Daymon Stokie has been crowned Bikes champion of the 2017 Tatts Finke Desert Race after overnight leader David Walsh succumbed to mechanical problems early on Day 2.
Stokie became not only the first Alice Springs rider to win the race which runs between the Alice and Finke since Ryan Branford in 2006, but also gave Yamaha its first win in the race since 1986.
He completed the journey in a total time of 4:11:12.5s on the #4 WR500F, having placed second after the first 226km leg down to Finke.
Fellow Alice rider Walsh’s hopes came to an end just 10km after setting out from Finke when his #3 KTM EXC500 developed a mechanical problem.
South Australian Ivan Long (#X99 Husqvarna FE450) edged yet another Alice Springs rider in Luke Hayes (#6 KTM EXC500) in a close-run contest over second position.
Long had to make up ground after salvaging the fifth-fastest time amid a puncture on the southward journey, with the change in position between he and Hayes coming between the Deep Well check point and the Alice Springs finish.
Click here for a report from Day 2 of the Cars competition.
Top 10: Overall: Bikes, 2017 Tatts Finke Desert Race
| Pos | Class | Bike | Competitor | Town | Bike | Day 1 | Day 2 | Overall | Gap To Leader |
| 1 | 2 | 4 | Stokie, Daymon | Araluen, NT | Yamaha WR500F | 02:03:49.9 | 02:07:22.5 | 04:11:12.5 | |
| 2 | 5 | X99 | Long, Ivan | Murray Bridge, SA | Husqvarna FE450 | 02:13:51.4 | 02:01:15.5 | 04:15:07.0 | +00:03:54.5 |
| 3 | 2 | 6 | Hayes, Luke | Alice Springs, NT | KTM EXC500 | 02:08:37.6 | 02:07:00.5 | 04:15:38.1 | +00:04:25.6 |
| 4 | 2 | 12 | Collins, Kent | Mount Gambier, SA | KTM EXC | 02:13:02.3 | 02:10:59.7 | 04:24:02.0 | +00:12:49.5 |
| 5 | 2 | 298 | Davie, Sam | Echuca, VIC | Husqvarna FE 501 | 02:14:59.3 | 02:12:00.3 | 04:26:59.7 | +00:15:47.2 |
| 6 | 1 | 10 | Trigg, Nathan | Ouyen, VIC | KTM 300 EXC | 02:15:53.3 | 02:12:05.4 | 04:27:58.8 | +00:16:46.3 |
| 7 | 5 | 7 | Smith, Todd | Condobolin, NSW | Honda CRF450R | 02:15:00.0 | 02:13:33.7 | 04:28:33.8 | +00:17:21.3 |
| 8 | 2 | 240 | Lane, Ricky | Mount Isa, QLD | Husaberg 500 | 02:26:25.1 | 02:23:25.9 | 04:49:51.1 | +00:38:38.6 |
| 9 | 4 | 14 | Grove, Mark | Gisbourne, VIC | Honda CRF250 | 02:26:25.9 | 02:24:03.8 | 04:50:29.8 | +00:39:17.3 |
| 10 | 5 | X38 | Turner, William | Alice Springs, NT | Honda CRF 450 | 02:29:54.1 | 02:24:02.5 | 04:53:56.6 | +00:42:44.1 |
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