Glory came thick and fast in Wynyard, Tasmania for the final Round of the 2022 Australian Off-Road Championship.
After another one-day Enduro, Round 12 presented fans with official 2022 AORC E3 Champion, Andy Wilksch, EW Champion, Jess Gardiner, EJ Champion, Riley McGillivray, as well as John Baker and Christopher Thomas as our respective EM and EV Champions.
Yamaha’s Kyron Bacon also clocked in the fastest overall time of the day, adding that cherry on top of a fantastic weekend for the E1 victor.
Over on the WR450F test, the Juniors tackled another day of Sprints which crowned the remaining class victors. This includes J4 Champion, Davey Gear, J3 Champion, Ollie Gear and J2 Champion, Marcus Nowland.
E1
Bacon carried the celebrations into Round 12, setting another exceptional pace to claim the fastest overall time of the day. With a total time of 1:22:41.896, Bacon has won the final Round win for E1 ahead of Korey McMahon. McMahon conceded for second place, after another long day on the bike.
Claiming bronze today was Jeremy Carpentier (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team). It is a welcome return to the podium for the Yamaha racer, after injury troubles earlier in the year.
For the 2022 AORC E1 Championship podium, McMahon has won second ahead of Blake Hollis in third.
E2
The party keeps on going at the Yamaha truck, as Josh Green claims the final E2 Round win here in Wynyard. With a total time of 1:26:47.664, Green only just held Beta’s Fraser Higlett at bay from the top spot on the box.
Higlett seemed right at home on Tasmanian soil today, remaining unflinching as he screamed across the challenging terrain to clock in a total time of 1:28:09.147. Wesley Keeley earnt himself bronze for E2, closing out Round 12 with a total time of 1:36:19.815.
For the 2022 AORC E2 Championship podium, Travis Silk has claimed the third and final spot behind Green and Higlett.
E3
Well, we all waited with bated breath today to see who would come out on top for Round 12 and earn themselves the 2022 AORC E3 Championship title. After a hard-fought race, Jonte Reynders took home a consecutive class win but it couldn’t beat Andy Wilksch’s points in the overall Championship.
After 10 tests, Reynders finished with a total time of 1:25:35.151, demonstrating just how fast and impressive the Sherco rider really is. Wilksch finished today with a total time of 1:28:14.204, taking home a well deserved 2022 AORC E3 Championship title!
Rounding out the E3 podium today was KTM’s Jye Dickson, with a total time of 1:32:27.007. For the 2022 AORC E3 Championship podium, Reynders has earnt himself second place ahead of Luke Bunnik in third.
“It’s pretty surreal feeling that’s for sure,” confirmed Wilksch.
“Nervous year really – As soon as you get into the lead of a Championship you’ve got to try and put the success to the back of the mind, so it doesn’t weigh heavily on you.
“Overall, I’m really, really happy with how the year went. After a lot of challenging years and a lot of injuries, you do question your place here but times like this make it definitely worthwhile.”
EW
Wynyard is officially home to Gardiner’s seventh EW Championship title! After a slog of a day tackling another Enduro format, Gardiner pushed ahead of Emelie Karlsson to claim first place for Round 12 as well as securing her Championship title.
Karlsson settled for second place today, as well as in the overall Championship. Karlsson crossed the finish line with a total time of 1:51:25.360.
For the 2022 AORC EW Championship podium, Taylor Thompson rounds out the positions with third place.
As Gardiner confirmed, “It’s been a long few years! It’s definitely been a tough weekend, I made it hard for myself yesterday but I think I proved a point today.
“I’m really happy to have gone back out there, had a bit of fun and come away with the win!”
EJ
It was a fierce fight right up to the last test of the day! Claiming a hard fought Round 12 EJ win was Yamaha’s Will Dennett with a total time of 1:29:20.092. After his massive success this weekend in Wynyard, Dennett has just missed the top spot for the Championship, which has been awarded to KTM’s Riley McGillivray!
With a total time of 1:31:22.448, McGillivray’s steady and consistent presence on the track has secured him a second place for Round 12, as well as the 2022 AORC EJ Championship title!
Claiming the final podium spot both for Round 12 and the Championship was Billy Hargy. Hargy has fought tooth and nail all season long, tackling injury after injury, making his overall success in this class that bit sweeter.
“Today was better than yesterday with conditions, so it just got better and better,” exclaimed McGillivray.
“This year has been unreal. The EJ class is definitely coming up through the ranks. Our times are putting the heat on the big guys, so it’s pretty exciting to see.
“EJ has some stars, so it’s a class everyone should keep an eye on.”
EM (Masters)
It’s a great weekend for Baker! Crossing the finish line with a total time of 2:05:51.981, Baker has returned to the top spot for Round 12 as well as securing enough points to claim the 2022 AORC EM Championship.
Andrew Moncrieff pushed onward and upward throughout today’s tough racing, finishing ten tests with a total time of 2:15:42.160.
For the 2022 AORC EM Championship podium, Peter Rudd has won second place and Ian Jenner has won third.
EV (Veterans)
Thomas carried his Round 11 success into today, to take home another first place finish in EV. With a total time of 1:51:03.763, Thomas has also earnt himself the title of 2022 AORC EV Champion, as he jumps ahead of former leader board holder, Lee Stephens.
Behind Thomas in second place today was Evan Streets, with a total time of 2:05:57.684.
For the 2022 AORC EV Championship podium, Stephens has earnt himself second ahead of Jason Dwyer in third.
J4
Jett Yarnold just couldn’t be beat all day in J4, setting a cracking pace right from test one. The Yamaha-boarded racer kept well ahead of the pack, crossing the finish line with a total time of 53:41.712. Behind Yarnold in second was Angus Pearce, jumping up in the ranks after Round 11 and earning silver thanks to a total time of 58:44.312.
Rounding out the J4 Round 12 podium was the Eli Tripcony, claiming third with a total time of 58:54.770.
For the 2022 AORC J4 Championship podium, Davey Gear’s consistency all weekend has secured him the Championship title, while Yarnold and Tripcony earnt second and third, respectively.
JG
After Danielle McDonald’s success yesterday, you’d think she’d take it easy today. Not the case. McDonald set a red hot speed in JG for the final Round, finishing eight tests with a total time of 1:08:52.312.
Madi Simpson earnt herself a consecutive second place spot this weekend, which has also earnt her second in the overall 2022 JG Championship. Behind Simpson in third was Audrey Moller, with a total time of 1:23:45.503.
For the 2022 AORC J4 Championship podium, Jade Chellas has won third place behind McDonald and Simpson.
J3
The podium from Round 11 carried the party on into Round 12, with Ryan Jordan, Ollie Gear and Levi Stephens claiming gold, silver and bronze, respectively.
With a total time of 1:00:09.521, Jordan kept Gear at bay but only just, with less than 30 seconds separating the two after eight tests. Stephens took home third place, with a total time of 1:00:52.275.
Gear’s consistency on the podium this weekend also sees him claim an undisputed 2022 AORC J3 Championship title! Stephens also secured second place in the overall Championship.
Special mention goes to Lachlan Metcalf, who has earnt themselves third place overall in the Championship, behind Gear and Stephens.
J2
Mason Phillips knocked Marcus Nowland off first place today in J2, clocking in a fantastic time of 1:03:13.089. Jesse Ryan sneaked ahead of Nowland as well, stealing second place with a total time of 1:06:11.429.
Nowland conceded for third place after eight Sprint tests, clocking in a total time of 1:06:23.696.
For the 2022 AORC J2 Championship podium, Nowland has capped off the weekend with the official J2 Championship title, leaving Phillips in second and Ryan in third.
J1
J1’s Harley Hutton started off today’s racing in fantastic form! After eight laps across the WR450F test, the pocket rocket earnt himself the cherry on top of his Championship title, a Round 12 win.
Behind Hutton and filling out the remaining podium positions was Phoenix O’Brien and Chase Weston, with respective total times of 26:18.746 and 32:19.394.
For the 2022 AORC J1 Championship podium, Weston came second and O’Brien in third.
JJ
Needless to say, it was a tough day on the bike as Wynyard presented a tricky track to navigate. After eight laps, Braith Lunn won themselves first place in JJ, with a total time of 1:39:07.786.
Behind Lunn in second today was Angus Summers, clocking in a total time of 1:42:12.126.
For the 2022 AORC J1 overall podium, we congratulate Cooper Clarke for coming in first place, ahead of Alex Burow and Leo Tripcony.
2022 AORC Round 12 E1 Top 5 Provisional Results:
1 Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 1:22:41.896
2 Korey McMahon (GasGas Australia, Suttos Powersports) 1:27:28.606
3 Jeremy Carpentier (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 1:29:34.412
4 Blake Hollis (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 1:29:38.311
5 Will Price (Empire Kawasaki Off Road Team) 1:34:15.169
2022 AORC Round 12 E2 Top 5 Provisional Results:
1 Joshua Green (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 1:26:47.664
2 Fraser Higlett (Beta) 1:28:09.147
3 Wesley Keeley (KTM) 1:36:19.815
4 Travis Silk (KTM) 1:47:18.853
5 Lachlan Muir (Husqvarna) 1:48:00.360
2022 AORC Round 12 E3 Top 5 Provisional Results:
1 Jonte Reynders (Motul Pirelli Sherco Team) 1:25:35.151
2 Andrew Wilksch (Simford Racing, Husqvarna) 1:28:14.204
3 Jye Dickson (KTM Offroad Racing Team) 1:32:27.007
4 Baylee Davies (Buildrite) 1:33:23.209
5 Tom Woodhouse (Sherco) 1:35:36.570
2022 AORC Round 12 EW Top 2 Provisional Results:
1 Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 1:46:08.755
2 Emelie Karlsson (KTM Offroad Racing Team) 1:51:25.360
2022 AORC Round 12 EJ Top 5 Provisional Results:
1 William Dennett (Yamaha Australia) 1:29:20.092
2 Riley McGillivray (Shepparton Motorcycles, KTM) 1:31:22.448
3 Billy Hargy (Husqvarna Offroad Racing Team) 1:35:18.738
4 Kobi Wolff (WESTLINK Petroleum) 1:39:34.856
5 Luke Chellas (Northbound Driver Training) 1:40:14.036
2022 AORC Round 12 EM Top 2 Provisional Results:
1 John Baker (KTM Ballina Motorcycles) 2:05:51.981
2 Andrew Moncrieff (Honda) 2:15:42.160
2022 AORC Round 12 EV Top 2 Provisional Result:
1 Christopher Thomas (Thomas Lee KTM) 1:51:03.763
2 Evan Streets (Yamaha) 2:05:57.684
2022 AORC Round 12 J4 Top 5 Provisional Results:
1 Jett Yarnold (Supermoto New England, Yamaha Australia) 53:41.712
2 Angus Pearce (Yamaha Junior Development Team) 58:44.312
3 Eli Tripcony (GASGAS) 58:54.770
4 Davey Gear (Limestone Coast Motorcycles, Snip Clip & Chip Tree Services) 59:14.257
5 Tate Young (Vie Financial, Unit) 1:00:27.592
2022 AORC Round 12 JG Top 5 Provisional Results:
1 Danielle McDonald (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 1:08:52.312
2 Madi Simpson (Toowoomba MPE) 1:18:40.395
3 Audrey Moller (Alltac Marriotts) 1:23:45.503
4 Fynleh Duncombe (Cassons Australia Motorcycling, Leatt) 1:30:15.172
5 Jade Chellas (Northbound Driver Training) 1:45:19.605
2022 AORC Round 12 J2 Top 5 Provisional Results:
1 Mason Phillips (Trademark Signs, Kilkivan Hotel) 1:03:13.089
2 Jesse Ryan (Guts Racing Aus, Tunetech Suspension) 1:06:11.429
3 Marcus Nowland (McDonalds Racing) 1:06:23.696
4 Oscar Harris (Simford Motorsport) 1:06:43.818
5 Rylan Eustace (Buildrite) 1:10:40.223
2022 AORC Round 12 J3 Top 5 Provisional Results:
1 Ryan Jordan (KTM) 1:00:09.521
2 Ollie Gear (Sinclair Electrical Naracoorte, Limestone Coast Newcastle) 1:00:37.414
3 Levi Stephens 1:00:52.275
4 Beau Tripcony (GASGAS) 1:03:13.987
5 Chad Williams (Finance My Bike, Vince Strang Motorcycles) 1:03:24.171
2022 AORC Round 12 J1 Top 3 Provisional Results:
1 Harley Hutton (Yamaha Motor Australia) 1:13:18.881
2 Phoenix O’Brien (INIX Group, Montdami) 1:20:00.458
3 Chase Weston (Tdub, ProCoat Aus) 1:26:01.106
2022 AORC Round 12 JJ Top 2 Provisional Results:
1 Braith Lunn (Yamaha) 1:39:07.786
2 Angus Summers 1:42:12.126
