World Class Stage Set for Australian Off Road Championship

The Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) is thrilled to announce that of the 250 riders heading North for Rounds 1 & 2 in Toowoomba, Queensland, the line-up will feature one of the largest collections of world class Australian Enduro talent.

The opening rounds of the 2019 AORC season will feature the 2019 Queensland Enduro State Championship and will be promoted by host Toowoomba Motorcycle Club.

Featuring this weekend includes four-time Enduro GP Champion, Matthew Phillips (MX Store, KTM), who will compete in E1 alongside his teammate Kyron Bacon (MX Store, KTM) in EJ. A Tasmanian local, Phillips has rekindled his love for the Enduro discipline after a serious injury in 2018 thanks to his mentee, Bacon. With international renown and indisputable success to boot, it is an honour and a pleasure to welcome Phillips back into the AORC fold.

Returning ‘down under’ with a sixth consecutive FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) Women’s World Trophy victory is Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha MX Store Ballards Off-Road Team). 2019 also marks Gardiner’s new campaign to knock the current AORC Women’s title record out of the park and finish the season with five Championship titles! One of the few other competitors that has come close to taking the record out from under Gardiner is her former ISDE teammate, Jemma Wilson!

2018 ISDE Outright Champion and one of the four members of Australia’s victorious World Trophy Team, Daniel Milner (KTM Enduro Racing Team) returns to the AORC pits for 2019. After an extremely successful 2018 AORC season, Milner has moved to a smaller bike, changing classes from E3 to E2. Confident in his agility and drive, Milner will contend for fastest overall test time and one of 10 coveted AORC 2019 titles alongside teammate, Lyndon Snodgrass.

A member of the immortal 2018 Australian ISDE World Trophy Team, Snodgrass has proven time and time again that his competitive drive is a force to be reckoned with. A major contender on home soil and internationally, Snodgrass returns to the 2019 AORC pits in the E1 class, going up against Phillips and 2018 Australian ISDE Junior World Trophy member, Fraser Higlett (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team).

A larrikin both on and off the bike, Higlett has shown his rivals on Australian and international soil that behind his smile is a demon that pushes the metal for all it’s worth. With a 2018 mullet that near preceded him in reputation, Higlett has his work cut out for him this season as he goes head to head with Snodgrass and Phillips.

Higlett’s Husqvarna Enduro Racing Teammate, Daniel Sanders, who rode alongside Milner and Snodgrass in Australia’s triumphant ISDE World Trophy Team last year, comes into this weekend’s opening rounds as a fan favourite for his new E3 class. With his trademark sunny disposition, Sanders is one to keep your eye on as he pushes a campaign to take out another AORC title.

Last but certainly not least is Andy Wilksch (Motul Pirelli Sherco Team), who returns to the AORC pits this weekend in the E3 class against Sanders. A member of Australia’s dynamic ISDE Junior World Trophy Team alongside Higlett, Wilksch delivers a pedigree of skill, agility and drive which will assist in guaranteeing podium real estate.

To view the full 2019 AORC Rounds 1 & 2 Entry List, please click here.

Stay tuned tomorrow for everything you need to know as we dive into the first rounds of the 2019 season, including live timing apps, social media and the local Toowoomba Region!

Stay up to date with all the happenings of the 2019 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship by visiting the AORC Website at aorc.org.au, or by following the Yamaha AORC on Twitter and Facebook as well as @aorc on Instagram.