For one of motocross’s leading riders, the key to building a world-class practice track at home wasn’t just skill on two wheels, but the versatility of a skid steer attachment that brought professional earthmoving capability within arm’s reach.
Daniel “Chucky” Sanders needs little introduction to Australian off-road and rally-raid motorcycle fans. A force on the world stage, he has conquered some of the sport’s most punishing events, adding an International Six Days Enduro victory and a landmark win at the 2025 Dakar Rally to his growing list of achievements.
Away from the international spotlight, he has poured the same energy into his own backyard, creating a purpose‑built practice track on an apple farm in the Victorian locality of Three Bridges.
That’s where we caught up with him to find out more about the equipment he uses to shape the course into the kind of rough, technical terrain that builds race‑winning speed.
”We’ve got 40 acres here at my family home,” Chucky said.
“I pretty much built what I need to train on to try and become one of the best riders in world racing.
“As a kid growing up, we always only had tractors around the farm. We had a Cat D3 dozer to cruise around and push apple trees out.
“That’s when my passion started for building jumps and tracks — I destroyed dad’s cow paddock and turned it into a full-time motocross track.
“Later we purchased a Cat® 259D3 compact track loader, and that was a big help in fine-tuning the jumps and finishing off the track after the dozers have been over it.
“It’s become a passion for me to build a track that lets me play and ride. I’m always prepping it and making it perfect, and then coming on the bike and ripping through it and doing my training. It’s what I need to do to be one of the best in the sport.”
Power and passion
Soil preparation can be more demanding than it appears on the surface. Beneath uneven ground lie compacted soils, buried rocks, stubborn roots, and debris that can turn a straightforward landscaping job into a slow, labour-intensive process.
Achieving a level finish suitable for hardscaping often requires multiple passes with different tools, along with manual correction to deal with high spots, low spots, and unwanted material.
This is where Chucky said a purpose-built attachment like Caterpillar’s Power Box Rake changes the equation.
By combining cultivation, levelling, and debris management into a single, controlled operation, the attachment streamlines one of the most challenging stages of any landscaping project. Instead of wrestling with inconsistent ground and swapping between machines, operators can efficiently condition the soil and create a clean, workable surface — saving time, reducing effort, and delivering a more professional result.
“I recently bought a Power Box Rake from Cat dealer William Adams,” Chucky said.
“I had been looking at getting one to fine-tune and finish off my work, whether it’s in the paddock here, or up around the house or driveway.
“It’s a unique attachment, and I’m excited to work with it around the various hills, slopes, and berms to build a sound motocross layout.
“It’s going to leave a nice cushion and clean the track up well after I’ve finished tearing it up and putting ruts all through it after training. The rake puts all the dirt back to where it needs to be for the next time I go for a run.”
At its core, the Power Box Rake is a rotary drum attachment equipped with rugged carbide teeth that spin against the ground and surface materials.
When powered by a loader, skid steer, or another base machine via hydraulics or PTO, this drum:
- breaks up compacted soil;
- cuts and spreads high spots;
- fills low spots;
- pulverises topsoil; and
- removes rocks, roots, and debris.
This multi-function action means one tool does the work of several traditional implements — tillers, graders, scarifiers, and rock rakes — saving time and labour.
Operators can switch between functions by varying depth, speed, or direction of the drum.
Side plates and barrier blades (where fitted) help collect and move rocks, roots, and debris off the working area, or windrow it for easy pickup, speeding clean-up.
The drum can be tilted or angled hydraulically, directing material to the side or creating windrows, which is useful on construction or sports field sites.
Chucky also loved the Cat 259D3 to which the power rake was attached.
“It does everything you want from a skid steer, but the best part is the cab,” he said.
“It’s nice, quiet, clean, and cool. All the information you need is on the dashboard in plain sight.
“The cameras offer great viewing, and out the front you can see the attachments and what they’re doing.”
Another feature that Chucky said was often underestimated was the strength of the seatbelts.
“When we’re building tracks, the work gets rough. We’re always going over jumps and down ramps, so there’s a lot of tipping and rolling back and forth,” he said.
“It’s important to have a strong safety harness, along with a comfortable seat.
“You can customise the air seat to suit your own weight, and you can move it back and forth and have a nice comfortable ride when you’re in it for many hours trimming up.”
The right Guy for the job
Chucky said he valued the relationship he had with William Adams and Major Account Sales Manager Guy Rigoni.
“Growing up with the Cat machines, you knew they would never let you down. And it’s the same with William Adams.
“For example, it’s simple for me to get parts.
“And it’s also reassuring to know that there is available backup for older machines. They’re always there making sure they’re working well so they don’t break down on me when I need them most.
“They’ve got everything there you need and it just works well.
“They’re passionate about what I do and I’m passionate about what they do.
“I’m looking to purchase a few more machines from them in the next few years. I love working on machines and playing with dirt, so it’s a really nice fit and a good relationship to have.”
Guy said he was delighted to have been instrumental in Chucky’s acquisition of the Power Box Rake.
“I sent him some literature on the rake and some videos that we had online through YouTube,” he said.
“I met up with him and went through the benefits of the attachment and what it can do, especially for grooming his motocross track. He could also use it for tasks around the farm, and the apple orchard for clean-up.”
As a motorbike enthusiast himself, Guy was aware of Chucky’s achievements, and said he jumped at the opportunity to help him build his track.
“Cat machines have been the brand of choice for Australian motocross events, and for good reason,” he said. “The track loaders are set up really well, balanced for moving dirt, making the tracks usable for competitors and users.
“The Power Box Rake is the icing on the cake. Once you’ve done the basic track, you can go over it with the rake to get rid of any rocks and other foreign material that you don’t want on the ground.”
Guy said William Adams was on hand to deal with any issues with service, backup or parts.
“Whether it’s dealing with a machine that’s down or just machine service, we are quick to respond,” he said.
“We’ve got a lot of in-field service technicians located close to Chucky. Our main branch in Clayton stocks the parts he needs to service his machines and repair them if needed.
“We will continue to support Chucky’s needs, whether it’s replacing his old gear over time, or keeping up to date with the new products that might benefit what he does around the farm and motocross tracks.”
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