Tag Archives: Ténéré Tragics rally

Ténéré Tragics celebrates 10 years with 2020 Gold Rush Run

Ténéré Tragics 2020


The annual gathering of Ténéré Tragics celebrated its tenth anniversary with a five day adventure ride in the picturesque Victorian countryside, welcoming the appearance of the all new Ténéré 700 adventure twin, with a host of celebrity riders joining the crew for the ‘2020 Gold Rush Run’ event.

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Ténéré Tragics 2020

The 2020 running of the Tenere Tragics featured 88 riders in total, 23 of whom were mounted on the new Tenere 700, covering 2250 km over five days, travelling from Lorne through to Sovereign Hill, with riders aged from 22-year-old Alex Dostal, up to 69-year-old Phil Turner.

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Ténéré Tragics 2020

Kicking off in the Victorian coastal resort of Lorne, the Tragics were treated to an adventure bike training session from Yamaha legend and regular Tragic Stephen Gall.

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Ténéré Tragics 2020

The appearance of the CDR Yamaha Monster Energy race truck was explained when not only did Tragic technician Gary Benn appear on his XTZ750 Super Ténéré – but also CDR boss and MX legend Craig Dack on a new Ténéré 700.

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Ténéré Tragics 2020

Later that evening keen adventure rider, TV star and racer Grant Denyer joined the Tragic crew, sharing stories from both his car racing and showbiz careers.

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Ténéré Tragics 2020

Dakar hero ‘Rocket’ Rod Faggotter joined for the last day and entertained the crew with his exploits in Saudi Arabia. Finally, the Tragics were treated to an insight into the fascinating life of global Ténéré ambassador and transworld explorer Nick Sanders.

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Ténéré Tragics 2020

UK-based Nick had just arrived in Australia on yet another circumnavigation of the globe – and travelled straight to the final night’s stop in Sovereign Hill, Ballarat to explain what motivates him to embark on mega-endurance rides – round the world twice on a bicycle and eight times on a motorcycle and counting…

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Ténéré Tragics 2020

Andrew Clubb – Tragics Organiser

“This year’s event delivered gold in spades thanks to a wide range of celebrity entertainment combined with epic trails and scenery – taking in the sights of the Great Ocean Road and the Otway and Grampian ranges – and of course the arrival of the new Tenere 700. Little did we know that when we ran the first event to the Flinders ten years ago that the Tragic spirit would still be going strong.”

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Tenere Tragics Gold Rush Run GR

Ténéré Tragics 2020
Source: MCNews.com.au

2019 Tenere Tragics go Cessnock to Snowies

2019 Tenere Tragics Rally


Cessnock’s Potters Brewery was all hands to the pump as 80 Tenere Tragics congregated for the start of their annual ride in honour of the legendary Dakar Rally-bred adventure bike. The five-day adventure ride staged last week took riders and crew through Bathurst, Goulburn, Tumut and Cooma to end at the Alpine Hotel in the NSW Snowy Mountains resort of Thredbo.

Tenere Tragics day Candelo smoko line up
2019 Tenere Tragics

Participants were treated to a Yamaha bLU cRU ADV Skills Session with Yamaha legend Stephen Gall staged near Cessnock the day before the run started. 23 Tragics gained riding instruction that was put to good use over the next five days riding a range of Tenere models from original 600s right through to new XTZ1200 Super Teneres.

Tenere Tragics day Old Bombala Road Nimmitabel
2019 Tenere Tragics

Factory CDR chief technician and long-time Tenere adventure rider Gary Benn rode up from VIC to his first event with a special XTZ750 twin fitted with many original Dakar Rally bike parts. Yamaha Factory Rally Dakar racer Rod Faggotter, made a special guest appearance to ride with the Tragics on the final two days. Stephen Gall hosted an exclusive Q&A session with Rod at the end of day four at Cooma that offered a unique insight into his recent experience in the 2019 Dakar Rally.

Tenere Tragics day Colin Jay on the tools XTZ
2019 Tenere Tragics

Five first model 1983 XT600ZL Teneres joined the run this year – Dave Bottomley, Neil Asplin, Matt Parker-Charlton, Shane Johnston and organiser Andrew Clubb were the riders of the coveted original model large-tanked singles.

Andrew Clubb

“It’s been another huge week filled with so much Tenere spirit! The run this year included stacks of the best Tenere riding in central and southern NSW and while conditions were mostly dry, storms late on day two near Crookwell and overnight rain before the start of the final day from Cooma made for ground conditions that were absolutely perfect… and put plenty of smiles on the Tragics’ faces. The Tragics are an awesome pack brought together by the legendary Tenere brand that we celebrate all week long on the Tenere Tragics Run. The planning starts now for next year’s tenth anniversary Tragics Run, and you bet the Tragics are pumped that the new Ténéré 700 is coming in December!”

Tenere Tragics day Welcome group
2019 Tenere Tragics

2019 Tenere Tragics Awards

  • First Registration – Justin Hayden
  • Last Registration – Angus Dudley
  • Oldest Rider – Neville Ham (67)
  • Youngest Rider – Alex Dostal (21)
  • Most Kilometres to the Event – Francis Smith, rode from Burketown, Queensland Gulf Country, the long way (3000km plus)
  • Happy Camper – Hayden Brown
  • Tyre Warmer Award – Dave Readford
  • Band-Aid Road Rash Award – Keiron Jeffrey
  • Encouragement Award – Tony De Oliveria, in only his second ever dirt ride on an XTZ750
  • Super Ténéré he only just purchased via Gumtree, Tony dived in at the deep end for his first Tragics Run … and thought, “What the hell have I done!” after day one. He soldiered on, and despite running out of brakes on day three, sourced new brake pads and carried on to the finish at Thredbo.
  • Sweeps Recognition Lack of Navigation Award – Wayne Stevens (rode a few hundred ‘bonus’ kilometres over the five days)
  • Sweeps Recognition Puncture Power Award – Graeme Bensley, Curtis Williams, Dave Wilson, Dave Harrison, Grant Merrick, Mark Pavitt; riding as a pack, they scored six flats through the week, and fixed them all themselves
  • Spec Savers 20/20 Vision Award – Jerry Young; thought he saw a lost dry bag on the trail… it was a dead wombat
  • Captain’s Choice 600/660 – Charlie Fearon, XT600Z 3AJ
  • Captain’s Choice 750 – Gary Benn, XTZ750
  • Captain’s Choice 660 – Andy Patterson
  • Captain’s Choice 1200 – Phil Halpin
  • Tenere Spirit Award – Queenslanders Mike Ruoso, Dave Bottomley, Ken Henderson. All rode the first Tragics Run in 2011, never knew each other, but have now become best mates and team up to get each other through each Tragics Run.
  • Truly Tragic Award – Dave Wilson, dealer principal at Lithgow Bike Stop, and a proud member of the ‘100% Tragic’ club of ten riders who have ridden all nine Tragics Runs. Dave is always willing to leap in and help his Tragic brothers and oozes the Tenere spirit.

Tenere Tragics day Welcome precious metal

Tenere Tragics day How many Tragics to fix a flat

Tenere Tragics day Follow that Tenere

Tenere Tragics day Stephen Gall and Rod Faggotter

Tenere Tragics day Rod Faggotter

Tenere Tragics day Thredbo Farewell Awards dinner

Source: MCNews.com.au