2024

Bacon, Milner and McGillivray win again as McDonald causes a McFlurry

As far as opening rounds go, this has to be one of our best. Rounds one and two of the 2024 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship presented by MXstore (AORC) have wrapped up in Roma (Qld), with familiar faces returning to the fold as well as new ones from across the globe. Alongside another towering performance from Daniel Milner (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team) in E2, teenager Danielle McDonald (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) claimed her first EW win ahead of teammate Jess Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team).

Claiming wins alongside Milner and McDonald were Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha, Threesix Motorsports) in E1, Riley McGillivray (Shepparton Motorcycles, KTM) in E3 and Jett Yarnold (Yamaha Motor Australia, Yamalube) in EJ.

For all remaining AORC classes and their provisional results, please click here. A race report on all remaining classes will follow.

E1

Bacon cooked his competition for the second day in a row. With a total time of 48:39.018 after four sprints across the MXstore test track, the Tasmanian’s comfortable win sets him up for plenty of success across the 2024 season.

Behind Bacon in second place today was Korey McMahon (GASGAS Australia, Motorex). Seemingly finding his feet after round one, McMahon was right at home on the MXstore test, which featured logs, rocks and a thoroughly churned up track. McMahon clocked off with a total time of 50:02.391.

Third today was New Zealander Tom Buxton (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team). The KTM racer clearly used Saturday to size up his competition, using it to his advantage for round two. Buxton finished with a total time of 50:13.130.

2024 AORC Round 2 E1 Top 5 Provisional Results:

Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha, Threesix Motorsports) 48:39.018
Korey McMahon (GASGAS Australia, Motorex) 50:02.391
Tom Buxton (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team) 50:13.130
Cooper Sheidow (Yamaha Motor Australia, Yamalube) 51:00.588
Will Price (Empire Motorsports Kawasaki Off Road Race Team) 53:02.884

E2

Claiming the fastest overall time today ahead of Bacon and back-to-back E2 class wins was Milner. With a total time of 48:03.326, Milner has seemingly settled back into a sizzling AORC groove after two seasons in Europe.

Behind Milner for back-to-back silver medals was Jonte Reynders (Motul Pirelli Sherco Team). The Sherco rider clocked off with a total time of 49:33.394 after fending off the likes of Will Dennett (Shop Yamaha, Threesix Motorsports) and Andy Wilksch (Beta Offroad Team).

Dennett and Wilksch tangoed for the third and final podium finish, but after a long day in the sun it was Queenslander Dennett who secured the position with a total time of 50:03.522.

2024 AORC Round 2 E2 Top 5 Provisional Results:

Daniel Milner (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team) 48:03.326
Jonte Reynders (Motul Pirelli Sherco Team) 49:33.394
Will Dennett (Shop Yamaha, Threesix Motorsports) 50:03.522
Andy Wilksch (Beta Offroad Team) 50:14.633
Jeremy Carpentier (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 51:47.818

E3

What we’ve noticed about McGillivray is that no matter the weather, the conditions or the competition, he is the same cool, calm and collected racer all year round. McGillivray claimed a consecutive E3 class win thanks to a total time of 50:22.902.

Nearly a minute behind him in second place was Billy Hargy (Simford Group Motorsport). Jumping up the E3 leaderboard today, Hargy was much more comfortable and confident compared to yesterday. He clocked off today with a total time of 51:15.700.

Hot on Hargy’s heels was Queenslander, Fraser Higlett (Beta Australia). Claiming a consecutive third place finish, he managed to beat Stefan Granquist (Husqvarna) onto the podium with just 8.983 seconds separating them.

2024 AORC Round 2 E3 Top 5 Provisional Results:

Riley McGillivray (Shepparton Motorcycles, KTM) 50:22.902
Billy Hargy (Simford Group Motorsport) 51:15.700
Fraser Higlett (Beta Australia) 51:31.043
Stefan Granquist (Husqvarna) 51:40.026
Jye Dickson (Beta Racing Australia) 54:16.815

EW

The highlight of round two was definitely McDonald’s first ever class win! After moving up from JG to EW this season, McDonald has proved why she’s a major contender for the AORC Championship. McDonald battled it out against Gardiner for the top step, clinching victory with only a slender 3.3 seconds to spare. While the Yamaha racer appeared nervous in round onme, she was utterly at home in the slippery, dusty and highly technical MXstore test on Sunday.

2023 EW champion Gardiner clocked off with a total time of 58:57.231.

Rounding out the podium was Ebony Nielsen (Beta Motorcycles Australia). Nielsen battled with Emelie Karlsson (Cassons, Husqvarna) for bronze and eventually got the job done by just 4.157 seconds.

“It was a tough battle between me and Jess all day, so I’m stoked to come away with the win today,” said McDonald.

“It was a pretty tough track but it suited my style more than yesterday. The WR450F test wasn’t my cup of tea so I came third but I’ve obviously come back this round faster and stronger.

“Heading into rounds three and four, I just need to keep my pace, not stress too much and have fun!”

2024 AORC Round 2 EW Top 5 Provisional Results:

Danielle McDonald (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 58:53.891
Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 58:57.231
Ebony Nielsen (Beta Motorcycles Australia) 1:00:44.223
Emelie Karlsson (Cassons, Husqvarna) 1:00:48.380
Nenah Chadwick (RR Racing) 1:12:46.294

EJ

Yamaha’s Yarnold powered to a clean sweep, with the pocket rocket continuing the domination he has showed in the lower-age AORC categories.

Completing the trifecta for the second day in succession were Eli Tripcony (Husqvarna, Motorex) and Oliver Paterno (Port Macquarie Motorcycles, Yamaha). The duo couldn’t maintain Yarnold’s speed and work rate but managed to comfortably protect their positions from the likes of Davey Gear (Leatt, Nutrien Ag) and Jackson Versteegen (Peter Stevens, Fox Australia).

2024 AORC Round 2 EJ Top 5 Provisional Results: