Thump Pump 300
Pinnaroo South Australia
April 2010
With many riders changing teams, machinery and even some relocations, the first of many long distance races kicked off at Pinnaroo SA on Anzac weekend. Pinnaroo offers some gruelling terrain with long straights, sweeping in and out of brush and heavily treed areas to wide open whooped out sections. This year record numbers of riders entered and the premier class entailed the who’s who of Quad racing in this country.

After some bad luck in 2009 Polaris Racing’s Luke Beechey from the Gold Coast in Queensland,was back aiming to take the outright win in this ever growing prestigious event. Also new to Polaris Racing is Mike Roycroft from NSW, both riders were complimented with full factory support and assistance from their respective mechanics and crew members.

Saturday Day One:
Beechey blasted from the gate in the open class which started a full five minutes after the Pros, after running 2nd on lap one of eight his spark plug cap came adrift, by the time he figured out that the entire open class had blown by him.

Lap five saw the Polaris Outlaw IRS regain the lead where he then began to pick through the Pro class riders one at a time, at days end Beechey had put his Polaris machinery into first outright in the Open class and second overall behind one pro rider.

200 klms down and 100 to go on Sunday would surely take its toll on those who had not prepared.

Sunday Day Two:
With blistered hands Luke set off, everything in place and machinery in first class condition, by mid-way through lap one Beechey had moved into first place and rode a controlled and smooth race to grab line honours, a fitting result for the reigning Finke Desert race champ. Said Beechey, “It was tough out there today, much rougher and a bit longer than last year, the promoter had made several elevation changes and had extended the course though some new terrain, it was a blast but very hard on man and machinery, my IRS Outlaw ran perfect on both days and I couldn’t be happier with the bike and our preparation, Polaris make awesome machinery and again we proved that they are tough and reliable in the most gruelling of conditions” he concluded.