Can-Am X team rider Paul Smith and his trusted mechanic Pete Wilhelms crossed the Nullarbor from Warnambool to Perth to take on the Australasian Safari again last week, keen to improve on last year’s third place result. The Quad class was bolstered by four internationals this year including 5 times Dakar Quad Class Champ Josef Machacek from the Czech Republic, and last year’s winner John Maragozidis, along with fast local Heath Young.
Wilhelms had prepared a fantastic Rally Renegade for the 7 days of torture it was about to receive. Not only would it have to put up with Smith punishing it for 7 days but it had to cope with 3700km of the Western Australian outback as well. A lot of lessons were learnt from last year’s race and with help from top US Can-Am GNCC racer and bike builder Mike Swift they not only had a fast but a reliable package to take whatever the race could throw at them.
Despite a challenging Leg 3 with tyre issues Smith made up for most of the time lost during the incident by the end of day 5. The last leg was a mere formality with the podium set in stone as long as the riders crossed the line without having a major issue, it was a 210km loop around Kalgoorlie finishing in town for the podium celebrations.
On the top of the podium after 3700km of racing was the best quad Rally rider in the world Josef Machacek followed by Paul Smith and taking third was another Czech rider Martin Plechaty.
“This is awesome! One of the highlights of my career to come 2nd to a guy like Machacek is fine by me and to give him a run for his money for most of the race is pretty cool too. I have so many people to thank you can’t do an event like this without support and I have had lots, like the people from BRP Australia for the big Can-Am Renegade it was awesome all week. And of course my long time sponsors like 47 Industries". Smith said after being on the podium.