KTM riders achieved an elusive clean sweep of the 2025 Hattah Desert Race, led by KTM DM31 Racing Team’s Korey McMahon after he clinched victory outright on Sunday, joined on the podium by last year’s winner Callum Norton and US-based Gus Riordan in the iconic Victorian event.
Five of the top 10 outright positions were filled by KTM riders, as KTM DM31 Racing team owner/rider Daniel Milner raced to a P5 finish, and 2025 Finke Desert Race winner Corey Hammond met the chequered flag in 10th place at the duration of the high-speed, four-hour desert race.
Milner, a three-time Hattah winner, was the pace-setter during the early sessions on Saturday afternoon, with the Victorian powering his KTM 450 XC-F to the top of the timesheets in both the Prologue and Top 10 Shootout, as McMahon, Norton, and KTM DM31 Racing Team’s Jonte Reynders earning positions three, four and five in qualifying.
Taking off from P1, Milner would head the field during the opening stages, before teammate McMahon surged through to the lead onboard his KTM 500 EXC-F. Soon after, the STE KTM Racing Team-backed Norton would move into P2, with the duo inching away from the field from that point of the race.
Unable to close the gap on a charging McMahon, Norton and his KTM 500 EXC-F would ultimately claim the runner-up result. At the same time, US-based FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers’ regular Riordan, equipped with a KTM 450 SX-F, won the 450 Four-Stroke division and finished a strong third overall. Milner would cross the line in fifth, while Hammond placed 10th Outright.
Third of the KTM DM31 Racing Team entries, Reynders was unfortunately ruled out in the mid-stages of the race after an earlier incident that resulted in a damaged thumb, while in the Ladies category, KTM-mounted Madi Healey captured a well-earned third-place podium result after eight laps around the gruelling Hattah Desert Race circuit.
Korey McMahon: “I don’t think anyone saw this coming, but both myself and the team knew that it was possible. I went to work for four hours, and the bike was unreal. We were able to get a gap at the start and then manage it from there, so all-in-all, super happy with how we performed. The competition is so tough at this race and it really takes one of your best days to get a win – that’s what we had today. I couldn’t have done this without Daniel Milner, he’s taught me everything he knows, and it’s really paying off. A huge thank you to the team, I’m so pumped with this result!”
Callum Norton: “It was a tough day out here at Hattah, and I’m pretty stoked on second place as Korey rode amazing all day. The pace was high from the first lap, and there’s nothing I could really do to catch up. It was an insane four hours, and I tried to be consistent across the race and keep some in the tank for later, but it wasn’t enough to get the win this year. Thank you to STE Racing, KTM Australia, and all my supporters on what was a phenomenal day! Hopefully we’re all back here next year to go at it again.”
Angus Riordan: “A really brutal day out here at Hattah – it was faster than normal and super-choppy! The wind played a big factor out there, but we did our best and were able to come away with a P3 overall finish for this year. I love this event, and a big thank you to all those who help out and support me in racing here, and congratulations to the other two boys on the podium day. They earned it.”
Daniel Milner: “I’m absolutely stoked for Korey. We’ve put in so much work leading into this event, and to see him on the top step is honestly amazing. For me to get P5, we achieved the same result last year, and it was a good finish. I don’t have the pace that these young guys do through the fast stuff, I think about it a little too much, and back off when I shouldn’t! But, we’ve put a lot into Korey over the last three months, and this result is awesome, just unbelievable to see.”
Jonte Reynders: “The race started good, I was sitting on the back of the top-five on the first lap and was feeling good, but as I went to turn in for fuel after the first lap, another rider came up the inside as I turned and took me down pretty hard. Unfortunately, it hurt my thumb, and I rode the next three laps trying to tough it out, but with the damage to my thumb, I wasn’t able to hold on and had to DNF. Super-disappointed with the situation that went down, but I’ll go get some scans this week on the thumb and see what the recovery looks like.”
2025 Hattah Desert Race Results – Hattah, VIC
Outright
1. Korey McMahon (KTM DM31 Racing Team)
2. Callum Norton (STE KTM Racing Team)
3. Angus Riordan (FMF KTM Factory Racing Team Landers)
5. Daniel Milner (KTM DM31 Racing Team)
10. Corey Hammond (KTM)
Images: Foremost Media
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