Reynders breaks the drought

It was a race to complete Sprints today before the weather rolled in, for Round 10 of the 2024 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship presented by MXstore (AORC). Holding onto the blue skies while they lasted, our world class competitors screamed across the WR450F Test, tackling tough and technical conditions.

Coming out on top for their first win of the season was Jonte Reynders (Motul Pirelli Sherco) in E2. Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Off Road Racing Team) in E1, 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.

Fastest overall time was claimed by Bacon, with a total time of 58:44.126.

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

E1

Bacon came back today in fine form, claiming another E1 class win as well as the fastest overall time for the day. He was a blur of Yamaha blue as he flew across the WR450F Test for six laps.

Behind Bacon in second once again was Korey McMahon (GASGAS Australia, Motorex). With a total time of 59:42.803, McMahon couldn’t match the speeds of his Yamaha rival but he could comfortably protect his silver from the likes of Tom Buxton (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team).

Buxton took out a consecutive third place finish, thanks to a total time of 1:02:42.044.

2024 AORC Round 10 E1 Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Off Road Racing Team) 58:44.126
2. Korey McMahon (GASGAS Australia, Motorex) 59:42.803
3. Tom Buxton (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team) 1:02:42.044

E2

It was a magical day for Reynders, here in Kingston SE. After a tough start to the weekend yesterday, the Sherco rider managed to jump into first place and claim his first win of the 2024 season! Reynders clocked off Sunday’s racing with a total time of 1:00:21.628.

“Round 10 was brutal,” confirmed Reynders.

“After a tough day yesterday I’m definitely feeling it. 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.”

To say the competition was tight in E2 today, would be an understatement. Seconds separated Will Dennett (Shop Yamaha Off Road Racing Team) from that coveted top step but after six Tests, the Queenslander couldn’t meet the times Reynders put out. Dennett clocked off today with a total time of 1:00:51.469 and second place.

Rounding out the podium today was Beau Ralston. The Kawasaki rider couldn’t quite compete with the likes of Reynders and Dennett, but he comfortably protected that final podium spot from the remaining E2 field.

Currently in the lead for the 2024 E2 Championship title, Daniel Milner (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team) failed to complete Round 10 due to injury.

2024 AORC Round 10 E2 Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Jonte Reynders (Motul Pirelli Sherco) 1:00:21.628
2. Will Dennett (Shop Yamaha Off Road Racing Team) 1:00:51.469
3. Beau Ralston (Kawasaki) 1:02:13.017

E3

Beta’s Dickson leaves South Australia with double the glory, claiming two top step finishes for Rounds 9 & 10. Originally a Motocross speedster, Dickson has well and truly proven his Enduro skill set after handling Kingston’s brutal conditions. Dickson clocked off today with a total time of 1:00:53.050.

Riley McGillivray (KTM Australia, Shepparton Motorcycles) seems to be back to the form we’re all so used to, with a second-place finish here in Kingston. After six Tests across the WR450F track, McGillivray crossed the finish line with a total time of 1:03:08.008.

Last but certainly not least is Billy Hargy in third. A familiar face to the E3 podium, it’s good to see the Husqvarna racer back near the front of the pack! Hargy finished Round 10 with a total time of 1:03:54.497.

2024 AORC Round 10 E3 Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Jye Dickson (Beta Racing Australia) 1:00:53.050
2. Riley McGillivray (KTM Australia, Shepparton Motorcycles) 1:03:08.008
3. Billy Hargy (Husqvarna) 1:03:54.497

EW

It was Groundhog Day in EW, as we witness the same podium after six tough Sprints of the WR450F Test. Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road teammates, McDonald and Jess Gardiner tangoed at the beginning of the day to claim that top step. As the day wore on though, McDonald started creating a sizable lead and crossed the finish line in first. She finished Round 10 with a total time of 1:10:35.071.

Gardiner conceded for another second-place finish here in Kingston, clocking off with a total time of 1:11:08.297.

In third again was Emelie Karlsson. After six Sprints, Karlsson finished Round 10 with a total time of 1:13:12.158.

2024 AORC Round 10 EW Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Danielle McDonald (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 1:10:35.071
2. Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 1:11:08.297
3. Emelie Karlsson 1:13:12.158

EJ

It all came down to the final Tests in EJ, as Yarnold battled it out for gold with Eli Tripcony (Motorex, Husqvarna). After six Sprints though, Yarnold claimed his consecutive class win with a lead of just over 30 seconds. Yarnold’s total time today was 1:04:45.092.

Tripcony conceded for second place once again, clocking off with a total time of 1:05:16.673. The Husqvarna racer couldn’t beat Yarnold but he did manage to absolutely smoke his remaining competition, creating a lead ahead of third place by more than two minutes.

Rounding out the podium for Round 10 was once again, Cody Howell. With a total time of 1:07:34.794, Howell didn’t have the speeds for silver or gold but protected that final podium spot from the remaining EJ field.

2024 AORC Round 10 EJ Top 3 Provisional Results:

1. Jett Yarnold (Yamaha Motor Australia, Yamalube) 1:04:45.092
2. Eli Tripcony (Motorex, Husqvarna) 1:05:16.673
3. Cody Howell 1:07:34.794

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

That’s a wrap here in Kingston SE! For our final two Rounds of the 2024 season, we head north to Nowra, New South Wales from 14-15 September. For more information, visit aorc.org.au.

Words by Caitlin Hynes. Images by Troy Pears.