Young talent Tom Gibson has raced to his first Sporties 12-hour Ironman victory in Alice Springs

THE SPORTIES 12-hour Enduro was highly contested amid the desert oaks in the Red Centre, with young talent Tom Gibson taking out Ironman honours on Sunday.

Tom Gibson won the Ironman class at the Sporties 12-hour on the weekend. Photo: Social Media NT

THE SPORTIES 12-hour Enduro was highly contested amid the desert oaks in the Red Centre, with young talent Tom Gibson taking out Ironman honours on Sunday.

Gibson who has only recently entered the ranks of senior competition circulated consistently all day and into the night aboard his Suzuki RMZ 250, lodging 20 laps and approximately 800km’s for the day.

Gibson was the benefactor of misfortune however, as veteran Shane “Boofy” Cole who was leading the Ironman class was forced to retire early after spearing a mulga stick through his neck. Alice Springs Motorcycle Club president Ben Fitzgerald said he was incredibly lucky to avoid worse injury.

“A big mulga stick went straight in, just missed his main artery. Then he managed to finish his lap and ride back in as normal. He came across the line and stepped straight into the ambulance,” he told the NT News.

“It would’ve been crazy pain.”

The outright victory was claimed by a three man team of Jack Dooley-McDonnell, Nick Turner and Billy Barry in the AMA class. Last year’s champions Caleb Auricht, Kenny Armstead and Robbie Armstead suffered a mechanical failure that put them back in the standings.

The Pro class which constitutes a two man team was sealed by the duo of Jay Butler and Mishai Elvey.

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The Desert Masters class which requires a combined age of 140 years for a team to be eligable was won by club president Fitzgerald, Nathan Kelly, Callum Griggs and celebrity guest and ex-AFL legend Tony Lockett who has become an annual return customer for the gruelling 12-hour challenge.

The junior event hosted on the Saturday saw increased difficulty, with the smaller juniors extending their event from 45 minutes to an hour. Ashton Hansen raced home victorious in the 65cc class, Amy Barnes won the Junior Quad division, and Blake Gilles took out the 50cc’s.

The large juniors also saw added difficulty, their race being extended from one and a half hours to two. Will Totani sealed his first enduro win in the 85cc class, while John Colson took out the Junior Lites class.