Bring forth the Reyn

It all boils down to this weekend’s racing, for the closing two Rounds of the 2024 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship presented by MXstore (AORC). Round 11 here in Nowra, New South Wales featured Sprints across the super challenging WR450F test track. You could cut the tension with a knife, as Australia’s finest fought tooth and nail for their spot on the top step.

Coming out on top for Round 11 and collecting up deeply important points ahead of the final Round tomorrow, was Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Off Road Racing Team) in E1, Jonte Reynders (Motul Pirelli Sherco) 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. These classes tackled the WR450F test track for 10 Sprints.

Conditions are fairly dry here in Nowra, especially after 10 Sprints with our Seniors. With rain expected overnight, we can’t wait to see what Round 12 has instore!

Fastest overall time was claimed by Reynders, with a total time of 1:27:19.613.

To access provisional results for all classes, please click here.

E1

Korey McMahon (GASGAS Australia, Motorex) looked like the man of the hour, as he scrambled the starting line to claim the front spot from Test 2 onwards. Nowra’s tough conditions were no match though, as our GASGAS rider lost valuable seconds fighting to stay on his bike. These bingles saw McMahon drop from first place in E1, down to second. McMahon finished Round 11 with a total time of 1:28:14.911.

Bacon used McMahon’s struggles to his advantage today, sliding onto the top step without any dramas. If he does this again tomorrow, the Yamaha racer will be able to add another AORC Championship notch to his belt.

“I had a bit of an up and down day today because the consistency just wasn’t there,” explained Bacon.

“I had a bike change early on and I think that helped change my headspace. I kept building from there but I’m frustrated with too many little mistakes I made throughout the day.

“Korey was definitely putting down the hammer out there this morning. We had some awesome battles and although I made those little mistakes, I managed to come away with the win.”

Once again, DM31 Racing Team’s Tom Buxton secured bronze ahead of the likes of Cooper Sheidow (Yamaha) and Brock Nichols (Husqvarna). Buxton clocked off today with a total time of 1:30:20.809.

2024 AORC Round 11 E1 Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Off Road Racing Team) 1:27:32.777
2. Korey McMahon (GASGAS Australia, Motorex) 1:28:14.911
3. Tom Buxton (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team) 1:30:20.809

E2

What a way to kick off the final two Rounds! Reynders is collecting up extremely valuable points, with a light at the end of the tunnel. The Sherco boarded rider had an exceptional day of racing, claiming both a consecutive E2 class win as well as fastest overall time. We know the conditions were pretty brutal but clearly, it wasn’t an issue for Reynders, who’s leaving everything he has on the Nowra test tracks.

“Round 11 was a really good day,” reflected Reynders.

“I started off slow this morning but cleared my head and began to chip away all day on my times. That meant that I was finally able to get my first fastest overall time, as well as another class win!

“The conditions this morning were good thanks to a little moisture from prepping the track. We did a lot of racing today though, so eventually the track got super beat up and choppy. The club has done a great job with these tracks!

“Heading into the final Round tomorrow, we’re just looking to go out there and finish strong. The ultimate way to end this would be similar to today, with another class win.”

Yamaha’s Will Dennett was hot on Reynders’ heels today but ultimately fell short, to finish in second. With a total time of 1:27:43.323, Dennett continues to demonstrate his steady presence in the E2 field. After 10 Sprints, Dennett clocked off with a total time of 1:27:43.323.

Last but certainly not least was Andy Wilksch (Beta) in third. The Beta racer had a fantastic morning, with test times right up the top of the pack. As the temperatures got warmer and the conditions more slippery, Wilksch couldn’t maintain his speeds and dropped down to third place. After 10 Sprints, Wilksch finishes Round 11 with a total time of 1:27:44.806.

2024 AORC Round 11 E2 Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Jonte Reynders (Motul Pirelli Sherco) 1:27:19.613
2. Will Dennett (Shop Yamaha Off Road Racing Team) 1:27:43.323
3. Andy Wilksch (Beta) 1:27:44.806

E3

Beta’s Dickson has continued his winning streak here in Nowra, placing him in a perfect position to claim the 2024 Championship title tomorrow afternoon. With a total time of 1:28:51.517, the Beta racer smoked his E3 competition by a lead of over three minutes.

From afar it may have seemed like an easy win but that’s not the case, as Dickson confirmed that the “track was a lot tighter and more technical than I expected, so it ended up being a pretty tricky day.”

“The conditions ended up being more slippery than I had anticipated. To come away with the win makes it even better.”

Husqvarna’s Hargy claimed silver for Round 11, thanks to his total time after 10 Sprints of 1:32:18.272. Hargy managed to maintain a strong presence in the E3 field all day, tussling for points with Riley McGillivray (KTM Australia, Shepparton Motorcycles). McGillivray finished less than one-minute behind Hargy to claim third place, clocking off with a total time of 1:33:10.328.

2024 AORC Round 11 E3 Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Jye Dickson (Beta Racing Australia) 1:28:51.517
2. Billy Hargy (Husqvarna) 1:32:18.272
3. Riley McGillivray (KTM Australia, Shepparton Motorcycles) 1:33:10.328

EW

The action was fierce this morning, as McDonald and Jess Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) bobbed and weaved to claim the lead. As the day and tracks wore on though, McDonald was true to form and pushed clean ahead. After 10 Sprints, McDonald finished on the top step with a total time of 1:37:30.004.

“I managed to keep it on two wheels and produce a good lead early on,” confirmed McDonald.

“The conditions were tough, with a lot of tree roots and bull dust. I enjoyed the Motocross section as well as the fast, open section out the back.

“The competition in EW was pretty tough. Jess was right behind me but I managed to push away towards the end.”

Gardiner rode into second place for Round 11, thanks to a total time of 1:40:55.462. Though she couldn’t quite maintain the same speeds as McDonald, Gardiner comfortably protected her silver finish from the likes of Ebony Nielsen (Beta).

Nielsen rounded out the Round 11 EW podium, clocking off with a total time of 1:45:08.080.

2024 AORC Round 11 EW Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Danielle McDonald (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 1:37:30.004
2. Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 1:40:55.462
3. Ebony Nielsen (Beta) 1:45:08.080

EJ

Yarnold had his work cut out for him today, as Eli Tripcony (Motorex, Husqvarna) fought tooth and nail to knock the Yamaha racer off the top step. Tripcony managed to clinch the fastest EJ time for Test 1 but after that he just couldn’t meet Yarnold’s speeds.

Yarnold claimed first place thanks to a total time of 1:30:41.576, leaving Tripcony in second place, trailing by over one minute.

“I got my first top 10 fastest overall time today, plus another class win, which has made for a great day overall,” exclaimed Yarnold.

“The track conditions started off perfect but as the day wore on, the track started to essentially disintegrate.

“The competition is super tight! There were seconds between me and Eli and it felt like I just started to pull away towards the end of the day.”

Oliver Paterno (Yamaha) came out of nowhere this weekend to clinch the third and final podium position! With a total time of 1:34:59.067 after 10 Sprints across the WR450F test track, Paterno couldn’t quite compete with the likes of Yarnold and Tripcony. But he comfortably protected his position from the likes of Jackson Versteegen (GASGAS) and Levi Stephens (GASGAS).

2024 AORC Round 11 EJ Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Jett Yarnold (Yamaha Motor Australia, Yamalube) 1:30:41.576
2. Eli Tripcony (Motorex, Husqvarna) 1:32:11.561
3. Oliver Paterno (Yamaha) 1:34:59.067

To access provisional results for all remaining classes, please click here.

Don’t go anywhere. We’re back in Nowra first thing tomorrow for the 12^th and final Round of the 2024 season, where we’ll officially crown all Champions.

Words by Caitlin Hynes. Images by Troy Pears.