An 'eventful' end to the season!!

Beryl Pearce Reliability Trial - Clare, South Australia

Nathan Newell's journey at the SA Reliability Trials' last round for the season was a rollercoaster of highs and lows but ultimately setting the stage for a promising 2024 season.

With temperatures soaring to a warm 27 degrees it was a hint at the challenging conditions awaiting the competitors. Nathan Newell, fresh off his last remarkable performance, was eager to put himself and the old Husky at the pointy end of the results sheet on a track that promised to suit his bike's setup better.

Stage 1 of the race caught Nathan somewhat off-guard. The terrain had transformed into a slippery and hard-packed surface, with added challenges posed by cut grass sections atop the unforgiving hard-packed dirt. Stage #1 proved to be a challenging start for Nathan, now having to chase some time back.

However, Nathan is not one to be deterred easily. By the time he reached Stage 3, he had cracked the code and was back in the race with a vengeance, securing an impressive 2nd place outright in that stage. His adaptability and determination were on full display as he conquered the treacherous terrain.

As if the challenges on the course weren't enough, Nathan faced another setback during the race. His bum bag unclipped during stage 3, leaving him without essential tools and spares for the remainder of the race. With no mouse tubes available at any local dealerships this late in the season he had no choice but to run traditional tubes, hoping that his luck would hold and that he wouldn't encounter any punctures.

Nathan found his flow during the long Stage 4, rapidly closing the gap on the rider in front of him. At the halfway mark, with riders separated by one minute, he was on the verge of passing the rider in front when disaster struck -  A flat front tire!

This forced him to nurse his bike to the finish line of that test.

With his bum bag laying back on stage 3 he had no tools at his disposal, forcing him to make the difficult decision to retire from the event.

However, there was a silver lining to his day. On countback, it became apparent that Nathan was poised to secure 1st place outright on Stage 4 and would have been 20 seconds overall ahead of the eventual outright winner, even after a lack luster first stage performance.

In hindsight, this event showcased Nathan Newell's tremendous speed and potential to compete for outright victories. With more time on the bike, an upgrade to a modern machine, and a rigorous pre-season, the outlook for the 2024 season appears incredibly positive.

Nathan's resilience and undeniable talent make him a formidable contender for future races. As he reflects on this event and looks forward to the challenges and triumphs of the 2024 season, it's clear that Nathan Newell is a name to watch in the world of SA Reliability Trials racing.

We would like to thank all of our partners and supporters. Lets get after it in 2024!

Pic: Steve GasGas Man