Champion Stroud off-road rider Josh Green makes his return to racing in the opening rounds of the Australian Off Road Championships at Dungog in April.
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Green, who was part of the Australian Enduro Bike Team, which won the International Six Days Enduro in 2015, had his season cut short last year by a knee injury.
The former 250cc AORC champion heads a strong local contingent across the categories and will be joined in the pro ranks by Dungog’s Brad Redman who is making his senior debut this year.
The fields have yet to be finalised but are also likely to include Hunter motocross legend Beetle Bailey, who took part in last year’s series.
Dungog Motorcycle Club was voted host club of the year in 2016 and has been awarded rounds one and two of the AORC to be held on April 8-9.
Club member Gary Orchard said the event will attract the cream of Australia’s off-road motorcycling talent and Green and Redman will be both keen to make an early mark.
“Josh is back after injuring his knee and as a former champion will be among the favourites. It’s an exciting time for Brad as he moves up into the senior pro ranks,” he said.
“It may be a learning year for Brad, but he has enormous talent and has a big future in the sport.”
Orchard will be racing in the over-35 ranks and said he expected at least 180 entrants in both the senior and junior ranks.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if there are a lot more, given that it is the opening rounds,” he said.
“There have also been some great initiatives this year with a licence available to race at single meetings which opens the sport to a lot of people who want to give it a try without committing to a full season.”
The championship rounds will be held at Bandon Grove, Dungog, instead of last year’s course at Monkerai.
Orchard said the change in venue enabled all junior events to be held on private land and avoided any problems with junior riders racing on public roads in national parks.
Senior time trials and junior racing will be held at Bandon Grove and there will be great vantage points for fans. Entry for fans is free.
Orchard said it would mean there will be heaps for action for spectators from great vantage points.
Perfect conditions greeted motorcycle enthusiasts at Monkerai on the weekend when the Dungog Motorcycle Club hosted rounds nine and 10 of the .
The Yamaha AORC rounds 1 and 2 on 8-9th April, will be held in Bandon Grove, Dungog, and hosted by the Dungog Motorcycle Club instead of Monkerai as previously stated.
MA would also like to advise that the AORC rounds are card carrying Enduro events, and part of the Senior course runs through public roads and state forests. This means all Senior riders must have registered motorcycles and carry a road licence as well as their MA licence.
Alongside Motorcycling Australia (MA), Dungog Motorcycle Club will now host rounds 1 and 2 of the AORC as well as rounds 1 and 2 of the NSW Enduro series. Dungog Motorcycle Club was voted the Host Club of the Year in 2016 which leaves no doubt that these events will run smoothly.
Club President and AORC Course Assessor, Trent Lean, has been working hard behind the scenes with the club members to acquire Council approval for the Saturday and Sunday Enduro format with success!
“We are very excited to host the first rounds of the year here in Dungog, and thought we would kick it off bigger and better, and get back to an Enduro format as riders have been calling for this” says Lean.
One of the benefits of the change of venue is the larger variety of accommodation in the Dungog area, which we have listed a few options below for your convenience. There will also be on-site camping available from Thursday 6th April – Monday 10th April.
Tall Timbers Motel (Event sponsor and owner of race venue)
167 Dowling St, Dungog NSW 2420
02) 4992 1574 - Anne Barnes