Victorian Daniel Milner had a prolific year in 2011.
After a slow start due to injury, Milner's season went from strength to strength and culminated when he won the Pro-Expert class in the Yamaha Victorian Off-Road Championships at Erica in September.
Milner represented Victoria in the Australian Four Day Enduro in Queensland in July and also represented Australia at the 2012 International Six Day Enduro in Finland in August. He also took part in Motorcycling Victoria's Elite Rider Training Program in November.
In 2012, the 20-year-old from Yannathan has set his sights even higher.
Milner joined Yamaha's Ballard's Off-Road team late last year which includes the likes of former-world champion Steffan Merriman and Australian Enduro champion Matthew Phillips.
"It wasn't a bad year," Milner reflected.
"It started off pretty rough with the Australian Off-Road Championships where I had a bit of a crash in the first round. I ended up getting seventh in the AORC (E2 class). I went overseas and did the ISDE where I had a bit of bad luck where the bike stopped, other than that it was good fun," Milner added.
On his chances this year to go even further, Daniel replied: "This year I'm with Yamaha's Ballard's Off-Road team. I'm hoping to finish in at least in the top 5 at the AORC ‰ÛÒ that's the plan. Hopefully, I don't miss any rounds and remain injury-free. I also wouldn't mind going over to Germany for the ISDE again."
The 2012 Yamaha Victorian Off-Road Championships looks set to be bigger and better than ever with over 150 entries already confirmed for the opening rounds at Noojee on March 3-4. Entries for the opening rounds of the VORC close at midnight on Wednesday, February 29.
The course, on Christensen's Motorcycles Steve Cooper's private property, has been immaculately prepared for the opening rounds of the state's premier enduro competition. "It's a fun course to ride," Milner added.
"I have won the Number One plate for the last three years. I've been stoked with that and would like to keep winning the Number One plate. I would also like to focus on the AORC and make a name for myself there," Milner remarked.
Chris Gray, Motorcycling Victoria's Enduro Committee chairman, is extremely excited about the year ahead. "With fourteen rounds of the VORC, four rounds of the AORC and the Australian Four-Day Enduro in Gippsland in October, Victoria really is going to be the place to be for Enduro in 2012," Mr Gray added.
"We really hope that our fantastic volunteers pull together to make the A4DE the best one yet," Chris added.
The Australian Four-Day Enduro will take place at Warragul, only half an hour away from Noojee. "I've been doing a bit of training out there so I'm really looking forward to that," Milner remarked.
"Victoria's got the home-ground advantage."
Main Photo: Daniel Milner on his new Yamaha YZ250F
Credit: Ballard's Off-Road www.ballards.cc
