Touratech-USA went out to support the 42nd annual Desert 100 Race and Dual-Sport Poker Run. The Touratech team was on hand to be a part of the event and contributed a list of prizes that were raffled to those in attendance.
Touratech also presented a $100 gift certificate to the most inspirational finisher in the Adventure Bike class. The prize went to Jeremy Sandeno who nearly took the hole shot on a KTM 950 Super Enduro in a field of hundreds of 450cc desert race bikes.
Sandeno went on to finish 2nd place just a few seconds behind Adventure Bike class winner Darryl Vannieuwenhuise. Touratech’s own Iain Glynn rounded out the podium in 3rd place. Iain managed an impressive finish despite having to repair the F800GS after shearing off the left foot peg and side stand on a large rock. Glynn pushed on and finished the next 30 miles by riding with his left foot on the passenger peg.
"I want to thank the Stumpjumpers club for adding the adventure class to this iconic event. It was a great way to demonstrate what these big adventure bikes are capable of doing. I’m also very happy that I finished so I don’t have to race the big bike class again." – Iain Glynn
Touratech also hosted the Dual-Sport camping area and an outdoor hospitality location in the evenings. Touratech’s General Manager joined in on the event by racing his Husqvarna TE450 in the 100 mile race. Guillien was hoping to just finish what was to be his very first desert race. He exceeded his own expectations by finishing 73rd out of 122 in his age group.
The race had participants cover two laps on a 50 mile course that was comprised of basalt rock formations, hard pack, sand whoops and countless mud bogs from the two days of rain prior to the event. Race morning saw rain drizzling down while temperatures hovered in the mid 30s. Fortunately the rain stopped as riders were rolling out to the race starting line.
"The terrain out in this area is very rugged and unforgiving. There is not much opportunity to recover during the race. It is totally and completely exhausting." – Paul Guillien
For the 3rd time in four years the overall race win went to British Columbia resident Bobby Prochnau who also took home the trophy last year and in 2009.
Each year the Desert 100 race, poker run and dual-sport ride bring 6,000 people into the remote desert location in Eastern Washington the first weekend in April. The event sees 4,500 people ride a motorcycle in one or more of the events and culminates in over 1,000 people lining up for the mass-start of the 100 mile race.
The event is the largest of its kind in the NW region of the US and has been an annual tradition since 1972. The Desert 100 is organized by the Stump Jumpers Motorcycle Club and is made possible by its members who volunteer thousands of hours each year to put on the event.
Click HERE to see a few more photos from this year’s Desert 100.
Video courtesy of Kevin Philbin.