Excavator operator and Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team rider Lachlan Stanford moves earth for a living, and his expertise on the subject was entirely apparent as he came from behind to win the weekend's first round of the Husqvarna Queensland Sprint series at Kilkivan, near Gympie.
Stanford trailed arch-rival
Tom McCormack over the first three of six sprint races but found another gear as the day went on to win the final three outings, taking the early lead in the series from McCormack (Yamaha), and
Kirk Hutton (Yamaha).
The four-round Husqvarna Queensland Sprint series is a popular component of off-road racing in the Sunshine State, with a format that sees competitors battle the stopwatch and each other over six, short sprint races to establish an overall winner.
Wearing the number one plate as the reining Queensland Enduro Champion, Stanford was thrilled to give the brand-new Husqvarna team its first cross-country win as he and his Husqvarna FE450 revelled in the high-speed conditions.
"The committee really put on a good event, with three tracks so the day flowed well." Stanford commented. "The senior track was real fast, scary in places, I think my speedo said 120kph but I'm not sure, I tried to sneak a look but I couldn‰Ûªt commit!
"I started off slowly and couldn't find my rhythm, but then we changed a couple of suspension settings and I got a bit more used to the track and the feeling came back. Me and Tom were always there battling which is great - it keeps it really competitive for both of us. We‰Ûªre good friends and ride together a fair bit, but of course it's fully competitive on race day!
"I can still go a tiny bit faster yet and that will come the more I race the bike but my bike fitness is better than it‰Ûªs ever been.
"The power of my FE450 is just so usable it's crazy; it‰Ûªs the best thing I've ever ridden at getting the power to the ground out of corners and getting to the next one as quick as possible. As a stock engine I'm super happy with it.
"I finished second in the series last year and I really want to change that. Basically it‰Ûªs the only series I didn't win last year, so it's pretty cool to win the first round for Husqvarna and represent the new colours." Stanford concluded.
Husqvarna Queensland Sprint series Round 1 overall results:
1. Lachlan Stanford - 29:47.115
2. Thomas McCormack - 30:08.171
3. Kirk Hutton - 30:37.437
4. Adam Giles - 30:56.513
5. Kasey Winston - 31:11.834
6. Peter-Daniel Allan - 31:14.221
7. John Day - 31:29.279
8. Brodie Waugh - 31:29.740
9. Duncan Hutton - 31:40.308
10. Kaleb Treasure - 31:43.348
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Top Image: Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team racer Lachy Stanford scored a first up win as the Husqvarna Sprint Series kicked off at Kilkivan at the weekend.
Credit: iKapture (Greg Smith)
