BoltonsKTM/DirtWise/Fox racer Daniel Sanders is taking the positives away from a up and down day at the opening round of the 2014 KTM Australia Enduro-X Championship held in Brisbane on the weekend.
The rider who hails from Victoria headed into the event held at the Archerfield Speedway looking to see where he stood against Australia's best riders after a strong pre season of Enduro-X training aboard his KTM 300 XC.
The 19 year old got the day off to a positive start in his opening heat, making a pass on eventual round one winner Chris Hollis to finish in second place behind Daniel Milner.
"It was a great weight of the shoulders for myself. I've been waiting all summer for this first round of Enduro X, so to pass Hollis and to stick with Milner in the heat really gave me confidence in making me feel like I should be up there and battling for the steps on the podium in the main events to come later." Sanders commented.
Things then made a turn for the worse in Sanders second heat. After an average jump off the gate he made a charge through the pack on the first lap going for a pass on one of the speedway corners but was pushed out wide by a another rider which gave no choice but to slam into the the concrete wall at high speed, crushing his right leg and hip between his bike and wall.
"At first I thought I shattered my leg!," Sanders explained regarding his first thoughts after making contact with the wall. "I could not feel it for a good 20 seconds I just wanted to be able to walk and jump back on the bike and finish the race."
Sanders stumbled up to the line for the short two lap Last Chance Qualifier feeling determined for the win and last transfer spot. After a mid pack start Sanders was involved in a crash in the Fox rock section putting him back to nearly dead last.
After remounting Sanders pushed through the field up to 3rd place in one lap but the 19 year old fell short by half a bike length to make it to the main.
Sanders was later approached by Dave and Colin Robbins offering him and other young Expert Victorian rider Tom Mason a wild card into the main event, but unfortunately for the two up and coming riders a protest before the race started resulted in the pair not being able to start.
"I took the weekend on the chin, yes I was extremely disappointed and it was shear bad luck, I just have to take the positives out of it and move onto the next round." Sanders stated at the end of the day.
"We all learn, sometimes it's just the harder way though!" Sanders concluded
Top Image: Daniel Sander in action at the opening round of the 2014 KTM Australia Enduro-X Championship
Credit: fourohfour shots
