Off Road

Lachlan Stanford stakes claim for AORC title

Posted:

Friday, April 21st, 2017

12:08 AM

The new lead rider on the Husqvarna Australia off-road squad, Lachlan Stanford, has made no bones about his intentions coming into this weekend‰Ûªs Australian Off Road Championship opener at Rawson, in south-eastern Victoria ‰ÛÒ he‰Ûªs there to win it.

After a long and productive off-season spent getting stronger and sharper, the 25-year-old is in the best shape of his career, and ready to convert his recent upward career trajectory into a season-long fight for the crown.

Adding weight to his challenge will be a Husqvarna FE501, a machine perfectly suited to Stanford‰Ûªs silky smooth style.

‰ÛÏI‰Ûªm excited. I truly am, my Husqvarna FE 501 is exceptional, so having that under me is a huge confidence boost," Stanford said. "As for the AORC, I feel like I‰Ûªm fit and ready after the long off-season. I‰Ûªve done a lot more in the gym and my strength makes me feel better on the bike, and I‰Ûªve ridden with Dean Ferris and Kirk Gibbs whenever I can to build speed and practise at a motocross intensity. I‰Ûªm pretty determined this year, Husqvarna have put a lot of time and money into me and I really want to reward them with results. Personally too, I‰Ûªm 100% committed to winning the AORC. Nothing less.‰Û

Lachlan Stanford stakes claim for AORC title

Lachlan Stanford. Credit: Jeff Crow

This year he‰Ûªll be joined under the Husqvarna team tent by 23-year-old Bathurst star Broc Grabham, promoted from Husqvarna‰Ûªs support ranks to a factory ride on the back of numerous barn-storming results in the second half of last year‰Ûªs AORC season.

‰ÛÏI‰Ûªve had a few little dramas injury-wise - tore my AC joint in my right shoulder a few weeks back - but everything‰Ûªs healed up 110% and I‰Ûªm feeling fitter and stronger on the bike than I was before," Grabham shared.

"I‰Ûªm really looking forward to this; there are new guys and new bikes and teams, but I‰Ûªm feeling fairly confident that I can run top-three all year. The off season has gone great and the bike feels good, and the new team with Christian and Lewie as mechanic has been going really good. I‰Ûªm excited to get it underway.

"The bike is a bit different to what I had last year in regard to the parts I have access to, and Danny Apro is able to get the suspension even better than before. It‰Ûªs taken me a bit to get used to letting other people work on my bike, I can imagine I‰Ûªll be trying to fight Lewie to work on my bike or something this weekend! It‰Ûªs going to be awesome to put a bit more time into the training this year rather than have to worry about getting my stuff ready.‰Û

Ben Grabham. Credit: Jeff Crow

Grabham will ride a Husqvarna FE450 in the E2 category of the AORC, in a team under new management, with former motocross pro Christian Horwood having stepped up from the Head Technician role he‰Ûªs held for the last three years, into the Team Management role left vacant by long time Husky stalwart Glenn Kearney, who stepped across to the KTM awning.

‰ÛÏThe whole team‰Ûªs very excited to start the season," Horwood said. "The new venue is a little unknown to us, but it sounds like it‰Ûªs going to suit both our riders and we‰Ûªre excited to start the first day of racing with a cross-country format.

"Our goals this year are class and championship wins and after the few small hit-outs that we‰Ûªve had, it‰Ûªs clear both riders have put in a lot of work on and off the bike and stepped it up speed-wise. There‰Ûªs definitely going to be a new champion at the end of this year, so it‰Ûªs all up for grabs. Lachy‰Ûªs been working hard, riding with fast guys and just working on the little things, so I‰Ûªm looking forward to seeing what he can do.‰Û