Coonabarabran closes out first half of 2012 AORC

 

The sixth round of the 2012 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) has come to a close in Coonabarabran, marking the halfway point of the national twelve-round Series.

More than 200 riders took to three natural terrain sprint tracks at the Goanna Tracks Motocross and Enduro Complex in New South Wales for a second day of intense competition in powdery conditions.

Daniel Milner (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road) continued his domination of the E1 Class, finishing the five-heat day ahead of Josh Green (Active8 Yamaha Yamalube) and Ben Burrell (Motorex KTM Off-Road).

The E2 Class once again went to Matt Phillips (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road) who clocked the fastest time in a close battle with Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna Racing Team) and Jarrod Bewley (Active 8 Yamaha Yamalube).

In the E3 Class, Toby Price (Motorex KTM Off-Road) made it a perfect six-for-six, taking the top position once again with a commanding three minute lead over rivals Stefan Merriman (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road) and Scott Keegan (Motorex Force Husaberg).

Price also picked up Outright honours for the day, putting the fastest time on the board in front of Milner, Phillips, Kearney and Green.

The Veterans Class trophy was picked up by class leader Damian Smith (Husqvarna), who was followed in by Craig Wease (Yamaha) and Andrew Gillam (KTM), while the Masters Class was a carbon copy of Round 5 with Trent Lean (Suzuki MX1 Australia) once again beating out Ian Jenner (Husaberg) and Robert Day (Yamaha).

The Womens Class saw the winning Yamaha trio from Round 5 back on the podium in a different arrangement, with Jess Gardiner locking in the top step in front of Emelie Karlsson and Jemma Wilson.

It was the same scenario in the J1 Class, with the Round 5 winners switching places to land Josh Brierley (Kawasaki) in the lead ahead of Mitch Brierley (Kawasaki) and Zane Temperley (Yamaha). Dylan Heaton (KTM) strengthened his hold on the J2 Class, outpacing Will Ruprecht (Suzuki MX1 Australia) and Stuart Holt.

Nic Tomlinson (KTM) commandeered the J3 Class from Tom Mason (KTM) and Jacob Peacock (Suzuki, while Todd Barry (KTM) took home the goods in the J4 Class ahead of Peter-Daniel Allan (Yamaha) and Isaac Richardson (Suzuki).

E1 Class leader Daniel Milner, who leaves Goanna Tracks sitting second on the Outright leaderboard, is pleased with his showing at Coonabarabran and in the Series to date.

“I feel like I’m getting better and better and getting more confident since the first round, I started off with third and then went a fifth and gradually working up,” Milner said.

“Every race it just keeps coming and I’m just practicing and getting better and better. I think I beat Toby [Price] in couple of tests there today and I was stoked with it - he’ definitely a hard man to beat.”

Price, who recently arrived home after taking on a number of events in the US, is happy with his performance over the weekend and looking forward to the rest of the Series.

“The weekend was really good, round five and six all done, and I got a couple of wins so the bike is handling well and I’m loving the KTM 500,” Price said.

“We’re at the halfway point of the Series at the moment and the first half has been great so far and we’re keeping on track and looking forward to the second.”

The 2012 AORC now heads to Broadford in Victoria for Rounds 7 and 8 of the Series on 19-20 May.

For all the latest news, pictures and video from the 2012 Yamaha AORC, make sure to visit the Official Series website and Facebook page.

 

* All results are provisional at time of release

 

For further information please contact:                                                                            

Megan Hannan
Communications Officer
Motorcycling Australia

Tel: (03) 9684 0511

www.ma.org.au

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