Veteran racer takes his seventh career win and fifth consecutive title despite tough competition
Conditions were near perfect for the 2025 edition of the Yellow Mountain Cross Country held in central NSW on August 2nd & 3rd. Showers of rain all week made track marking a challenge, but come Saturday morning and the weather cleared and almost 200 riders lined up at the Condobolin Auto Sports Club to set their time around the prologue track. Joshua Harris posted the fastest time, with last year’s winner, Broc Grabham coming in at 10th.
Riders then left the start line in 15 second intervals as they headed 220km to Tottenham for the overnight stop. Luke Chellas started in 3rd but quickly realised the standard fuel tank was not enough when he ran out of fuel before the first fuel stop. Joshua Harris lost several places while refuelling as Nathan Brochtrup and Justin Harrow dumped fuel in via a quick fill tank.
By the second fuel stop, Broc Grabham had worked his way up to 2nd, despite a close call with a mob of wild pigs! Campbell Hall was leading until his KTM hit a sink hole at speed, snapping the triple clamp out of the bike. Thankfully Justin was uninjured but the same could not be said for his bike. Grabham arrived at Tottenham in just 2hrs & 43min, with Nathan Trigg 2 minutes behind in second and Nathan Brochtrup in third, a further 2 minutes behind Trigg.
8am Sunday was the start of the return leg, with Grabham in his familiar position of first on the track with Trigg & Brochtrup starting 15 & 30 seconds behind. With very little dust and much of the track holding moisture, the pace was fast, with the front runners regularly clocking speeds in excess of 170km/hr. 25 year old Joshua Harris started fourth and despite his refuelling disadvantage, rode a superb return leg, to finally catch up and pass Nathan Brochtrup. Joshua held his position for the final leg, coming home in 3rd outright. Trigg had a trouble free ride on the way back to Condobolin, and was stoked to finish on the second step of the podium in his very first Yellow Mountain Cross Country. Meanwhile Broc Grabham managed to stay in front, despite two small crashes involving wildlife. Thankfully no damage to bike or rider and Grabham was able to ride his borrowed GasGas 500 to victory for the fifth year in a row. With a total of 7 victories all up, Grabham is definitely a hard man to beat in the desert.
In the Ladies class, Jade Chellas finished first, with Tabitha Newcomb second and Emma-Jayne Williams in third.
Lock in the first weekend in August if you are keen to race the Yellow Mountain Cross Country in 2026. Will Broc Grabham race the Stark Varg next year? Now that will be interesting.
