INTREPID motorbike rider Eddie Meek is heading for the desert sands of Australia's outback for his biggest challenge yet.

Eddie, 34, of Kendal, is flying out to Brisbane next week for the 40th anniversary Finke Desert Race, Australia's biggest off-road sporting event.

"Racing's in my blood - motorsport, rally driving, enduro racing," said Eddie, who will be among 600 riders setting off flat-out from Alice Springs in the Northern Territory on Sunday, June 7.

"Having raced my fair share of events over the past few years, gaining experience and skill competing in enduro

events all over the UK, I have now upped the challenge to extreme events."

Eddie, who works in property repairs, bought his KTM 250 two-stroke motorbike while holidaying in Australia last year. The bike's larger fuel tank, desert tyres and special suspension make it ideal for racing on the soft sand tracks blown into corrugated 'whoops' by the wind.

"If you can imagine bump after bump after bump," explained Eddie, "and the faster you hit it, the easier it is."

After landing at Brisbane, Eddie will drive the 3000km to Alice Springs by motorhome and begin preparations for the qualifying race on Saturday, June 6.

The following day he and 600 bike, buggy and quad riders will set out on the 240km ride from Alice Springs to the tiny outback community of Finke, which he expects to take three hours or less. After an overnight camp in the desert, when temperatures could plummet from 30C to freezing, the riders will race back to Alice Springs.

Eddie has already proved his mettle in well-known beach races such as Weston-super-Mare, and Le Touquet in France, and he describes the Finke Desert Race as "the ultimate challenge". Next on his wishlist is the legendary Dakar Rally.

For more, visit www.finkedesertrace.com.au