looking for a lightweight bike that could handle the rigors of the Simspon, the Yamaha WR250R was the choice for the adventure.

“The WR250R was the perfect bike for us,” he said.  It’s lightweight and sits on top of the sand a bit nicer. And when you’re crossing more than 2000 dunes you’re gonna be dropping the thing a few times. So you need a bike you can pick up that doesn’t burn all your energy. The WR250R was an absolute dream – it got me up Big Red no dramas.

The pair completed the return trip double crossing in just three and a half days, tackling 2200 sand dunes and travelling more than 1010km across the remote and unforgiving desert. “The Simpson is a punishing and spectacular temptress. It was long, exhausting and exhilarating and I will remember those desert night stars forever. A brutal but brilliant adventure,” Denyer concluded.

While Denyer’s adventure-riding bucket list still a few items to tick off, another crossing of the Simpson Desert is not one of them. “I never want to do this again. Shoot me if I forget.”