All language subtitles for Finke.There.And.Back.2018.1080p.WEBRip.x264.AAC5.1-[YTS.MX]

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(flames crackling)

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(fingers snapping)
(applauding)

- [Man] I don't think
there's an event

I've ever been to
that's as crazy

and as spectacular as this one.

- [Man] It's hard to put
into words, isn't it?

It's hard to say, oh this
is what it's like, mate.

You can't tell people,
they have to live it.

- [Man] It's just a
different thing altogether.

- [Man] It's the
intensity of the race

event that sets it apart.

(dramatic music)
(helicopter buzzing)

- [Man] Dashing through
the scrub and desert.

- [Woman] It's like the
unknown is the race.

(engines buzzing)
(dramatic music)

- [Race Controller]
Yankie Mike Alpha,

Yankie Mike Alpha, this
is Race Control, over.

Yankie Mike Alpha,
we've got reports

of multiple riders down
around the 100 kilometre mark.

(helicopter buzzing)

We've got ah, one
of the helicopters,

Yankie Mike Alpha, is
on its way there, over.

- [Narrator] Majestic,
ancient landforms

surround the middle
of Australia.

Hills that were once taller
than Mt. Everest have been worn

down over millions of years.

This beautiful, harsh
desert is God's country.

A thin, sandy track stretches

to the south,
beyond the horizon.

After 230 kilometres,
it reaches the dry bed

of the Finke River, the
oldest river in the world.

Once a year, the track flows,

as motorbikes and
cars race there and back.

(upbeat music)

The race starts near the
town of Alice Springs,

an unexpected oasis in
the middle of Australia.

(upbeat music)

Riders and drivers
gather every June for one

of the biggest off-road
races in the world.

The energy has been
described as Finke Fever.

And it's contagious, people
who come once, come again.

(engine rumbling)

(alarm beeping)

- [Isaac] My kitten's
name is Maverick Noodle.

Maverick is obviously,
he's not scared,

and Noodle is that
he's a bit of an idiot.

So I'm pretty sure he's going

to get himself into some
trouble at some point.

I like it when cats
fail at being cats,

when they go to jump on
something and fall on their face

I work from home a
lot, teach some days.

Melbourne is just full
of concrete and bullshit.

I have this constant
search for adrenalin,

which is really hard
to get down here.

And so, that's what
bike riding does.

Bike riding is an
adrenalin outlet

that you don't get
doing anything else.

I think bikes get in your blood

or something and then you
can't get rid of them.

(chuckling)

(laid back music)

(engine starting)

- I heard friends
talk about the Finke.

I always thought it
would be a good idea.

It's going to be an
adventure, I like adventure.

I haven't ever done any
desert racing before.

Not like expecting to
go and win anything,

but if I can go and finish,
it'll be pretty cool.

I guess I just like retro stuff.

New stuff is just, I don't know,

it all seems just, seems
to be a bit the same.

(laid back music)

This is the lounge room.

Got the old Macarena.

It's good for watching old
western cowboy movies on.

The van, that's a International
Harvester Company.

Eventually, we're
going to have a go

and I put another motor in,

and just put it in
here at the moment.

I put a bed in it, it's
my bedroom at the moment.

I only got called Gareth
when I was in trouble.

So my father said look at
this scruffy kid one time,

and it just kind of stuck.

I grew up on a
farm and my old man

had the AG bike and I'd
sit on the fuel tank

and we'd go out
and check the cows.

So I wonder if he's to blame.

(engine rumbling)

I could live without motorbikes,

but it seems silly to do that,
if you can live with them.

Like they're pretty
good. (laughing)

Cheers.

That's what I'm
racing this year,

yeah, possibly one of
my favourite bikes.

I don't like to have favourites,

but it's very close
to being a favourite.

Yeah, should be good.

June '64 this is. (chuckling)

The MFA Motel Federation to
tell you where there's a motel.

It's very good, excellent.

- [Man] You've
got a lot of maps.

- Yeah, I like maps.

A photo of my daughters,
when they were very young.

Oh cool, yeah, this
one is pretty good.

So we're here, I think
it's up here somewhere.

- [Narrator] Scruff
leaves Sydney and drives

3,000 kilometres into
the heart of Australia.

The Finke Desert Race
takes place over two days.

On day one, cars
followed by bikes

head 230 kilometres south,
where everyone camps the night.

The next day, they race
along the same track,

back to where they began.

Australia has the
largest population

of feral camels in the world.

Central Australia was founded
on the back of these camels.

A hundred years ago, a
railway took their place.

The Finke Desert Race began
in 1976, with a few locals

following the path
of the railway line.

- The first race was There
and Back Finke Desert Race.

- It was a very casual race.

So they'd prop their
bikes up on a stick

or a stand or whatever, go
back about 20 metres, shotgun.

- Bang.
(gun firing)

Run like hell, jump on
the bike, kick and just

this enormous line of bikes
just feeding onto the track.

- So the race used to go from
side to side of the road.

And there were numerous near
misses, jumping the track

and driving over the bonnets
of tourists' vehicles,

wondering what
the hell was that?

(yelling)

The Finke Community
Hotel was open.

- The pub was well attended.

And then they'd ride back
the next day feeling,

I imagine, viciously unwell.

- It was just that
adventurous spirit

of what have these guys
actually gone off and done?

This course was
dominated by bikes.

There was no car available
that was going to beat them.

- [Narrator] Cars were
introduced in 1988.

Surrounded by a roll cage,
some say they're a safer option

for the bike riders
who've grown soft.

- [Geoff] We weren't
that keen on it.

But I think over time, it
has benefited the event.

The first lot of
cars were similar

to the first lot of bikes.

They were backyard stuff.

- [Man] Most of the buggies
were a bit prehistoric.

The technology wasn't there.

But certainly now, the
technology is there.

(engine rumbling)

- [Man] He's very expensive.

- [Man] Those boys
will be battling

their wallets and their cars.

- Just about need
a bottomless pit.

They must mortgage their house
or something. (chuckling)

(engine revving)

- [Narrator] These are the
high-rollers of off-road racing.

With cars costing in excess
of half a million dollars,

money is no obstacle in the

determination to
beat the desert.

(dramatic music)

- [Ben] People want to
go and see gunslingers.

They don't want to see
people in armoured vehicles.

Dirt bike riders
are like bad boys.

Look how fast that
big, brave man

in that $300,000 buggy
is going, you know?

- We don't actually
ever compare the two.

- It's a bike weekend, man.

It's all about the bikes.

(phone ringing)

- Good morning, Finke office.

So today is the 31st of January

and our bike entry
division is opening.

500 positions available.

Everyone is pretty keen to try

and get their entry in today,
so they don't miss out.

Cheers, thank, bye-bye.

(phone ringing)

Good morning, Finke office.
(aeroplane whooshing)

- I used to do
this without tools,

but then it fell off
once, when I was driving.

I don't have a handbrake.

I have a foot-operated
handbrake, so I'm fucked.

- [Narrator] Isaac Elliott
arrives back in Alice Springs,

the town where he grew up.

He's planning to
complete the race

he started many years ago.

- How you going?
- How are you?

- Not bad.

- So, we've got the bike in
the workshop at the moment.

- I haven't had
a bike for years.

Why do I want to race this year?

I don't know.

I miss having some sort of
adrenalin outlet, right?

(engine revving)

Whoa. (laughing)

That's what it is, I
guess, at the moment.

- I mean I'm sitting there
one day and I'm having a beer

and I can just see
this young fella

come screaming down the hill.

It's like I've
just seen this out

of the corner of the window.

I was like, what?

And then he's disappeared.

I thought, where the hell?

- So I rode little BMX bikes
since I was a little kid.

Crashed them and I'd go to
hospital with head cuts.

(clanging)
(laughing)

- What was that?
- I don't know.

- Nothing frightened him.
- Yeah, nothing.

- Nothing frightened
him, you know?

- Yeah, didn't care.
(laughing)

- [Isaac] Had 30
something stitches

in my head before I was five.
- That was sick.

- Whoa.

- I think initially,
he was just mad

and then obviously
doing so, you know--

- [Jamie] So often.

- So often he got
skilled, so yeah.

- He was extremely competent
as a motocross rider.

Watch out, don't
be in front of him.

He'll run you over. (laughing)

Well, that was Isaac,
just a hundred percent.

- [Man] Whoa.

- Yeah.
- Whoa.

- [Man] Yeah.

- [Zoran] Like he was
just a hundred percent.

There was nothing
else on his mind.

- This just dream of being
a pro motocross rider.

It's a very childlike dream.

And if you're not getting
there when you're 16, 17, 18,

you're probably not
going to get there.

And if you were chasing
that, 19, 20, 21, 22,

you're just delaying growing up.

(blues music)

- [Toby] Lucky
enough, I walked away

with a number one plate.

So, definitely a big show-up
for my first attempt.

- [Narrator] Toby Price
was the first Australian

to win the Dakar Rally
in South America.

He's also the reigning
Finke King of the Desert

and has won the race five times.

- So, this pretty
much is the house,

where I don't get to
spend too much time in.

But, it's not too often
you see a dirt bike

in the middle of your lounge
room or anything like that.

So, this year, we're trying to
chase number six on the bike,

which will then
hopefully give us

a record for the
most wins at Finke.

- [Narrator] Toby is
the lead rider for KTM,

a European manufacturer
and the most

dominant team at
Finke in recent years.

(helicopter buzzing)

Unfortunately, after breaking
his leg only a few months ago,

he's had to pull out
of this year's race.

He's here to lend
support to the team.

Alice Springs local, David
Walsh, who came third last year,

has now become the
lead rider for KTM.

There's big pressure on
David to bring home a win

for the town, as a local has
not won Finke in 11 years.

- I'd like to be on
the podium again.

Obviously, top spot
would be preferred, but.

Yeah, I have a dream where
I've won the event before

and you wake up
disappointed. (laughing)

(engine rumbling)

- [Narrator] Competitors
practise the track

for six months leading
up to the big weekend.

This is called pre-running.

It gives them track
knowledge vital

for having an edge
over the competition.

- [David] Bike fitness is so
different to everything else.

I mean you can do
a lot of training.

But unless you're
spending time on the bike,

you know, it's unique fitness.

I've done over 6,000 Ks up
and down the track in 20 days.

- [Narrator] The KTM Team
arrives at the end of the track,

at the small community of
Apatula on the Finke River.

- Yeah, there is a
little tacker on it.

- It would sort of twitch

and then it would just
throw that rear end.

And then that's
why I was having,

I'm pretty that's
why I was having--

- [Narrator] The
teams other riders,

a 21 year old Jack
Simpson from Victoria,

and another Alice Springs
local, Luke Hayes.

- Loser. (laughing)

- Plus
- Sweet.

- Plus whatever it would
be to do the most at.

(camera shutter snapping)

- Hey, thank you.
- Thank you.

- Thank you.

Here you go.

(chattering)

Oh yeah, okay.

(chattering)

(helicopter buzzing)

- For David Walsh, racing
is a labour of love.

Being a full-time builder
occupies most of his time

- I've made all
the screws and that

we'll just pick them all up.

Ready to go, mate?

- Guess so.
- And you're ready?

- [David] There's no real
slow parts on the track.

So, you come off, it
generally involves an injury.

I've fractured six
vertebraes, broke my sternum,

my collarbone in a crash.

She's seen the
ugly side of it too

so she's not a big
fan of my racing.

- It's the fastest

desert race, it's crazy speeds.

And to go that fast, you've
either got to be crazy or,

you know, just want it that bad.

But it's what he loves.

And he is good at it,
regardless of all the injuries.

Each year when it's the
last year, then next year,

oh it's the last year,
and so on and so forth.

So, this year is the
last year. (laughing)

- Alright.
- Bye.

- [David] Love you, be good.

- [Daughter] Yeah.

- See you, mate.
- See you.

Love you.

- I've got a family
and that now.

The risk is pretty
high, considering it's,

you know, a hobby for me.

So, touch wood, (laughing)
I'm going to have a good year.

- [Narrator] David's main rival

is another Alice Springs local

and Yamaha rider, Daymon Stokie,

who finished fourth last year.

A crash a few months ago
shattered the fingers

in his left hand and
he's still unsure

if he'll be able to race.

- [Daymon] So, I've
been like trying to,

yeah, just massage it a
few times a day as well.

- Yeah, perfect, good.

Can I get you to bend your
knuckle joints for me?

Beautiful.

- But yeah, on the
one hand, I'm like oh,

it's coming along pretty
good, I've got time.

And then on the other hand,
I'm like I've got no time,

I'm freaking out, it's
not getting better, so

- [Woman] Yeah.

- [Narrator] Two
weeks before the race,

the Yamaha Team is pre-running.

Daymon Stokie is going
for his first ride to see

if he'll be able to compete
with his broken hand.

(engine rumbling)

- This is where our
preparation counts.

It is a big expectation to win.

And it would be damn nice
to get that number one spot.

We're judged by
everyone at every level,

from those who fund us,
to those who watch us.

He's had surgery,
they've plated it,

but that doesn't mean
the pain goes away.

- At the end of the day

it's two hours of
your life each way.

You've just got to
bite your lip and go.

(engine rumbling)

- [Daymon] I've said, oh this is

my last year a few times now,

but I keep coming back.

I've had a lot of big
crashes down here now

and it hasn't turned
me off at all.

- There you go, that's
a Yamaha right there.

- Well, the headline
in the newspaper

is already Walshie has got this.

And if you went off
last year's results,

yeah, he's the favourite.

(laid back music)

- [Mary] But I tell you what,
it's a big thing for the town.

Everybody is behind it,
it's not just the riders.

Finke is the town, isn't it?

- [Man] Hey, look, we
were talking earlier about

how there's only just under
50 locals in the event.

- The cream rises to the top.

We don't have to have
hundreds of us in there.

We've got the qualities.

What more do we want?

(chuckling)

- So, Daymon Walsh
(ah), Daymon Stokie,

Luke Hayes, this is the, a very

wide-open event that
we have this year.

- Actually, there's some
silent ones that come in.

(chuckling)

(laid back music)

- So, the Finke Track from here,

we're only about five
Ks from it, I'd say.

And the homestead
where I grew up

is only another three
or four K down the road.

Spent my whole life within 10
kilometres of the Finke Track.

Yeah.

- [Narrator] 22 year
old local, Luke Hayes,

has been riding motorbikes
since before he could walk.

- [Luke] 1998 was the year
my Dad came third outright.

You know I was just a kid
at that point

I would've been

ah three or four years old.

- Gonna win?
- Hope so.

Yeah, I hope I win.

The bike is fast enough to win.

Just, I hope I can hang onto
it for the full distance.

(cows mooing)
- Billy worked on the land.

The track runs
through his family's

cattle station where he grew up.

- Dad used to, you know,
in training for Finke,

he used to run up
and down this road,

and I used to follow him
on my little Z50 Honda,

yeah, down to the gate.

And Dad, always being a station
bloke, when he was racing,

I think he probably
took an element

of pride in being a
ringer on a dirt bike,

you know, and
having a good crack.

(blues music)

- There's a number of riders

have gone down to Finke today.

So, all the riders
keep an eye out for me

and they always give
me a big thumbs-up.

They love the work that I
do, because it, (laughing)

it saves them bashing themselves
to pieces on this track.

What happens in this stuff,
the riders call it choppy.

And then if they hit
a big square edge,

it normally puts their
arse through their brain.

(laughing)

I'm a bit daggy with my braces,

but it's the only way
to keep my trousers on.

The track is so bloody
rough. (laughing)

- Look, these arrows are
just some small bends,

90 degree bends, danger sign.

We've got a square on
the white background.

- A desert race isn't
racing on the road.

It's out in the sand
dunes, out in the whoops.

Whoops are like giant
corrugations that develop

from the bike
loading up suspension

and then compressing suspension.

Just having this adrenalin rush

at over 100 K an
hour, that was 1990.

I said, no, I'm entering Finke.

Entered the first set of whoops,

launched up into a tree,
fell out of the tree,

broken collarbone and
three broken ribs.

That was my first
taste of whoops.

- I don't want to take
all these, obviously.

I'm just picking out a few.

Oh, I found one on the
road too this morning.

That's a good-looking
screw, metric.

Some Allen keys, in
case I get nervous.

- [Narrator] Scruff has
arrived in Alice Springs

for his first attempt at
the Finke Desert Race.

- So that's a 1980 model.

What's that, 37?

Yeah, 37 years old.

I ride old bikes,
that's what I do.

Oh, there we go.

A lot of people make
them all nice and neat

and put them in the pool room.

I make them neat
enough and I ride 'em.

(engine roaring)

1980, will it make it?

Well, if they were
making it in 1980

there's no reason it
shouldn't get there and back.

I've done a bit
of desert riding,

but I never imagined so many
whoops could be in one place.

Your arms are numb, lower
back, you know, your legs.

Everything is just,
you know, at its limit.

(blues music)

I guess I'm getting
a bit excited.

I was kind of a bit
nervous for a while.

Oh I was thinking about like
maybe something could go wrong,

like a big crash or
something like that.

10 years ago.

I thought I'd be all like
emotional looking at these.

But it's like looking
at a wrecked car

before it's all fixed up.

But it's the only
car you've got.

Is it these, these first ones?

- These ones.

Right there.

- Do you think we're close?

- I was selling my bike.

I was not going to
be a kid anymore.

I was going to buy a house.

That was, that was August 2007.

Then I crashed my
motorbike in April 2007.

(unsettling music)

And so, I came over a rise

and there was a corner
quickly after it.

And knew I wasn't
going to make it,

so I just picked a
line through the trees.

But at the speed I was going,

it kicked my back wheel out
and my back wheel hit a tree.

(engine rumbling)

(clattering)

Then I was lying in
the ground. (laughing)

I said, oi mate, "Get my
legs out of the tree."

And they said, "What
are you talking about?

"You're lying on your
back on the ground."

I said, "No, but they're,
they're up in the tree."

And it was just
because I couldn't

feel them lying on the ground.

That was it.

- It was around here
somewhere, 10 years ago.

Finke then becomes something
that I haven't done

and something that I should do.

The challenge to go fuck
you to everything here,

basically, just go fuck
you, I can race you.

This is a point-to-point race.

It's not a circuit race.

So people will go from
point A down to point B,

camp overnight and
then come back along

the same course the following
day, just in reverse.

So, this is the biggest
field we've ever had.

So that produces additional
logistical challenges for us.

And primarily, that is
getting everyone away

and getting everyone in at
the Finke end within daylight.

The last thing we want to do
is see anyone left out there

at night, and we don't
shut our Operations Centre

down until we have
everyone accounted for.

- We get about 60
extra presentations

to the Emergency Department
over the weekend,

of which about 20 are
seriously injured.

- Because sometimes
those patients

will actually need to be
transported to Adelaide

or to Darwin, because
Alice Springs Hospital

doesn't have
neurosurgical facilities

or cardiothoracic facilities.

So, they may need care
outside of the state.

- If we do have something
that happens on the track,

like we had a few years ago
where a person got killed,

again, police will be
responding to that.

I'll set up a crime scene.

This may mean that the
competitors have to be

redirected, and that's
what we did last time.

- We're fortunate
that we've only had

I think three fatalities
over the 42 years.

Sobering note to
finish police on.

Thank you.

- [Man] We might just
ask that question again.

So how has Toby Price's absence

from the bikes affected
your Finke race?

- We're all here
to do the same job.

You know, there's a few
of us locals that are,

you know, keen to
take the title.

So.

- Yeah, I make it
like that. (laughing)

That was good.

- [Narrator] KTM's
newest recruit

is 21 year old Jack Simpson,

a professional
rider from Victoria.

- You either have
it or you don't.

I feel like I have it.

You just have to get
up there and ride it.

And you've either
got it or you don't.

Fast as all hell,
rough as all hell,

dangerous as all hell.

Like it's not easy.

(engine rumbling)

- [Narrator] Jack
is heading down

the track for his last pre-run.

- I've broken a
vertebrae in my back

and two of the lower ribs
and punctured a lung.

I was about to hit top gear.

Hit a square edge,
went left, right, left,

and I nearly saved
the whole thing.

And then I reckon I've
dropped in a whoop

and then it's just, yeah,
sent me off to the right.

The bike went left and tumbled
and snapped the bars in half

and ripped all the seat
and sub frame and all that.

And yeah, I was, I felt like

I was flying in the
air for five seconds.

Definitely hurt when I hit.

- [Man] How fast do you
think you were going, Jack?

- [Jack] Ah, probably 160 Ks.

(siren blaring)

- I want to thank you all,
on behalf of St. John,

for coming and giving
up your weekend

to help out with the Finke Race.

It's a huge event and
it will be very chaotic.

You've got to remember, it's
220 Ks of 600 bikes spread out

and it's not, it's
not organised.

Something is going to wrong.

So this is definitely
the biggest

logistical event that
we do every year.

- A hundred are
over 45 and looking

to check things off
their bucket list.

A lot of them are very
inexperienced and not quite

used to these conditions
and this type of race.

- The most common fractured
bone is the clavicle

and they will insist
on wanting to ride back

with a broken clavicle
or a broken wrist.

Ruptured spleens, burst L3
L5, intracranial haemorrhages.

Most bones have been
broken here on this track.

- Could I get a gourmet
crispy Caesar salad?

It's the same person that
served me this morning.

Thank you.

14 days until Finke.

And I haven't sat on my bike.

I'm not really worried
about falling over.

But I guess it's like when
you're strapped to a bike,

you've just got to get
comfortable with it.

We have to do a
lot to a standard

bike in order for me to race.

So, when we rip this seat
off, I'm sort of nervous

that we have done the whole
bike at once, really quickly,

and that different
things that won't

be able to be changed
won't work properly.

And I know I can get into it

and I'd rather be tight
in it, than loose in it.

Are you nervous, Isaac?

A little bit,
little bit nervous.

(mumbling)

Partly the fear is that I
won't know how to ride a bike.

- [Man] Yes, you look
good there, that's--

- Like it looks quite central?

- Yeah.

- [Narrator] A few days
before the big race,

Alice Springs is
buzzing with excitement.

The town's Mayor, Damien Ryan,

is one of the
race's biggest fans.

- Thanks.

- You do know it's Finke time

when boxes appear in my
office with old programmes.

I always remember this
fellow, Stephen Gall,

who's just a thorough champion.

And I always remember him making

a statement one year
after he won it.

He said, the hardest
part of the course

was the four inches
between your ears.

And he said, once
you conquered that,

you could go on
and win it again.

- [Man] Randall, moment of
truth, how is it going to go?

- Oh, the morning didn't
start off too well,

but hopefully, the rest of
the day will go alright.

- [Narrator] Randall
Gregory holds the record

for the most Finke
wins in a row.

On this track, he's
considered by many

to be the greatest of all time.

(engines rumbling)

- I heard the announcer call
Randall Gregory over the line.

And he said, this is something
that will never be repeated.

This is the best desert racer

in the country that's
just flown five in a row.

- [Man] It's probably never
going to happen again.

It was just unheard of.

- It was always
a dream watching,

you know, the likes
of Randall Gregory.

- [Man] One thing interesting
about Randall there

is he was never the
favourite, yet he always won.

- [Geoff] Everyone
knew how good he was.

He proved that on the track.

The Finke Track was
pretty much his.

- I watched him
when he passed me,

one hand off the bars,
thumbs up, cheers, mate.

He was already popping
the champagne in Alice.

(engine roaring)

- [Man] I don't think we ever
knew how fast he could ride.

He had an unfortunate accident
on part of the Finke course.

- And it happened
not far from here,

and I think it was Michael Vroom

that found him and said,
are you alright, mate?

And he wasn't.

- Well done.

- [Rick] How many more
could he have won?

How far could he have gone?

When would he have retired?

Becomes part of the myth
that is Randall Gregory.

(dramatic music)

- Yeah, I don't remember how
it happened or why it happened.

Look, I wasn't
ready to finish up.

When you're in rehab,
there's a lot of people

in there with different
reasons why they're injured

and mine was, you
know, it's a sport.

Take it on the chin, you know?

You, you know, you
don't have to do it,

you know, it was your sport.

If you're already in a chair,

you don't want to
make it any worse.

- [Man] Ready, big fella?

- No, no, I'm not.

I can't feel from here.

I've got no support,

so this actually just
basically holds me upright.

Slightly lower than last time.

Let go of my legs just
around the outside.

- Round the outside,
round the outside.

- [Isaac] Just like
that, those on.

(engine rumbling)

- [Man] Oh shit.

- I'm okay, I'm fine,
I'm fine, I'm fine.

Let's go, I just
fucking stalled it.

Well, I just, I don't
really have a clutch.

I want to ride back.

- [Man] Let's do
it, let's get in.

- [Isaac] Oh.

(talking drowned out
by engine rumbling)

(dramatic music)

Everything I do is whether

the world gives me
permission to do it.

The world doesn't
give me permission

to ride a bike,
but I do it anyway.

- [Narrator] A
rider's connection

to this ancient land runs deep.

In God's country,
time can slow down.

(dramatic music)

- [Man] The atmosphere is
just beautiful out here.

It's unlike anything else.

- [Man] If you've had the most
stressful day in the world,

you get on the motorbike
and all of a sudden,

your day is not
stressful anymore.

- [Man] It's ballet
on a motorbike.

It's just pretty to watch.

(dramatic music)

(talking drowned out
by engine rumbling)

- How fucking crazy was that?

(laughing)

- [Isaac] Wow, that was a riot.

I almost died a couple of times.

- Yeah.
- Not too many, maybe twice?

- I got a speedo, I like it.

- [Man] Did you read it?

- Yeah.
- What did it say?

- We were doing 80 K, so
why are we getting passed?

We've got to go faster.

When I was riding out
there, I looked at it

and I was like, I've
done 44 kilometres

on this bike to prepare
for a 500 kilometre race.

I can't admit that
it's fun, because Finke

is still the stupidest race.

It's still ridiculous.

(instrumental music)

(grunting)

- Alright now, hold still.

(camera shutter clicking)

- I haven't been lifting

any weights or doing
any star jumps.

I'll just come and
ride, you know?

It does make the
beer taste better.

I think I should
be able to finish.

I don't think I'll be pushing
Toby Price, broken leg or not.

- Yeah, we unfortunately
didn't quite make it here

to the Finke Desert Race
on the, on the two wheels

and yeah, definitely
it's hard to sit

on the sidelines and watch.

So we've taken a little bit

of a different path
this year at Finke.

I want to keep racing
anything I possibly can.

I'll race a lawnmower
if I have to.

Sign the other one as well?

No worries.

- [Daymon] I'd say my
main battle is my hand

and racing myself, and I think

the result will
take care of itself.

- [David] Half the battle
is just beating the desert.

- [Narrator] The desert
population swells,

as 15,000 spectators head down

the track to camp
over race weekend.

- Oh.
(laughing)

Come, put it together.

(chattering)

- [Man] Yeah, na

(laughing)

- You don't want...

We're in the territory.

(dramatic music)

- [Narrator] A well-known
racer once said,

if everything seems
under control,

then you're not
going fast enough.

Well, that's all well and
good for someone who races

in a controlled
environment on a track

you could eat your dinner off.

The desert is unforgiving,
it has its own plans.

Spectators spread
along the track wait

in anticipation for the
first vehicle to pass.

- He's coming fast,
you think, no shit.

- Who is it, who is
it, oh, who's next?

Like, it's sort of
that excitement.

- [Man] You wait for the
chopper and you can just see

the speck in the distance,
and you start to hear it.

(helicopter buzzing)
(dramatic music)

- There, there.

(engine roaring)

- [Children] Whoa.

- [Race Controller] We're
at the Alice Springs end.

We're about to get the
bike race underway.

- Motorcycling Australia advises

that motorcycle racing
can be dangerous.

Your equipment could
be damaged or destroyed

and you may suffer serious
personal injury, or worse.

(chattering)

- KTM have been on the
top step for a while now

so it'd be nice to push them off

and get someone else up there.

- [Commentator] The race
is up for grabs today,

regardless of who's on
the line, who makes it,

who has mechanical failures.

There is a ridiculous
level of fortune

and misfortune that's
involved with motor sport.

- Probably more of
a talking point,

Jack Simpson, bike number 11.

- Yeah.
- Out of Steel as well.

- I'll see you.
- Going to Finke?

Better.

- Yeah, well hopefully.

- I'll come looking for you.

(hammering)

- I think the first 40 Ks are
a kind of dangerous section,

because everyone is
going to be a bit woohoo.

(engines revving)

- [Race Controller] All
stations, all stations,

this is Race Control.

We're five minutes to start.

- Hey, when I get nervous,
I put on more padding.

I've got yoga mats everywhere.

- It's not bad for you.

(engine rumbling)

- [Narrator] The starting
order is based on

a short time trial
the day before.

Riders with the quickest
time take off first,

a big advantage,
with dust-free air.

- [Man] The feeling
you get when you

roll up to the
line, it's electric.

Your heart is in your mouth.

The same kind of
apprehension just before

you're about to jump
out of an aeroplane.

- [Race Controller]
The red light is on

so that means one minute to go.

(dramatic music)

(engines revving)

- [Commentator] Away they go.

At the start, David
Walsh on the KTM.

Start straight here is nice,
and then Ivan long goes wide.

(engines rumbling)
(dramatic music)

- [Narrator] One bike
after another, they leave,

until all 600 are on the track.

(dramatic music)
(engines rumbling)

- [Man] Whoa.

- [Narrator] Finke is
raced on corrected time.

Each rider is timed separately

for the duration of their race.

This means the lead rider is
not necessarily the quickest.

And sometimes a dark horse
will come from behind.

- [Commentator] We've got
all bikes away, bar one.

- [Commentator] We've
got Isaac Elliott

and his two ghost
riders that are there

to help him along the
way, his brother Zoran,

Jamie Lander is a
good friend of his,

will follow Isaac the
whole way down on the X62.

This guy is strapped
into this motorcycle.

(engine revving)

- [Race Controller] All
stations, this is Race Control.

Isaac Elliott has now
left the start line.

- [Man] We knew that he wasn't
going to cruise. (laughing)

As soon as he puts
his helmet on,

it's race day, you
know what I mean?

Yeah, it's a
different ball game.

He'll go, yeah, no, I'm
going to cruise down, yeah.

Alright, let's race.

(intense dramatic music)

- [Narrator] 10
kilometres into the race,

Isaac reaches the
end of the field.

One by one, he passes
able-bodied riders.

- Got the KTM team next to us.

That's our arch rivals.

We don't really get along.

- [Jeff] You know, we have
roughly sort of 40 people

involved in the
event and they really

enjoy the atmosphere,
the camaraderie.

You know, we have--

- Excuse me, mate.

Couple of Yammies
coming through.

(laughing)

Are we meant to take
this serious today?

- [Narrator] KTM has won the
last three years in a row.

The Yamaha Team has
not won since 1986.

Future sales and their
pride ride on a win.

- [Race Controller] We've had
number three go through, over.

- [Race Controller] Three, we've
got one coming through now.

Hold on a second.

- [Race Controller]
We should be expecting

the first bike through
Deep Well any minute now.

- [Commentator] David Walsh
still leading the event.

(dramatic music)

- [Commentator] David
Walsh, first bike,

the local lad still holding
the lead in this race.

(engine rumbling)

- [Race Controller] Walsh is
in sight, Walsh is in sight.

(helicopter buzzing)
- Yeah.

(engine roaring)

(cheering)

(chattering)

(dramatic music)

- [Race Controller] All
stations, second bike

through Deep Well checkpoint
in 33 minutes, 09.

And that is bike number
four, Daymon Stokie.

(intense dramatic music)

- [Commentator] Next up, the
second bike through Deep Well,

Daymon Stokie, super quick.

Well, he did it with a time of
33 minutes and nine seconds.

Of course, we know Daymon Stokie

has a hand injury
coming into the event.

(helicopter buzzing)

- [Race Controller]
Joel, that road ambulance

should be down there
within five or 10 minutes.

(siren blaring)

- [Narrator] Racers
know that their luck

could change at any time.

The desert has a
mind of its own.

Over the next two days, 72
bikes and 103 cars won't finish.

(clattering)

- [Craig] You alright?

You alright?

- [Narrator] Chief
Paramedic, Craig Garraway,

sweeps the track
for injured riders.

He's been doing
this for 20 years.

- He was lucky enough,
he got up, kept going.

Hopefully won't find
him too far up the road.

(chuckling)

- [Race Controller]
Rodinga Race Control.

- [Narrator] Only a few
kilometres down the track--

- [Craig] What have
we got here, mate?

- [Narrator] Craig comes
across the same rider.

- Oh, I suspect he's
broken his coccyx.

Well, we're treating
that line anyway.

- [Craig] What do
you want to do here?

Do you want to get him
back to your checkpoint

and get a jet ranger
to pick him up?

- Yeah, it's probably
for the best, mate, yeah.

At this stage,
I'm not concerned,

I'm not going to go spinal,
it's just more his back.

That'll be great.

(goofily vocalising)

- We have bike rider 18 now,

probably about a kilometre
or two south of Rodinga.

He's got a major
fractured coccyx, alright?

I'll ring you back.

I've got another guy
injured here as well.

So, I'll ring you back, mate.

- Picked a good spot to be.
(laughing)

- [Man] At the right time.

- You'll be alright?
- [Rider] Yeah, I'm good.

Fucking me up with dirt though.

(laughing)

- [Man] Good luck.

- Two, three, lift, bloody
hell, you're a solid boy.

- Big strong boy.

- Yeah, I was going to
say, you're a solid boy.

- Well done

- There, you're a
movie star as well, eh?

- [Man] We have dodged
that many bullets,

but to have so few fatalities,

someone is smiling
down on this race.

(dramatic music)

- [Commentator]
They're coming through

thick and fast
through Rodinga now.

The local boy, David Walsh,
still leading the charge.

- [Narrator] Racing Finke
has been described as holding

onto the edge of a
cliff for two hours.

(engine rumbling)

- [Commentator] The
race has been going

for over an hour now.

We should see our first
bikes through Bundooma.

(intense dramatic music)

- [Race Controller] Deep
Well has just confirmed

that Isaac Elliott has passed
through the first checkpoint.

Back at the 80 kilometre
mark, Isaac reaches

his first fuel stop, also
known as the Kirkville Pub.

(cheering)

- [Man] Do you want water?

(talking over each other)

- [Isaac] Kirkville!

(cheering)

(engine rumbling)

Woo!

- Bump start.

- I know you want to stay
for a beer, but get going.

(engine rumbling)
(cheering)

- How you doing mate?
- Let's get fucking blind.

(chattering)

- [Ben] People go to extreme
lengths to have a good time.

- We've got the keg here.

I still need to hook it up.

We've got the spit roast there.

That's for the Sunday roast.

We've got the pig hanging
up there, it's defrosting.

The burnout pad.

(engine roaring)

But the main attraction tonight
would have to be turbulence.

(talking over each other)
(whooping)

I don't think we'll
have much commentating--

- We'll get Dusty, you're up.

- Oh he's alright.

(talking over each other)

Alright, this young
lad, Dustin Hunter.

Now, this young kid
can tell a few stories.

(yelling)

- [Man] Jesus.

(cheering)

(engines rumbling)

- [Narrator] At the 160
kilometre mark, support crews

of Yamaha and KTM wait
for the first bike.

- The big dog for KTM is
pacing, it's going to be on.

The fun dies off in this
last 10 minutes of waiting.

It sort of gets a
little bit serious.

And I'm not very
good at serious.

- [Race Controller] David has
just gone past the one thirty.

- Thank you.

- See dust already?

Let's get ready, boys.

Let's fucking pump this.

(helicopter buzzing)

You got him?

This will be Stokie.

- [Jeff] There he is.

- [Narrator] KTM's David Walsh

still maintains the
lead in the race.

- Stop watch

(chattering)

- He was struggling to
see the square edges.

- Square edges, yeah.
- Yeah.

- Not much we can do
for that, pray for him.

- [Narrator] Yamaha's Daymon
Stokie is not far behind.

- [Daymon] How far is he away?

How far is he away?

Dust, come on.

Groovy.

- Well done, boys,
time for beer.

Yeah, what was the
end time there?

(helicopter buzzing)

- Water.
- Coming fourth is Luke Hayes.

- [Man] Got it, got it.

- [Race Controller] Finke,
this is Race Control.

Mt. Squires has just confirmed

Luke Hayes has passed
through their checkpoint.

27 years ago, Luke's
father, Billy Hayes,

raced along the same track.

- Need some water?
- Yeah.

Jesus.

- Dad followed me in the chopper

there and back last year.

So he was above
me the entire way.

And that was really
cool, you know,

sort of sharing that
with him, I guess.

He passed away
only a month after.

So, for me, that's one of the

memories I think
I'll hold dearest.

There were so many conversations

about what this year
was going to bring

and how we were going
to approach it together.

Now that he's not
here, I still wanted

to go after what we were
going to go after together.

He wouldn't want
me to throw away

a passion or an opportunity,

being sad or beat-up
about what happened.

If I could have a conversation
with him right now,

he would say that don't
let it slow you down.

He's not following
me in a chopper.

But I know that he's there.

(dramatic music)

(engine rumbling)
(dramatic music)

- Eight eight nine.

(engines roaring)

- [Anthony] Yeah,
roger that, Henry Hill.

We'll check the records.

- [Narrator] At Race Control,
event president Antony Yoffa

searches for vehicles that
haven't been accounted for.

- So I've got three that
aren't through Deep Well.

And Mick hasn't seen
a car for 20 minutes.

Yeah, Deep Well, OSV3.

They would be there,
I gather, Over?

- I'm checking if it
actually did leave.

- [Woman] Race Control say?

- Yeah, it was due to go early.

- Awesome, guys.

- [Claire] One year,
we had five competitors

missing at the end of day one.

And I went over to the
Competitor Relations office,

and all five men's wives
and girlfriends were there,

and they all were
heavily pregnant.

- Where is 475?

Go ahead, this is Race Control.

- Yeah that.

- Yeah, alright.

The toughest part
about this event

is when there's a
catastrophic accident.

And on my watch, there's
been several losses of life,

which ah no-one wants to see.

Yeah, roger that, thanks, OSV2.

That should be the last of them.

So, just keep proceeding to
Deep Well to clear the track.

- [Commentator] Give you an
update as they're getting

closer and closer to
the Finke checkpoint.

Just three DNFs to confirm
so far by the officials.

- [Narrator] The cars
have all arrived at Finke.

Crowds now wait
for the first bike.

(helicopter buzzing)

(applauding)
(cheering)

- [Commentator] It is the local
hometown hero, David Walsh.

- The sweat and the tears,
but no blood, thankfully.

- No, look, it was a pretty
clean run, really good.

Battled a flat rear
for the last 30

and I was just come
on, baby, get me there.

It was pretty dangerous
in some sections,

but glad to be here in
one piece, here we go.

Who's this?
(engine rumbling)

- [Man] Here comes another one.

(applauding)
(cheering)

(talking drown out
by engine rumbling)

- [Man] No.

- [Man] Alright then mate?

- Yeah, yeah alright.

- Made it.
- Made it.

- Did you have any dramas?

- No.

- How's your hand?

- Fuck man, it just fell
apart like the last 100, eh?

Like fucking couldn't even
pull the clutch in, fuck.

- That's huge.
- That is massive.

Yeah, I hit a bit
rock back there

and it just deflected
straight back up.

(applauding)

- I had two near-death
experiences.

Oh.

(chattering)

- [Narrator] Daymon Stokie
ices his broken hand.

Only a few kilometres
from the finish line,

his teammate's motor expired.

This sends alarm bells
through the Yamaha camp.

Their attention now turns
to servicing Daymon's motor.

He is now their only rider.

- [Daymon] Cold in here, eh?

Stick your hand in here for a
minute, see how long you last.

- [Boy] Oh.

(speaking in language)

(groaning)
- Yeah. (laughing)

Bro, that is so, so painful.

(water splashing)

(laughing)

- [Man] Get in there,
get in, get in.

Get your arms in.

(gasping)

(laughing)

- Walsh, that is criminal.

- [Narrator] Now the race
leaders have arrived,

anxious families wait for
their riders to make it safely.

- [Woman] These are the people
that've all come through.

Sorry, hang on,
let me just check.

(ringing)

- [Commentator] Top
three guys were locals.

This year's bike section of
the Tatts Finke Desert Race,

just a quick update on some DNFs

Can't give you anymore
information,

apart from the fact that they
have been as a Do Not Finish.

Caleb Auricht is out,
number nine, CRF 250.

(dramatic music)

- Which bike number
are you off, mate?

- [Man] I'm 588.

- Right, so the rider of 588.

- Try again, that's it.

- No, mate, no, no, take it off.

- Yeah, yeah, yeah, okay.

Yep, yep, yep.

(helicopter buzzing)

- [Craig] So what are we
going to do with this guy?

Okay, thank you.

(dramatic music)
(helicopter buzzing)

- So I think that it would be
safe enough in this situation.

(cheering)
(applauding)

- There he is.
- There he is.

(applauding)
(cheering)

- [Race Controller] All
stations, Isaac Elliott

and his ghost riders have
passed through Mt. Squires,

the last checkpoint
on the way to Finke.

So look out and give
him a big cheer.

(dramatic music)

(cheering)
(applauding)

(dramatic music)

(laughing)

- [Isaac] You get
to the finish line

and it's like you haven't
breathed for 220 Ks

and it's just this big breath.

Like, I've made it.

You feel like you've
conquered this track

and now you've just got to

conquer it in the
other direction.

(upbeat music)

- [Girl] Hello.

- [Narrator] For
those who crossed

the finish line on day one
there is a sigh of relief.

But they are only halfway.

Tomorrow, they will race back.

Bike 163, first time competitor,

Scruff Hamill, hasn't
arrived at Finke.

- [Race Controller] They're
looking for bike 163,

repeat, 163, Scruff Hamill.

We don't have a record of him

passing through either
of your checkpoints.

- Yeah, but we don't know
where he was until he got here.

We've lost him from
Squires to here.

- [Narrator] With the night-time

temperature dropping below zero,

race organisers must
account for every rider.

- 463 or 863?
- No, 863.

- 863.

- [Race Controller] Mt. Squires

and Finke checkpoints,
this is Race Control.

I'm still waiting on an update
of bike 163, Scruff Hamill.

I have no information
as to his whereabouts.

Can you come back to me?

Over.

(animal calling)

- [Race Controller] Henry Hill,

have you seen anyone
come past yet? Over.

(horn honking)

- Hey are you Scruff?
- Yeah.

- [Woman] Oh my god.

- I was rocking
along really well

and then a guy crashed
in front of me,

just out of Deep Well.

And I stopped and was with
him for like half an hour.

I just laid my
bike on the ground

and then it just wouldn't go
any good any more after that.

I thought I'm just going to
keep it running 'til it stops.

And I did, and it stopped.

So maybe I'll get it
rocking for next year.

Not what I've been saying the

last few days, this
is a one and only.

But I feel a bit like I've
not finished, kind of.

Yeah, I guess I'll be back, yep.

Oh, my foot, that's okay.

Sweet, thank you, man.

How are you, man?

- [Man] Good, how are you going?

(chuckling)

- [Scruff] I've had better
days, but I've had worse too.

- [Narrator] For
many of the 15,000

spectators spread
along the track,

the day rolls into the night.

- [Man] He's fallen
asleep in the chair,

so we've just slowly been
digging, shovel by shovel.

- You rascal, you're a rascal.

(laughing)

- Tie it behind the waist.

- What have we found
here, you sleeping beauty?

Drink, drink, drink, drink,

- [Group] Drink, drink,
drink, drink, drink, drink.

(laughing)

(cheering)

(laughing)

♪ Have a beer with Duncan

♪ 'Cause Duncan's
me mate, yeah ♪

- Hey!

♪ Oh I'd love to have
a beer with Duncan. ♪

- [Man] Yeah!

♪ And we never ever
ever get rollin' drunk ♪

♪ We drink at the
Town and Country ♪

♪ Where the
atmosphere is great ♪

♪ I love to have a
beer with Duncan. ♪

♪ 'Cause Duncan's me mate

♪ I love to have a
beer with Duncan ♪

♪ 'Cause Duncan's me mate

- We spent most of the first
night at Finke at the pub.

Got back to camp out
when the pub shut.

Continued to drink beer around

a fire like this, 'til four-ish.

And I think we
were up at six-ish,

because we raced at seven-ish.

I don't know, it's
a bit different now.

It's a bit serious.

(helicopter buzzing)

- [Man] Get up.

- No, fucking sore,
no, we're good.

(helicopter buzzing)

Do you want to ride back for me?

Can you ride back for me?

- No.
- No.

Does that mean I have to do it?

(laid back music)

- [Narrator] With the
cars well underway,

the remaining bikes prepare

to head back to
where they began.

- [Race Controller] All
stations, this is Race Control.

We're only moments away
from a start on Race Day Two

and David Walsh will
be first rider away.

- I think you can
smell that beer

at presso on the
way home. (laughing)

- [Race Controller] He's
got a pack behind him,

as they chase him back to Alice

- Hand's pretty sore,

so just looking forward
to getting home.

David's five minutes away,
which is a pretty big gap,

especially for me nursing
my hand, to catch up to him.

But I've got five
minutes on third as well,

so it's a bit of breathing room.

- Keen to just get
it home from here.

Yeah, keen to just try to string
together a smooth run home.

- [Commentator] So who will
that first bike be that crosses

the finish line and will be
crowned King of the Desert?

- [Commentator] Three
Alice Springs boys

are filling the podium
positions at the moment.

The last time that happened
was back in 1978.

(suspenseful music)

(engines rumbling)

- [Race Controller]
All stations,

David Walsh has now
left the start line.

(engines rumbling)

- [Commentator] All the
bikes and riders are

leaving from the Finke
end. We're going to bring

them all home this morning.

- [Isaac] Oh, whoa, get pumped.

- [Race Controller]
This is Race Control.

Bike X62, Isaac
Elliott, is underway,

having departed
Finke checkpoint.

- [Narrator] Isaac Elliott
has one last leg to complete,

to finish a race he
started 10 years ago.

(dramatic music)

- [Race Controller] The
three local guys up front,

David Walsh, Daymon Stokie

and Luke Hayes are
all on their way.

(engine roaring)

Third bike on the track
is number six, Luke Hayes.

- [Commentator] Luke Hayes,
from his point of view,

there's so much resting on this.

He's had I guess,
with all due respect,

a tumultuous 12 months.

He hopefully is able to
just push that all aside

and then just get
on with the job

and keep racing the actual race.

(engine rumbling)
(dramatic music)

- [Narrator] At KTM and
Yamaha's fuel stop for day two,

the teams anxiously
wait for their riders.

- They don't deserve
to have bad luck,

but I'm sort of
wishing it upon them.

I think it's KTM's
year to lose it.

- [Jeff] We still want
to be absolutely sure

he's got enough fuel on there.

So it's still key for him.

Hopefully, he's
got that good lead.

(dramatic music)

(helicopter buzzing)
(dramatic music)

(engine roaring)

(dramatic music)

(helicopter buzzing)

(dramatic music)

- [Man On Radio] Only fueling
for Luke Hayes now then, Jeff?

- What was that?

- [Man On Radio] We are
only fueling Luke Hayes now.

Is that correct?

- Why is that?

Why did you say that?

- [Man On Radio]
Yeah it's Christian,

so we are only fueling Luke
Hayes, is that right now?

- [Jeff On Radio] I didn't
hear what the message was.

Has David dropped out?

- [Race Controller On Radio]
We've had confirmation

that bike three, David Walsh,

has blown an engine
just 10 kilometres

out of Finke and he
is out of the race.

Repeat, out of
the race, over.

(dramatic music)

- [Race Controller] All
stations, all stations,

this is Race Control.

Daymon Stokie is now
the leader of the race.

- [Race Controller] Sounds
like he is out of the race,

in the helicopter, not injured.

- [Man] Right.

- [Race Controller]
Lead bike through

Mt. Squires is Daymon Stokie.

With that broken hand,
he just needs to hang on.

(dramatic music)

(helicopter buzzing)

Apparently, the bike
stopped 10 Ks out of Finke.

Who's coming through?

- [Man On Radio] Yamaha
bike number four.

- [Jeff] It was ours to
lose, and we lost it.

- [Ben] It's Dobby.

- [Ben] Lift the cap, cap!.

- [David] Be smart
about it, get home.

You've got plenty
of time, alright?

- [Daymon] Yeah.

- [Man] Straighten it,
straighten it, straighten it.

Be smart.

(talking drowned out by buzzing)

(engine rumbling)

- It's alright mate

- [David] I was so bleak,
couldn't keep fucking rolling.

- [Race Controller]
Number three, David Walsh,

has DNF'd from the event
with a mechanical issue,

10 kilometres from Finke.

So that is absolute heartbreak.

- [Man] Get organised for Luke.

- Cheers.
- No worries, brother.

(dramatic music)

- [Commentator] Wow.

Daymon Stokie opening
up a huge lead here.

So he'll be really
feeling it with that,

the broken fingers, I think
it is, across the knuckles.

If Daymon Stokie
stays on the bike

and keeps it pointing forward

he's going to be hard
to beat at this stage,

with about seven
minutes up on Luke's.

- [Narrator] Since David
Walsh's bike broke down,

Luke Hayes has now
inherited second place.

He's the last standing
rider for KTM.

- [Jeff] Going well,
mate, you're into second.

- [Man] Awesome.

- About 30 seconds

Stay safe, mate.

(engine rumbling)

- [Narrator] In Alice Springs
the cars have already arrived.

The crowds begin to
gather in anticipation

to see who will be crowned
the next King of the Desert.

because he is really
opening up a gap now.

- Yeah, absolutely, and
it's looking like Ivan Long

is really on a charge as well.

It's closed in.

(muffled talking)

- [Tracy] I think out there
with this stress factor,

for moms it's a bit, and dads,
it's about as bad as it gets.

(laughing)

Just the anticipation.

- Yeah.

You feel like you've
got lots of stuff

going on in the stomach
that's for sure.

- [Tracy] Yeah.

(laughing)

- Luke Hayes--
(muffled talking).

Luke Hayes really
needs to get a move on

if he's going to
hold off the charge

of Ivan Long on that
Husqvarna on the way home.

(dramatic music)

- [Race Controller] Third bike
through Bundoona checkpoint

is Ivan Long, in third place.

That is two minutes and 18
seconds behind second place.

(engine roaring)

- [Man] Husqvarna,
yeah, that's Longie.

- [Race Controller] First three
bikes are through Deep Well.

Daymon Stokie followed
by Luke Hayes,

four minutes later,
followed by Ivan Long.

The distance between
second and third place,

it's just 15 seconds.

(helicopter buzzing)

(dramatic music)

(clanging)

(groaning)

(dramatic music)

- [Race Controller]
All stations,

all stations, a great story.

Isaac Elliott has now passed
through the last checkpoint

at Deep Well and he's
heading for home.

- [Commentator] He was a very,

very good motocross rider
before his accident.

So, here he comes.

- [Race Controller]
There's great

anticipation here
in Race Control.

Who will that first bike be?

(dramatic music)

- [Commentator] I can see
some dust on the horizon

and I think that I
can see a helicopter.

- [Mary] Do you notice in
the crowd, there's no noise?

- [Commentator] Yes.

- The noise of the
crowd has gone down.

They're all in anticipation
of what's going

to happen and how
it's going to happen.

Their eyes are focused, yes.

(dramatic music)

- What would it mean for you

guys to bring this home today?

- It would mean the world
to him, the absolute world.

(dramatic music)

- [Man] About 13 Ks out,
you sort of come over

a gradual rise and
then you can see town.

You can see the towers,
you can see the hills.

(helicopter buzzing)
(dramatic music)

- [Commentator] I
can see the bike now.

So just trying to make
out who it might be.

Get ready to set
this place alight.

Ladies and gentlemen,

your King of the
Desert is in the house.

(applauding)
(cheering)

(engine roaring)

(cheering)

- [Commentator] Daymon Stokie,
the first time since 1986

we see a Yamaha take the
crown here in Alice Springs,

with a fantastic result.

(applauding)
(cheering)

- My Dad's personal best was
third outright, back in '98.

And since then, it's been a
dream of mine to match it.

So, yeah, bucket list
ticked right here.

(applauding)
- Luke Hayes.

- [Narrator] They've
endured the good,

the bad and the
ugly of the race.

Whether you come first or last,

it's all about making
it there and back.

(applauding)
(cheering)

- 90% are out there
to get there and back.

(cheering)

- [Woman] Oh, Isaac,
you're a legend.

(dramatic music)

- [Man] They see
that chequered flag.

They know that
everything they dreamt of

in the last year has gone right.

- [Woman] Fence lines are
just packed with people.

It makes it even
better to finish.

- Come on, lips.

(laughing)

- When you finish that
race, it's pretty damn cool.

It's cool.

- All that enthusiasm
of whizzing by people

and nearly clipping the
beers out of their hands.

- [Man] The glory in
itself is just massive.

- [Man] You get some that
come home very untidy.

But gee, they're happy to
get to the finish line.

(laughing)

- You're my favourite.
- Oh, I am?

- I know that some
of the cooler stories

that I'll ever be able
to tell will be ones

that I've, you know, got from
down there, down the track.

- [Woman] On behalf of
Tatts, I'd like to present

the winner's cheque
to our latest

King of the Desert, local
legend, Daymon Stokie.

(applauding)
(cheering)

- Get on down to the Juicy Rump.
I'll put five G's on the bar.

(cheering)

(dramatic music)

(cheering)

The amount of stress
that I went through

in the lead-up to
it and for that

to unfold like it
did over the weekend,

I'll never experience the
same feelings of that again.

(cheering)

(chattering)

(engine roaring)

(thunder rumbling)

(dramatic music)

- [David] I mean it's
got to stop one day.

It gets harder and
harder every year.

Not getting any younger.

So just can't think
about it and, yeah,

just knuckle down and push hard.

Have a look at the backdrop
here, God's country.

It's like nowhere else.

- [Narrator] The desert has
stood for millions of years,

an all-powerful force that
looms over every rider.

The race is an
incomprehensible addiction.

Once in your veins,
it doesn't stop.

- [Luke] It's escapism in its
purest and most natural form.

The moment you
pull the helmet on

and twist the throttle,
it sort of all falls away.

- [Isaac] When I'm
on a bike, I'm free.

(dramatic music)

(engine roaring)

(instrumental music)