BEN Grabham wasn't originally going to take part in this year's Finke Desert Race but the four-time champion felt a desire to scratch his racing itch.
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It turned out to be a winning decision for the Bathurst rider who claimed a dominant win in the 251cc-plus Two Stroke class on his Sherco 300.
The 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011 overall bike winner added to his glowing resume at the historic Northern Territory event by riding a two hour, eight minutes and 18 second time over the opening day.
That time put Grabham more than 18 minutes clear over nearest class rival Mackenzie Bowser.
Tragedy unfolded during the second day's racing when a spectator was struck and killed by a car, leading to the cancellation of the remaining leg and making the day one results the final standings.
The following day Bike riders returned from Finke in a convoy to pay tribute.
The race's 2019 champion David Walsh successfully defended his title with a day one time of 1:45:34, putting him ahead of Jack Simpson (1:49:58) and Beau Ralston (1:50:31).
Grabham didn't have this year's race pencilled in on his calendar until it was just around the corner.
"I do a lot of motorcycle coaching now with my own business so I was out there for about a month just working. I had no plans to race," he said.
"One thing led to another and I thought 'Why not? I'm already out here. Let's get the boots on and have a go'. I ended up racing a two-stroke, which is something I've never done before at Finke, and that was really fun.
"Along the way I picked up a class win. It's just a great feeling to be amongst it again."
Grabham's time was strong enough for 21st overall and made him the leading two-stroke competitor over all classes.
He loved the challenge that the two-stroke provided across the famed outback course.
"I rode two-strokes growing up but every time I've raced at Finke it's been on a 450 or 500, when I've been trying to win outright, and I thought I'd mix it up and do something different," he said.
"I had a lot of fun. It's quite a different riding style on this bike. You're very busy on the two-stroke to keep it moving. It doesn't have the power to be quite as fast as the big four-strokes but it was great to keep pace around the top 20 outright."
Six-time bike champion Toby Price became the first person to win the Finke Desert Race in both disciplines when he won this year's car category.
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