Australian Safari

[elephino]

The Northern Territory Government today announced
it would back this year's upgraded Australian Safari international
cross-country rally, which includes a round of the World Cup for
motorcycles.

Chief Minister, the Hon. Denis Burke MLA, said the Government was
delighted to extend its support for a third successive year, and he
predicted the 2001 Safari over a course from Alice Springs to Darwin
from August 19-26 would benefit greatly from the prestige of being part
of the World Cup.

This year's Safari will be the fourth round of the Federation
Internationale Motocycliste (FIM) Cross Country Rallies World Cup, and
as in past years the event will also include a separate division for
four-wheel-drive vehicles.

In 2000 the FIM's World Cup motorcycle series was contested by
factory-supported KTM, Honda, Yamaha, and Husaberg manufacturer teams,
and was won by Italian superstar Fabrizio Meoni, who also finished first
in this year's glamour Paris-Dakar race.

"Each year the Government has been involved with the Safari it has
undergone substantial growth, and we are tremendously excited that it
will now be part of the World Cup, which will take the event to new
levels of international importance and prestige," said the Chief
Minister.

"The worldwide interest and media exposure generated by the Safari will
be a significant part of the Northern Territory's overall tourism and
marketing plans because it will showcase our terrain, our towns, and our
special way of life. There are also considerable economic benefits for
our communities and towns as the Safari makes its way through the
'Territory'."

The Motorsports Manager of Safari promoter Octagon Worldwide, Craig
Fletcher, said today the support of the Northern Territory Government
was crucial in the development of the event.

Fletcher added that the inclusion of a round of the FIM's World Cup in
the Safari would provide an opportunity for Australian-based riders to
test themselves against leading international competitors and teams.

"The ongoing backing from the Northern Territory Government has cemented
the Safari's future, and being part of the World Cup has added a new
dimension of excitement," said Fletcher.

"It is fantastic that we are going to see an influx of top overseas
teams, but I am certain our Australian riders will rise to the challenge
and prove they can be competitive with the world's best."

South Australian Andy Caldecott, who won the motorcycle division of the
Safari in 2000 on a KTM 660, said he would welcome the opportunity to
race against the works-supported World Cup riders from overseas in the
Safari.

"I think the top Australian riders would do a good job and hopefully the
manufacturers here get behind our guys and make sure we have similar
equipment so we can show what we can do," said Caldecott.

Fletcher said that Octagon was also planning some new concepts for the
Safari's four-wheel-drive vehicle division, won in the past two years by
Sydney's Bruce Garland in a Holden Jackaroo.

"There are some interesting things in the pipeline to further improve
the vehicles division, and these will be announced in the near future
once the finishing touches are in place," said Fletcher.

Safari Competition Director and Clerk of Course Bob Carpenter will this
year set the course for the 14th time since the event's inception in
1985.

Carpenter and Deputy Clerk of Course Jim Reddiex spent two weeks in the
Northern Territory in January inspecting provisional routes for the
course and conducting a preliminary survey.

"We covered most of the areas under consideration and I'd expect that
once the course is finalised it will include a wide variety of terrain,
with more time in the desert and less hilly sections that last year," he
said.

Carpenter said it was expected that the 2001 course would cover a total
of approximately 4,300km, with 65-percent of that distance in 23
competitive stages. The 2000 Safari comprised a total of 4,067km, and 24
competitive stages over 2,422km.

He said that this year's Safari would again finish with the traditional
sprint stage on Darwin's Mindil Beach, won in 2000 by former 500cc road
racing world champion Kevin Schwantz of the United States on a Suzuki
DR-Z400.

Carpenter said he would conduct another survey through the Northern
Territory in May, which would include accurate measurements of the
course, and finalise control points and refuelling destinations.


2001 FIM WORLD CUP CROSS COUNTRY RALLIES CALENDAR (motorcycles)
Round 1: Rallye de Tunisie (Tunisia), March 30-April 9
Round 2: Montes de Cuenca (Spain), May 31-June 3
Round 3: Master Rallye (France), July 26-August 5
Round 4: Australian Safari (Australia), August 19-26
Round 5: Rallye Egypt (Egypt), September 29-October 7
Round 6: UAE Desert Challenge (United Arab Emirates), October 31-November 4