DUST & FUN #4 - THE LAST LAP OF THE SEASON

Sep 19, 2023

A story about racing abroad by Gille Leenknegt

"For the end of the season of @dustandfun I was invited by @deusportal to race with them in Ravenna Italy, a really beautiful 250m short track.

It took me a full day with plains/trains/taxi’s to get to the location but going to races in different countries really triggers me. It’s really inspiring how everyone races together sharing a passion and having a complete different life story.

Racing abroad gets you out of your comfort zone. It makes you work with what’s available with limited preparation by yourself, working with the unpredictable and still be prepared and ready for it.

Those who know me well know I’m usually prepped with loads of gear and tools for race weekends, I try to bring everything I, or someone else, might need. This weekend I raced in Italy on a bike that wasn't mine, wrenching with other people’s tools and had one of my best races ever. I had the honour to ride @nikosorbo‘s Husqvarna 450. It was my first time racing that bike and I love it!

Saturday was a full day of training finished with a really nice bbq, everyone was tired from riding all day and I've arrived just in time to grab a plate a beer and join them. After dinner we all enjoyed 2 short films on a "handmade" outdoor cinema. of Of course also the movies were about racing and pilots: the story of Gary Birtwistle (UK flat track champion PRO and Hooligan class) and his Royal Enfield factory ride. And the story about Shana Texter, the first female rider to race and win in AFT (American flat track). How she grew up racing with her brother and father, racing and getting to know her husband Briar Bauman. The feeling you have looking at these films underneath a sky full of stars and the comfort of being at a place you love to be, the race track. Magical.

Sunday, race day, two practice runs and heat 1.
During practice the track was a mix of dry and wet making it very unpredictable. The dry stuff is like running on marbles, the wet stuff very grippy. I’m still getting to know the bike and I’m getting a little nervous for the races.

As Heat 1 starts, the track was well prepped, looking and feeling like a fresh morning slope. The riders are fast and I’m running 3rd trying to squeeze low and overtake, there’s not enough room and after tree or four tries I’m going all in and choose the outside and manage to overtake both of them in one try. Awesome!

The track was prepped so well that you could run multiple lines making it very interesting for racing and overtaking. This is what I love most, high line or low line everything works and creating very competitive racing.
After this we have a lunch break with obviously Italian Pasta, this is one of the reasons we love Italy so much!

It’s 30 degrees and they prep the track between every run of heats managing to keep it this good all day, this is a big challenge meaning these guys know what they are doing. I’m running the open class which has 3 groups of riders mixed with rookie class, they mix the riders between all heats so you get to race against all riders during the day.

In between heats I’m running around the pits chatting with new and old friends. I’ve rode Deus Swank Rally di Sardegna many times so I know a bunch of Italian riders, and I've pitted together with the Deus riders admiring their awesome bikes: Circle F Rotax, Wood Rotax and CRF450’s.

Semi-final result decides if you run final, I’m having first pick of starting position and end up with the win giving me first pick starting position in final.

In final we are 8 fast riders all wanting to win. This is the season final so for most of the riders this is moment they’ve been waiting for. I’m having a good start running first and manage to keep my spot ending with the win. I’m super stoked as I coudn't expect this result with someone else bike and so little training on it. But whatever the position on the podium would have been, it always worth traveling to see good friends, cool bikes and ride a few laps in a new place.

So, at the end of any race, the same question pops up: when’s the next race?"

Words: @gilleee from @theroadshow.enduro

Images: @chrifussi

ENGLISH TEXT BELOW

Setiap tahun, teman-teman kita Tasix Adventure—penyelenggara petualangan ban berlumpur dan adrenalin berbahan bakar terbaik di Bali—mengadakan acara akhir pekan berkemah yang sangat dinanti-nantikan. Mereka menamakannya “ The Wild,” dan jujur saja, tidak ada kata yang lebih pas dari itu.

Ini bukan sekadar acara; ini adalah petualangan wajib bagi siapa saja yang mencintai tanah, tantangan, dan persahabatan yang hanya bisa terjalin saat tertawa melihat teman lain terjatuh.

Hal tentang The Wild adalah misterinya. Kamu tidak tahu ke mana akan pergi, bagaimana sampai di sana, atau apa yang akan kamu temui—seperti hidup, tapi dengan lebih banyak asap knalpot.

Tahun ini, The Wild yang berlangsung pada 7 Desember 2024, mengumpulkan 135 pecinta motor enduro, trail, dan cross di Desa Kopi, Tabanan. Tepat pukul 9 pagi, kami berangkat menuju Desa Gesing, Singaraja. Rute tetap dirahasiakan hingga hari acara, meningkatkan sensasi penasaran dan antusiasme. Dengan dibagi menjadi beberapa kelompok kecil, kami melengkapi diri dengan perlengkapan motocross lengkap untuk menghadapi tantangan musim hujan.

Perjalanan? Murni magis. Jalur berkelok melalui permata tersembunyi Bali, di mana setiap tikungan menawarkan pemandangan yang memukau atau hampir membuat jantung berhenti. Rute tahun ini menghadirkan medan tanah liat merah—dijuluki tanah "keramik" karena teksturnya yang licin dan keras saat basah. Untuk melintasinya, diperlukan teknik khusus yang disebut “paddling the throttle,” sebuah manuver yang mendebarkan dengan motor yang sering bergoyang liar. Dari kejauhan, mungkin terlihat lucu, tetapi saat di atas motor? Ceritanya berbeda.

Setelah menempuh 68 kilometer petualangan liar, kami tiba di perkemahan di puncak bukit yang sudah dipenuhi tenda-tenda peserta lain dan deru knalpot. Destinasi selalu mencuri perhatian, dan yang satu ini tidak terkecuali—tempat tinggi dengan pemandangan 360 derajat yang menakjubkan dari laut, gunung, hingga kota.

Saat hujan turun, tenda-tenda didirikan, dan malam itu diisi dengan berbagi cerita tentang penyelamatan heroik dan kecelakaan yang menggelikan. Dan tentu saja, ada balapan. Bayangkan sekelompok pengendara penuh semangat meluncur di perbukitan dalam kekacauan yang terkontrol. Balapan tahun ini termasuk duel 1 lawan 1 yang seru di sekitar puncak bukit, dengan peserta menyelesaikan dua putaran penuh adrenalin.

Bukan soal menang; ini tentang hadir, tertawa, dan menikmati momen. Para pemenang dan peserta tercepat yang mencapai puncak bukit dirayakan dengan hadiah, tetapi senyuman, persahabatan, dan kebersamaan membuat semua orang merasa seperti juara.

The Wild tahun ini benar-benar sesuai namanya, bahkan lebih. Petualangan, tawa, dan cukup banyak tanah di gigi untuk menyebutnya otentik—kami tidak akan menginginkannya dengan cara lain. Terima kasih yang sebesar-besarnya kepada semua peserta yang menjadikannya pengalaman tak terlupakan. Sampai jumpa di petualangan berikutnya!

Every year, our mates over at Tasix Adventure—Bali’s finest purveyors of muddy tyres and fuel-driven adrenaline—host their much-anticipated camp-out weekend. They’ve named it “Wild,” and honestly, there’s no better word for it.

It’s not just an event; it’s a pilgrimage for anyone who loves dirt, daring, and the kind of camaraderie you can only forge while laughing at someone else’s wipeout.

The thing about Wild is that it’s shrouded in mystery. You don’t know where you’re going, how you’ll get there, or what you’ll find—kind of like life, but with more exhaust fumes.

This year’s Wild, held on Saturday, December 7, 2024, brought together 135 enthusiasts of enduro, trail, and cross motorcycles at Desa Kopi, Tabanan. The route was kept a secret until the event day, heightening the thrill of the unknown. At exactly 9 am, they shared the destination, Desa Gesing, Singaraja, Divided into small groups, we geared up with full motocross kits to tackle the rainy season’s challenges.

The ride? Pure magic. Twisting trails through Bali’s hidden gems, where every turn promised either breathtaking views or breathtaking near-misses. This year’s route featured red clay terrain—nicknamed "ceramic" soil for its slick, hard texture when wet. Navigating it required a special technique called “paddling the throttle,” a nerve-wracking maneuver that had bikes swaying wildly. From a distance, it might have looked hilarious, but on the bike? It was a whole other story.

After 68 kilometres of this wild adventure, we arrived at the hilltop campsite already alive with the buzz of activity and the roar of exhausts. The destination always steals the spotlight, and this one was no exception—a high-altitude perch offering stunning 360-degree views of the sea, mountains, and city.

As the rain came down, tents went up, and the evening was all about swapping stories of heroic saves and laughable crashes. And then there were the races. Picture a pack of overexcited riders tearing up the hillside in what can only be described as controlled chaos. This year’s races included thrilling 1-on-1 duels around the hilltop, with participants pushing through two laps of sheer adrenaline.

It wasn’t just about winning; it was about showing up, laughing, and embracing the moment. The race winners and the fastest hilltop arrivals were celebrated with prizes, but the smiles, the camaraderie, and the shared triumphs made everyone feel like champions.

This year’s Wild lived up to its name and then some. Adventure, laughter, and just enough dirt in your teeth to call it authentic—we wouldn’t have it any other way. A massive thank you to all the participants who made it unforgettable. See you on the next adventure!