The 85 motorcyclists and support crew rode through Walcha last Wednesday as part of the Ténéré Tragic’s Dividing Range Run.

The Ténéré Tragics is group that runs an annual all-roads ride in Australia for owners of Yamaha Ténéré and Super Ténéré models and this year they spent five days riding about 2000km.

Four times Mister Motocross and Yamaha legend Stephen Gall joined the Tragics for the fifth event and said everyone was riding a Ténéré bike, from the original 1983 model to the latest 660cc and 1200cc adventure bikes.

“The name Ténéré comes from an area of desert near Chad,” Mr Gall said.

Mr Gall is famous in the motocross fraternity but also works as an ambassador for Yamaha and was the motorcycle stunt co-ordinator for the recent Mad Max IV movie.

Developed from Yamaha’s Dakar race-winning factory bikes, the original Ténéré models were designed to handle tough off-road conditions and built up a huge following of loyal owners during the 1980s and ’90s.

This trip, which began on Sunday, March 1, covered about 2000km and wound all over the Great Dividing Range.

Places on the ride are strictly limited and were filled within 48 hours of nominations opening.

One participant rode his bike over 5000km from Darwin before starting the ride at Nambucca Heads; and he plans to ride home at the end, while another travelled from Perth and this year a Canadian joined in as well.

Last year the ride – now in its fifth year – was focussed on the Victorian high country and in 2013 the group rode to Longreach.

The motorcyclists stopped for lunch at the Royal Café in Walcha, choosing to support venues they consider motorbike friendly. 

Participant Lance Turnley, who calls Cronulla home, said the riders always tried to be environmentally friendly and leave no trace of where they had been.

“We also are watchful and take care around livestock,” he said.

Last Wednesday the group started the day in Inverell, making it to Walcha for lunch. From here they were heading to Riverwood Downs via the Barrington Tops.