AORC recap: Mixing XC and Sprint Enduro at Rnds 9 + 10

Australian Off Road Championship (AORC) penultimate rounds nine and 10 featured different race formats across two days: three-hour XC race on Saturday and Sprint Enduro on Sunday with Daniel Milner and Kyron Bacon sharing hte overall honours.

Saturday’s Cross Country race in Kingston SE, South Australia featured tight, technical and sandy tracks dampened down by overnight rain for great conditions.

Coming out victorious after a three-hour Cross Country race was Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Off Road Racing Team) in E1, Daniel Milner (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team) in E2, Jye Dickson (Beta Racing Australia) in E3, Danielle McDonald (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) in EW and Jett Yarnold (Yamaha Motor Australia, Yamalube) in EJ. Each of these five riders also holds the lead in their respective class, for the 2024 Champion title.

Fastest overall time was claimed by Milner, with a total time of 2:56:00.150. “There were no breaks at any point on that track,” Said second placed OA and fastest in E1 Kyron Bacon. “It was probably one of the gnarliest tracks I’ve done in a long time. It was a good race between me and Milner, as well as the other boys in my class. I know Milner and I were fighting right up until the end to get that fastest time.

“The track conditions were brutal. There were at least 1-2 metre whoops throughout, with no straights so basically no breaks. It was a mentally challenging day, that’s for sure.”

Day two drama

Day two’s Sprint Enduro saw drama with championship E3 class leader Daniel Milner crashing out and injuring his shoulder.

That allowed Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Off Road Racing Team) a more comfortable day to take the overall and in E1, Jonte Reynders (Motul Pirelli Sherco) taking his first E2 win of the season, Jye Dickson (Beta Racing Australia) in E3, Danielle McDonald (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) in EW and Jett Yarnold (Yamaha Motor Australia, Yamalube) in EJ all claimed back-to-back class wins.

“After a tough day yesterday I’m definitely feeling it.” Said Reynders. “To get our first win of the season is fantastic and I’m just stoked!

“The tracks had super deep sand that got really choppy. You couldn’t really get off the main line and I found I couldn’t find my flow. So to come away with the win has been really special.”

Results from both days are here.

More information: www.aorc.org.au

Photo Credit: AORC Troy Pears