Davey shifts into winning Gear

Edenhope threw everything it had at the 2024 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship presented by MXstore (AORC) riders! Round 6 Sprints featured dust as far as the eye can see, sprinkled with some rain in the afternoon to mix things up.

Our Seniors moved onto the Offroad Advantage track and after five Sprints, consecutive wins were clinched by 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 and Danielle McDonald (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) in EW. Over in EJ though, Davey Gear (Limestone Coast Motorcycles, Yamaha Australia) stole the show and claimed the top step.

Milner once again claimed the fastest overall time, finishing with a total time of 36:39.765.

A race report on all remaining classes will follow shortly. To access provisional results, please click here.

E1

Bacon had a slower than usual start, losing the first Test to rival, Korey McMahon. As the day wore on though, Bacon was a sight to be seen as he screamed across the Offroad Advantage track. After five Sprints, Bacon won the day in E1 with a total time of 37:02.818.

McMahon settled for second place, thanks to a total time of 38:04.495. Behind McMahon in third was once again Tom Buxton. Buxton clocked off Round 6 with a total time of 39:42.850.

2024 AORC Round 6 E1 Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Off Road Racing Team) 37:02.818
2. Korey McMahon (GASGAS Australia, Motorex) 38:04.495
3. Tom Buxton (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team) 39:42.850

E2

Does it come as any surprise that Milner was in fine form, for day two here in Edenhope? Claiming another consecutive E2 win and the fastest overall time once again, you wouldn’t even know the KTM racer was injured recently.

Motul Pirelli Sherco’s Jonte Reynders took away a consecutive second place finish in E2, fending off the likes of Will Dennett (Shop Yamaha, Threefive Motorsports) and Thynan Kean (Race ready suspension, Elliott bros). Reynders clocked off today with a total time of 37:02.921.

Although the sand suits Dennett, he couldn’t quite crack the second-place spot, settling instead for a consecutive third place finish. Dennett ended Round 6 with a total time of 38:16.078.

2024 AORC Round 6 E2 Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Daniel Milner (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team) 36:39.765
2. Jonte Reynders (Motul Pirelli Sherco) 37:02.921
3. Will Dennett (Shop Yamaha, Threefive Motorsports) 38:16.078

E3

Edenhope has been the perfect weekend for Dickson! Claiming back-to-back E3 wins, the Beta rider is looking like prime competition for the 2024 Championship title. At home on the sandy Offroad Advantage track, Dickson finished Round 6 with a total time of 37:41.601.

Husqvarna’s Stefan Granquist clocked off with a total time of 38:28.617 and the second-place spot, just ahead of Simford Group Motorsport’s Billy Hargy. With just over 30 seconds difference between these two Husqvarna riders, E3 is heating up as the action increases. Hargy settled for third place, with a total time of 39:07.011.

2024 AORC Round 6 E3 Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Jye Dickson (Beta Racing Australia) 37:41.601
2. Stefan Granquist (Husqvarna) 38:28.617
3. Billy Hargy (Simford Group Motorsport) 39:07.011

EW

McDonald is sure to be celebrating as she leaves Edenhope and Victoria! With three consecutive EW wins, McDonald is quickly becoming a strong contender for the 2024 EW Championship title. McDonald finished five Sprints across the Offroad Advantage track with a total time of 44:40.880.

Fellow teammate and 2023 Champion, Jess Gardiner was hot on McDonald’s heels all day. After five Sprints though, the Yamaha racer just couldn’t quite beat McDonald’s speeds and settled instead, for second place. Gardiner clocked off with a total time of 45:59.479.

Not far behind and claiming the third and final podium spot, was Emelie Karlsson. Karlsson continues to protect the bronze medal, as she has all season. The Husqvarna racer finished Round 6 with a total time of 46:10.748.

2024 AORC Round 6 EW Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Danielle McDonald (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 44:40.880
2. Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 45:59.479
3. Emelie Karlsson (Cassons, Husqvarna) 46:10.748

EJ

All the action was found in EJ today! Jett Yarnold had a less than desirable start to Round 6, leaving the top step wide open for Gear to claim. Although Yarnold pushed hell for leather all day, he couldn’t cover the building time difference made by Gear and the likes of Eli Tripcony (Motorex, Husqvarna) and Oliver Paterno (Port Macquarie Motorcycles).

Gear had a fantastic day, managing to sit right up the top of EJ for all five Sprints. Gear leaves Edenhope with a well earnt EJ win and a total time of 38:52.124.

Tripcony claimed silver, ahead of Paterno who claimed bronze. Their respective total times today were 40:36.118 and 40:55.568.

“Round 6 was a tough one,” explained Gear.

“It featured lots of fast straights, with dry and dusty conditions, mixed with rough, sandy corners. Plus, the competition was unreal in EJ – really, really tough competition.”

2024 AORC Round 6 EJ Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Davey Gear (Limestone Coast Motorcycles, Yamaha Australia) 38:52.124
2. Eli Tripcony (Motorex, Husqvarna) 40:36.118
3. Oliver Paterno (Port Macquarie Motorcycles) 40:55.568

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

That’s a wrap here in Edenhope! Next, we head north to Queensland Moto Park for Rounds 7 & 8. For more information, news and updates, visit aorc.org.au.

Words by Caitlin Hynes. Images by Troy Pears.