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Daniel Fraser Battles the Elements to Secure a Top 10 Finish at 24hr Reliability trial
Over the years, you hear people say things along the lines of “you haven’t done a real 24 until you’ve raced a wet one”, all tongue and cheek of course, but I think I have a new appreciation for what that saying means after racing this year’s edition of the event.
Saturday rain was on the forecast the entire week leading up to the event. So at least it wasn’t a surprise when it rained for a good portion of the first lap. However, there was some cruel irony pre and post event. The weather was absolutely perfect and sunny in the days leading up to the event and for several days after!
I was given a starting position of 133rd, my lowest starting position at the 24 so far. I was due to leave main at 1:13pm. There were a few passing showers on Saturday morning, this left me optimistic that the forecasted rain might have blown over early and we’d miss the worst of it. I was wrong. I was able to get through the first section dry before the heavens opened on the transport out to section 2. From there it was wet gloves for the rest of the event, I’d try my best to dry out at each control but would never get fully dry!
Lap 1 went pretty well, I was trying to ride within my limit and get a gauge of the conditions. Section 1 and 2 followed along tight and twisty creeks. There were a few water crossings to negotiate but nothing extreme. Section 3, had a rocky hill to start the section but opened once it crested the hill. The rain had made the open paddocks slippery and hard to interpret which parts had traction and where the extremely slick clay areas were. This was a long section and seemed to just keep going and going! Halfway along I began to recognize my surroundings, we were racing a paddock used last year at the Marrabel road trial but in reverse. I’m glad I clocked onto this as a few turns later there was a marked log to get over, that was also used last year. Although I was the 133rd bike through the section it appeared only a handful of bikes had taken the log option and most opted to take the “chicken run” around the log. Section 4 was like 3, quite fast and open and snaking up and down hillsides and between large gumtrees.
From there we made it to the first fuel stop. A quick splash of fuel and lubricating the chain was all the attention the bike needed. I used the rest of my time to warm up/dry out by the fire at the control. Section 5 was a spectator section and thus had some obstacles to entertain the crowd, a log and tabletop. I got over both without any issues. The section then had a quick blast through a crop before crossing an old quarry. We then jumped back on the road for a long and cold transport out to section 6, I’m not 100% sure how long it was but it felt like it just kept going and going! We finally arrived out at the next section, and it looked awesome! It was west of Kapunda and not nearly as wet as the rest of the track, almost loamy in places. It flowed in and out of much tighter, low-lying scrub. Terrain that is right up my alley. This section was unreal fun, would’ve loved if it was longer. Before I started the section it had got very windy, this wasn’t really an issue until towards the end of the section a gate had blown across the track, I had to slow down a touch to negotiate it but thankfully was practically un-effected. I told the next control about the gate and It wasn’t a problem on any of the other laps. Section 7 was very slick; it started along an old train line and was flat out in a straight line for a kilometer. I was very thankful for the steering dampener through this part of the section! It then snaked up and down rolling hills before a water crossing at the end. Thankfully it wasn’t too deep but knew it was only going to get worse as the race went on. Section 8 was the same as I raced in 2024, It had a very tight and technical start before racing between a vineyard. The section then got into a natural plantation. It was already rough from being used in 2024 but was good, nonetheless.
After stopping at another fuel dump, we headed out to sections 9 and 10. Both were south of Kapunda and similar conditions. Tight single track up and down the side of hills. I felt pretty good through both sections but made a costly mistake in section 10. There was a long, rocky hill that was very wet. The sidecars before me had created a long slippery rut the whole way up. I’d started ok but gotten out of shape on a rock about halfway up. Bringing myself to a stop, it was a pain to get going again as it was so wet and steep. I was annoyed that I’d screwed that up as the harder parts of the track usual favor my riding style. Although frustrated, I got to the end of section 10 and pulled out onto the road. The dry weather only road between 10 and 11 was in very poor shape. There were ruts everywhere and it was an absolute minefield. The mud was very clingy and stuck to everything making the bike heavy. I was relived to make it to the end of that stretch of road and onto the bitumen. My boots were a few kilos heavier with the amount of mud stuck to them! The following section was almost as slick as the road, hard to push the pace but I aimed for consistency and made it through. The 12th and final section started in some tighter scrub but had an almost sandy loam. It had formed up very well with the rain and was unreal fun! The section then got out of the trees and crossed some open paddocks. It was a pretty decent section other than a massive water crossing at the end. The crossing would’ve been 20-30m long and very deep. I slowed up for it as I approached it on the first lap but somehow still hit it too fast. I filled both boots with water and managed to soak my hands and hand muffs in the process. Although cold and wet at least I made it to the other side. There were plenty of others who weren’t so lucky. With drowned bikes parked up on the exit of the creek! From there it was back to main for a dinner break before heading out on lap 2. I was sitting in 5th outright; I was happy with that. Around the pace without riding over the head.
As the 24hr is such a long and demanding race, you almost account for having a few sections or a lap that things unravel. This is usually on lap 3 or 4 but this year it caught me by surprise being on lap 2. The first half of the lap went ok, nothing special but I was going alright. In section 5, I got away with almost having a massive crash, I’d lined up for the tabletop and thought I was pointed in the right direction but just about jumped off the side of it, completely missing the down ramp! This is a huge reason I hate jumping in the dark. Until I left the take-off I thought I was right on track but quickly realized I was going to land awkwardly. Thankfully the jump had recently been built so the side was very soft and I was able to ride it out! I was looking forward to section 6 and got off to a great start. Unfortunately, halfway through the section the track weaved around some trees in a S shape. I mis-judged where one of the trees were and clipped my shoulder on the exit of the turn. From there I was sent out the back door, basically clotheslining myself off the back of the bike. That one bloody hurt. I remember seeing the bike go out from underneath me and my feet hit the bars on the way past! From there I was trying to push to make up time but struggled to feel comfortable. I was getting frustrated with how I was riding and that only led to more mistakes, I had to try to remind myself to reset and try and get back into a groove. This wasn’t helped went I had to pull out of section 10 and onto the dry weather only road. It was a mess; the road was beyond hammered. I later heard there were sidecars getting bogged on the road! Not often I can say the hardest part of a road trial was a transport section! I thankfully got through it without crashing. The bike was super heavy as I pulled out onto the road, there was so much mud on my bike and boots it was insane. So much so that it caused my side-stand to be pulled down on the bitumen. I heard the noise and as it was dark when I looked down saw nothing but sparks. I instantly thought the worst but was relieved to see it was just the stand. I was glad to make it past that road but unfortunately made another mistake in the following section. There was a fast section along the side of a creek in section 11. I was crossing from the main rut to the sidecar wheel rut to get a better run up a rocky hill. And just my luck there was a large rock hiding in the grass between the two ruts. I didn’t even see it coming before the bike got a big kick and I was over the front. I was doing a handstand on the bars, and I felt like I was nearly able to hang onto it. Unfortunately, I wasn’t so lucky and got sent “out the front door”. That was a big crash and I was very lucky to escape without injury, even considering I landed in a rocky outcrop. The bike also survived without damage which was a relief.
That crash served as a good reset. I actually felt good through the following section and felt like I was reeling in the rider in front as I could see his lights in the distance getting closer. After a quick break at main control and a coffee to warm me up I was ready to go on lap 3. The first half of lap 3 went bloody well, after being so disappointed and annoyed with my riding on the last lap, I felt really good through the first few sections. I was finally comfortable pushing the pace. Surprisingly the track had started to dry out and was great fun the first half of the lap. There wasn’t supposed to be any rain on the forecast until midday on Sunday. Believe it or not the weatherman was once again wrong, as I pulled out of 6, the heavens opened once again. It was pretty demoralizing being drenched and cold, riding down the road in the dark on the way to the next section. The rain was on and off for the next couple of hours which hammered the track. I was going ok, by this point id softened up my suspension to better perform in the conditions, which had helped. Section 9 was in very poor shape, the start was very slippery and about 2kms in, I lost the front in a tight off camber turn. A silly little crash but my leg landed straight on the clutch perch and map switch. Which gave me a big corky on my left thigh. I was in a bit of pain after this and had to start favoring my other leg. Thankfully at the end of the section they told me that the following section (and the dry weather only road) had been cut. A small win which lifted everyone’s mood! I did unfortunately cop a penalty for a missing reflector at a light checkpoint, usually not too drastic but at this event they had increased it to 300 seconds for something that is usually a 30 second penalty. Ouch!
From this point, I’d decided to slow down and just make it to the end. My left was giving me a serious amount of grief and I figured I’d be better off keeping myself and the bike in one piece. There were plenty of riders having drivetrain issues due to the mud. My brand-new front sprocket and chain were certainly looking worse for wear at this point. I felt better after a rest and some food at the breakfast stop.
Lap 4 was pretty uneventful, I rolled around and made sure to not hammer the bike or body. I very nearly got stuck in a bog hole in section 7. I took a different line that had formed to the left of the main line and instantly knew it wasn’t the best choice. The mud was up to my thigh and completely covered the bike. Thankfully I was able to get out the other side, some of the other riders around me weren’t so lucky. From there I was able to make it to the finish. 24hrs since setting off from leaving main control, I had made it. That makes it 3 finishes from 3 starts and by far the hardest one I’ve competed in. Finishing in 8th outright, finally getting into the elusive top 10!
A massive thankyou to everyone for your help this year, that was very hard and would’ve been a hell of a lot harder without all your gracious support!