Features 9 May 2019

Destination: 2019 Husqvarna 701 Enduro Trek - Victorian High Country

Inaugural 701 Enduro Trek explores Victoria's amazing High Country.

The inaugural Husqvarna Motorcycles 701 Enduro Trek was staged in Victoria’s High Country between 28 April to 2 May, the pioneering event of Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia playing host to 40 riders with significant success in exploring the region.

Open only to Husqvarna Motorcycles 701 Enduro riders, there were 15 support staff in attendance and a selection of extremely special guests, including Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia general manager Jeff Leisk, Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team’s national off-road champion Daniel Sanders, and Bright’s very own hard enduro specialist Mitch Harper.

Image: Wilkinson Photography.

Consisting of four days on the bike that traversed 950 kilometres of adventure riding in total, day one saw the group take off from The Sebel Pinnacle Valley to complete the Merrijig Loop. Riders were met with dirt roads just three kilometres from the beginning and they never looked back, treated to beautiful sunshine and a visit to the iconic Craigs Hut along the way.

Day two from Merrijig to Dinner Plain lived up to the Husqvarna Motorcycles 701’s Enduro model name, as some of the most memorable tracks were combined with classic high country terrain and scenery before arriving at the historic village of Dinner Plain for the overnight stay.

Image: Wilkinson Photography.

The penultimate third day of riding included a trip from Dinner Plain to Beechworth, in which everybody experienced the volatile High Country weather in all of its glory, causing the final bunch of riders to arrive at the George Kerferd Hotel – a converted historical mental institution – after dark, but still buzzing with spectacular stories from a lengthy day behind the handlebars.

Finally, it was the trek from Beechworth to Bright that capped off the first-ever Husqvarna Motorcycles 701 Enduro Trek experience. Another brilliant ride was followed by an outstanding final dinner venue in the Buckland Valley, where participants were able to reflect upon their week together and cement newfound friendships that were established as a result.

Image: Wilkinson Photography.

Husqvarna Motorcycles Australia is thankful of the support staff who made the 2019 Husqvarna 701 Enduro Trek possible, including Kyle Blunden and Lewie Landrigan in tech support, back-up supporters Dave Donaldson and Gord Lalonde, the Racesafe medical team, route coordinator Nick Selleck, lead rider Mitch Harper, videographer Jorden Bethune and photographer Danny Wilkinson.

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