Queensland Moto Park (QMP) once again set the stage for Round 8 of the 2024 Australian Off-Road Championship with clear blue skies, hot sun, and dry, dusty, challenging tracks.
Daniel Milner (E2), Jett Yarnold (EJ), and Danielle McDonald (EW) closed the weekend with consecutive class wins, while Kyron Bacon (E1) and Billy Hargy (E3) climbed the ranks to secure their first wins of the weekend. Milner also recorded the fastest overall time for the second round in a row, finishing with a total time of 42:34.511.
E1
It was a hard fought E1 class win for Kyron Bacon. Round 8 was a battle that saw mere seconds separating Bacon and Korey McMahon in their quest for glory. Bacon though, managed to build up those valuable seconds, to ensure his return to the top step.
“Round 8 was quite difficult,” Bacon confessed. “The tracks were gnarly, especially after yesterday it was pretty much one rut and plenty of bulldust.
“It’s been a close battle between me and Korey this weekend. It all came down to the final test which was awesome. It’s good to see us battling it out, especially as we’ve grown up together through the Junior ranks.”
McMahon finished behind Bacon by around 26 seconds, with a total time of 44:13.554. With test times that came within 2-3 seconds of his Yamaha rival, McMahon’s efforts today were nothing short of spectacular!
Rounding out the podium once again was Tom Buxton. Though not quite meeting the speeds of Bacon and McMahon, Buxton comfortably protected his bronze spot all day. Buxton clocked off Round 8 with a total time of 45:37.376.
E2
There was a moment earlier today where Daniel Milner looked like he was going to be knocked off his perch by Jonte Reynders. The test times clocked right from the word go, produced time differences that left everyone questioning who would win Round 8. As the day wore on though, QMP’s tough tracks seemed to suit Milner better, earning him another top step finish.
Reynders had to concede once again for second, with a total time of 42:40.370. All eyes will be on E2 as the championship moves into Rounds 9 & 10, to see how hard Reynders can push for that gold.
Last but not least was Andy Wilksch in third. Wilksch had his work cut out for him after a day long battler with Will Dennett for the final podium spot. It all came down to the final tests to decide who would clinch the spot. Wilksch finished Round 8 with a total time of 43:51.489.
E3
The game was set in E3 as Jye Dickson set his sights on consecutive class wins but right behind him, was Hargy, Riley McGillivray and Fraser Higlett. After nine tests during the timecard Enduro, Hargy rode right past Dickson to claim the win, with a total time of 45:11.124.
Reflecting on his weekend, Hargy confirmed that “Round 8 was definitely one of the toughest days I’ve done on a motorbike in a long time, especially after doing six hours on the bike yesterday.
“I’m pumped to come away with the win today, after coming just four seconds behind for Round 7. It feels good to be back on the top step,” he said.
Dickson clocked off with a total time of 45:25.723, nearly 15-seconds behind Hargy. Hot on Dickson’s heels but conceding for third place was McGillivray. Evidently, the KTM rider had a better day than yesterday but still couldn’t quite crack the top two. McGillivray finished with a total time of 45:29.585.
EW
It all came down to one of the final tests in EW, to decide whether Danielle McDonald or Jess Gardiner would claim the gold. With nearly 30 seconds separating first and second, it was one mammoth day of racing, clinched by McDonald! The teenager claiming her second consecutive class win, the Yamaha racer continues to grow from strength to strength, as the season ticks on.
The reigning EW Champion unfortunately couldn’t make up the time difference before clocking off, resulting in a second-place finish. Round 8 marks Gardiner’s 120th podium finish and while the silver may not be the result she had worked for, the fight for glory makes up for it. Gardiner clocked off today with a total time of 52:08.138.
Ebony Nielsen had a better day compared to yesterday, as she pushed past Emelie Karlsson to claim the bronze! Nielsen finished Round 8 with a total time of 53:08.780.
EJ
Jett Yarnold comfortably led the charge in EJ and claimed a consecutive class win, thanks to a total time of 45:50.158. A New South Wales local seemed very comfortable on the tricky QMP tracks. Filling out the remaining podium positions for Round 8, was a mirrored reflection of Round 7. Eli Tripcony claimed second, followed by Jackson Versteegen, with respective total times of 46:38.705 and 49:03.267.
The championship continues on August 24th and 25th at Kingston SE in South Australia.
2024 AORC Round 8 E1 Top 3 Provisional Results:
1 Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Off Road Racing Team) 43:47.196
2 Korey McMahon (GASGAS Australia, Motorex) 44:13.554
3 Tom Buxton (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team) 45:37.376
2024 AORC Round 8 E2 Top 3 Provisional Results:
1 Daniel Milner (KTM Australia, DM31 Racing Team) 42:34.511
2 Jonte Reynders (Motul Pirelli Sherco) 42:40.370
3 Andrew Wilksch (Beta Offroad Team) 43:51.489
2024 AORC Round 8 E3 Top 3 Provisional Results:
1 Billy Hargy (Simford Group Motorsport) 45:11.124
2 Jye Dickson (Beta Racing Australia) 45:25.723
3 Riley McGillivray (KTM Australia, Shepparton Motorcycles) 45:29.585
2024 AORC Round 8 EW Top 3 Provisional Results:
1 Danielle McDonald (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 51:38.458
2 Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 52:08.138
3 Ebony Nielsen (Beta Off-Road Team) 53:08.780
2024 AORC Round 8 EJ Top 3 Provisional Results:
1 Jett Yarnold (Yamaha Motor Australia, Yamalube) 45:50.158
2 Eli Tripcony (Motorex, Husqvarna) 46:38.705
3 Jackson Versteegen (Peter Stevens, Fox) 49:03.267
To access provisional results for all remaining classes, please click here.
