KTM Recaps the Transmoto 12-Hour

The 2017 Transmoto 12-Hour powered by KTM & Husqvarna, featured the best track conditions in the event’s seven-year history, the perfect weather made the whole weekend show thoroughly memorable for everybody involved. KTM Australia’s PR team recently released their recap of the 12-Hour event…

A shakedown of the Glenn Kearney-managed KTM Factory Enduro Team and their machines two weeks before the start of the Australian Off-Road Championships is very serious business – unless the event is the Transmoto 12-Hour.

The event brought out the heavy hitters from both ends of the KTM’s head office, as neither the Factory Enduro Team nor KTM’s Management couldn’t say no to the event’s unique formula, which balances the seriousness level for some good old fashioned mate versus mate, staged in the picturesque setting of Buckenbowra down by Bateman’s Bay. Four-time A4DE Champion Daniel Milner and exciting up-and-comer Lyndon Snodgrass added Kearney and Team Technician Harry Norton to make up the squad which went on to earn overall victory. “We sent our big guys out for three or four laps at a time,” says Kearney, “and then Harry and I would go out for two, switching bikes as we were sharing a KTM 350 EXC-F. We lost some time in the beginning of the race with a mix up and then played catch up for most of the day, finally catching up to the Uni Filter and Husky teams toward the latter part. “The event was a really fun thing,” continued Kearney, “they’re all about teaming up with your mates, and the atmosphere in the pits, so it was a good thing to be a part of.”

KTM Australia’s General Manager and 1989 World Motocross Vice Champion Jeff Leisk couldn’t say no, and teamed up with former MX pro and KTM Spare Parts Inventory Controller Johnny DiStefano, National Brand Manager Tam Paul and long-time backer of KTM’s incredible desert racing victories, Colin Ross. “With KTM sponsoring,” continues Kearney, “it was great to see the General Manager on a 450 EXC-F mixing it up with all the punters out there. They were feeling it by the end, but so was I, as I haven’t been on the bike since the four-day in November!”

“When is a serious race not a serious race? When it’s the Transmoto 12-hour.”

With 400 riders and a shortened 12-minute lap, Kearney found the event made a great litmus test for his new team. “It was a tremendous hit out for us because the track got very rough. We came out of it really confident and Milner and Lyndon were on fire – they were very happy with their bikes. Milner set the fastest time of the day by around 20 seconds or something.”

Kearney’s squad weren’t the only big winners on the day, with Kye Anderson taking out the Ironman category.

Daniel Milner: “The AORC is just two weeks away so we couldn’t have had that race at a better time for testing and getting a feel for the bike in such rough conditions. We’ve got the bike so well sorted now. The 12-hour had a great atmosphere and it was definitely a great event.

Check out the Highlights Video, Images and Race Results from the 2017 Transmoto 12-Hour.