GRABBO'S CLAIMS THIRD KING OF THE WEST TITLE AT KALGOORLIE DESERT RACE - THE FINAL VIP EXPERIENCE X GASGAS FOR 2024!
Grabbo's VIP Race Experience x GASGAS has had an incredible year, with Ben Grabham claiming his third King of the West title at Kalgoorlie Desert Race. This renowned race, held in the remote Western Australian outback, proved to be a challenging event including harsh conditions. Think howling winds, rain and scorching temperatures all in the matter of a few hours.
The seven-member strong Grabbo's VIP Race Experience team showcased skills and determination throughout the three-day, three-lap race. Racing alongside the reigning King of the West, Ben Grabham, most of the team of lucky racers demonstrated their prowess by finishing outright in the Top 25, outperforming a field of 137 competitors.
From the very beginning, Ben set the pace, finishing third in prologue and first on race
day one. However, it was during lap three, alongside his rival and good mate Brodie Waters, that ‘Grabbo’ truly showcased his expertise in competitive desert racing. With a four-bike length lead from the start line on race day two, Grabham maintained his position, with Waters closely challenging him until the finish line.
‘KDR 2024 capped off a very successful year for our VIP Race experience program,’ says Ben.
We had seven racers on the desert bike GASGAS EC 500F’s. This track layout is my favourite of desert tracks as it has a combination of pretty much every kind of terrain you can potentially see in the desert.
‘This year we got an extra treat that you don’t see around this region at this time of year. The rain bucketed down just after Friday’s prologue. This made the first of three 120km loops perfect for racing as there was no dust. I felt a bit of pressure to show that I was back to good racing form, especially as I am on a plane to Mexico for Baja 1000 next week. It was so good to see six VIP Race customers come home inside the top 25 outright on such a demanding track. ‘Big’ Sam Gibbings was the stand-out cracking the top five. KDR caps off our first year on GASGAS and considering how good we already have these bikes performing, 2025 is looking even better for our VIP customers.’
Here are the other outstanding outright results. Damon Meyer in 14th, Greg Bartlett in 16th, Greg Jackson in 21st, Brent Storey in 25th, and the father and son duo of Ethan Proposch in 19th and Nathan Proposch in 108th. Go Dad!
Grabbo's VIP Race Experience offers enthusiasts the opportunity to experience the thrills of desert racing without the logistical challenges. With the guidance of Grabham and the VIP crew, participants receive tips, tricks, VIP coaching, bike set-up, pre-running, and more, ensuring a safe and enjoyable desert race experience.
2025 VIP Race Experiences include Jamalka 360 (SA) March 2025, Finke Desert Race (NT) June 2025 (limited spots available) and Hattah Desert Race (VIC) in July 2025. Stay tuned for a few surprises!