Rallye Training Day at Desert Rose

Having booked to take part in the Hellas Rallye in late May 2022 with our sister company Desert Rose Racing, 4 riders joined us at the Riding Academy to start their preparation in earnest. None of the riders were new to off road riding, but this would be the first rallye they have taken part in. One of the distinctions between a rallye and a raid is that the rallye is a competitive, timed race where podium positions are up for grabs. Having opted for a rallye, the riders knew that their riding would need to be dialed in, so that they could concentrate on navigation, using road books for the very first time. Riding skills were honed through the day with all 4 tackling everything from body positioning exercises, bike handling, hill ascents, stream crossings and everyone’s favourite titanic moment, not for the faint hearted, followed by a little towing exercise.

The day was broken down into a number of elements that would help riders new to the rallye and rallye raid world. The bike handling skills would be a recurring theme running through the day and thrown into the mix was some basic fault diagnosis and bike maintenance. Bike won’t start 120 KM into a special stage and what do you do, call the Desert Rose Racing mechanics back at the bivouac, but you will still need some knowledge and to get hands on. Whether it’s a blown fuse, stuck kill switch or something more tricky to find, it’s good to know what to check. There was cause for some actual track-side mechanical knowledge with a drowned bike part way through the afternoon, but what happens on tour stays on tour – no names!

Paul King
10th February, 2022

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01/09/2026

BeRightBack @ Desert Rose 2026

Now in its 3rd year, the annual BeRightBack day at Desert Rose never fails to deliver. Be Right Back is a growing community for women in and around the automotive world, where passion for bikes and cars, connection and experience-making collide. It was created out of the real need for women who felt like they didn’t quite fit into the typical automotive scene and wanted a supportive, fun and empowered space to meet like-minded people, build friendships and enjoy the culture together. BRB hosts a wide range of events from casual social meet-ups like breakfast gatherings and drive-outs to special celebrations like International Women’s Day collaborations and women-centred track days and off road riding experiences. All designed to bring women together around bikes and cars in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. At its heart, BRB is about connection over horsepower, linking women who love bikes and cars not just for the machines, but for the people, experiences and shared stories that make automotive culture richer and more inclusive. If you want to know more about BeRighBack jump onto their website here.

4 minute read

10/08/2026

Desert Rose to attend Moto-Union Celebration

Desert Rose have been invited to attend the Moto-Union event on the 20th September 2026. Moto-Union 2026 returns to the South of England Showground in Ardingly, bringing together enthusiasts and iconic machines — from classic bikes to off-road and racing legends. Moto-Union brings together a collection of Japanese and Italian motorbikes, alongside race bikes, off-road machines, rare classics, modern performance motorbikes, and stunning custom builds. Whether you’re a seasoned rider, collector, or simply appreciate great engineering, there will be something to inspire you. Check out the event site and get your tickets here .

3 minute read

28/07/2026

CampVC 2026 10th Anniversary

We have been coming to CampVC for some years now and it really has grown. This year for their 10th Anniversary the team asked if we could bring more bikes. Never one to step back from a challenge Patsy made sure we upped our game. We took 20 electric dirt bikes; OSET TXP 24s, EM Escape XRs, an Arctic Leopard and of course our brand new fleet of Zero X line bikes. Add to that 16 of our Beta enduro bikes some of our own bikes, the Triumph TF 250 E, Yamaha TTR 125 and Patsy’s Dakar bike from 2004, a KTM 660.

4 minute read

27/07/2026

Malle Mile 2026 Edition

The 2026 Malle Mile Festival will forever be known as “The dust bowl edition” Some 5,000 people experienced 1,500 motorcycles, beauty, chaos, art, jousting, innovation, smiles, moto polo, laughter, slightly surreal DJ sets (IYKYK The Dog Show!) All this in the grounds of an actual castle! MCN joined the party this year and have tried to capture the essence here. That featured image captured by our good friend Roberto.