Off Road

The DIRTY WEEKEND AHEAD: 19th and 20th of March 2016 – AORC Season Opener Special

Author: Aaryn Minerds

Posted:

Friday, March 18th, 2016

3:10 PM

Fullnoise.com.au's Look At The Major Australian, International and Local State Races and Events Being Held This Weekend

2016 AUSTRALIAN OFF-ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP (AORC) ROUNDs 1/2: Kilkivan, QLD

<b>The DIRTY WEEKEND AHEAD:</b> 19th and 20th of March 2016 – AORC Season Opener Special

Josh Green will be aiming for outright glory in 2016 - Credit: Aaryn Minerds

The opening round of the 2016 Australian Off-Road Championship will head to Kilkivan, just outside of Gypie this Saturday and Sunday the 19th and 20th of March.

Riders will face two days of sprint format racing, with riders tackling a 7.5km loop between 6-10 times each each day with results for round based off each riders cumulative total sprint time over the course of each day.

In 2015 It was KTM Australia's Toby Price who dominated the outright championship winning 9 of the 12 rounds. Price will not contest the 2016 season due to his Rally racing commitments with the Red Bull KTM Factory rally team, leaving this years championship wide open.

The only other two riders to pick up outright round wins last season were young gun Daniel Sanders, who powered his KTM 300 EXC to two round wins, while Active8 Yamaha's Josh Green showed that Yamaha's then all new WR250F had the power to keep up with the bigger bikes, scoring one outright win on his way to finishing second outright for the year and leading home the E1 class.

While Sanders will stay on the same machine he racing in 2015 in the E3 class where he finished second in class behind Price, Green will make the switch to the highly competitive E2 class as he jumps on Yamaha's all new WR450F.

The duo will head into the season as two of the favourites, but with plenty of competition things will not be easy.

CDR Yamaha's Chris Hollis missed two rounds of racing in 2015 and was still able to finish equal third outright for the year and second in the E2 class to Active8 Yamaha‰Ûªs Beau Ralston and like Ralston will be taking aim at this years national title win.

Beau Ralston showed he can run up the front in the AORC in 2015 and will target the E3 class in his second full year of enduro racing - Credit: Aaryn Minerds

Ralston himself has been a revelation in the Off-Road ranks. Coming into his first full year of competition somewhat overshadowed by another former Motocross star in Tye Simmonds, Ralston showed he has what it takes to be national champion in the Bush and will for 2016 step into the E3 class aboard a YZ480F!

Simmonds finished just off the podium in the E2 class last year, just one point behind Husqvarna Australia's Lachlan Stanford with the top four riders in class only separated by 13 points after 12 rounds of competition.

While Simmonds returns to the E2 class, Stanford will move to the E3 class aboard Husqvarna's all powerful 501 FC.

While the 2016 Outright champion is likely to come from the riders listed above, there are certainly of riders capable of turning heads and sneaking through for outright wins this season.

CDR Yamaha's Tom McCormack had a horror run with injuries in 2015, including a big off during the Enduro-X championship early in the year and followed up with a even bigger crash and back injuries after a big get off at the South Australian round of the AORC. Fully fit and ready to fire, McCormack will be one rider to watch for heading into his home state race this weekend.

Tom Kite finished second in the E1 class in 2015 and will be a favorite to win the title in 2016 - Credit: Aaryn Minerds

The E1 class will be a tight fight in 2016, with the like of Glenn Kearney, Riley Graham, Tom Kite, Stefan Granquist, Jack Simpson and Scott Keegan all listed to contest the small bore class.

At this point in time Husqvarna team leader Glenn Kearney is in doubt to ride this weekend after injuring his shoulder at the Clipsal500 Enduro-X two weeks ago, though is hopeful of lining up.

Riley Graham turned a lot of heads last year has he consistently ran inside the top ten outright and top three in E1 aboard his KTM 150 two stroke and will be a rider to watch after signing a deal to race the same class aboard Yamaha's YZ250FX.

Tom Kite edged out Graham by four points for second position in the E1 class last year and with the young rider gaining another year of experience of racing in the AORC, will head into this season as a strong E1 title favourite.

Stefan Granquist and made the big jump down from a YZ480F last year to jump aboard a Yamaha 250F and will be a strong title contender along with the Scott Keegan who rounds out a large line up of 250 four stroke powered Yamaha's in the class.

Jack Simpson is the latest motocross racer to make the switch from the track to the trees and will continue his association with KTM in the Off-Road world as he tackles his first full year in the AORC.

Tayla Jones will fly the flag for the Active8 Yamaha team in the E1 class after winning everything before her in the Women's class in 2015 and will be looking to put herself on the E1 podium as the year progresses.

Danile Sanders will be a fan fav again in 2016 as he powers his 300 two stroke around the country aiming for outright and E3 honours - Credit: Aaryn Minerds

Most of the top contenders in the E2 class we mentioned above as favourites in the outright championship, with Josh Green, Tye Simmonds, Chris Hollis and Tom McCormack all listed to ride the 450 four stroke / 250 two stroke class in 2016.

Two more riders to keep an eye on are Husqvarna privateer Mitch Harper who has been drafted into the Husqvarna Australia team as a late inclusion incase Glenn Kearney is unable to ride. Fresh off his win at the Clipsal 500 Endurocross, Harper is in same great form and carrying a lot of confidence.

The Motul Pirelli Sherco race team has once again enlisted the services of Justin Carafa for this season and after gaining some experience at rounds in 2015 will be a podium contender when this season kicks off.

In the E3 ranks it is hard to look past Daniel Sanders, Lachlan Stanford and Beau Ralston as the three riders go head to head aboard three different brands, and three different capacity sized bikes.

Also keep an eye eon Tom Mason as he steps into the Enduro3 class.

With Jones registered in the E1 class, the Women's class will be a three way fight between Jessica Gardiner, Emelie Karlsson and Jemma Wilson.

We will be live at the opening two rounds this weekend though with virtually no phone reception at venue we will endeavour to do our best to update results as soon as we can.

CLICK HERE for more information on this weekends event

2016 AMA MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS ROUND 11 - Ford Field Detroit:

Ryan Dungey continues to close in on his third straight supercross title while re-writing the history books along the way - Credit: Simon Cudby

While RCH Soaring Eagle/Jimmy John's/Suzuki Factory Racing's Ken Roczen enjoyed the spoils of victory at the previous stop of Monster Energy AMA Supercross, defending 450SX Class Champion and current points leader Ryan Dungey continued his historic start to the 2016 season, setting a new all-time mark in consecutive podium finishes.

The top two riders in the championship will lead their fellow competitors into this weekend's annual visit to Detroit's Ford Field for the 11th race of the season, this Saturday, March 19.

In the Eastern Regional 250SX Class, three different riders have stood atop the podium through the championship's first three races with Jeremy Martin now holding the championship leaders red plate after an amazing 20th -2nd place ride last weekend, while former points leader Martine Davalos missed the Canadian round but will be back in action this weekend.

CLICK HERE for live timing. Check Foxtel guides for TV viewing times.

2016 NEW ZEALAND MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUND 4: Taupo

Can Cooper make it back to back to back titles or will the Aussie boys put an end to his run - Credit: File Mad Max Photography

The fourth and final round of the 2016 New Zealand Motocross Championship will head to Taupo this weekend with a Kiwi and two Aussie lads set to battle it out in what will pretty much come down too a winner takes all round of racing.

Australia's Dean Ferris dominated the opening round before also picking up the round win at round two and was looking like he was on track to take this years title running away. However a crash at round three cost him a bag of points with two time reigning champion Cody Cooper taking full advantage to power his Honda CRF450 to the top of the podium for the weekend and more importantly for himself to the top of the points standings with just three motos of 2016 remaining.

Suzuki mounted Australia Todd Waters who has been consistently up the front during the series, moved into second place in the standings just three points behind Cooper with Ferris now sitting in third though only two points behind Waters in second and five points behind series leader Cody Cooper.

2016 MAXXIS World SuperEnduro Championship Round 6 Spain

Jonny Walker will take a slender one point lead into the final round of the world Superenduro Championshp - Credit:

Jonny Walker will carry a slender one point lead into the final round of the 2016 Maxxis World SuperEnduro Championship despite a difficult night at round five of the series in Prague last weekend.

Picking up a lower leg injury in practice Walker was forced to compete in pain yet managed to pick up championship points in all thee Prestige class finals in the Czech Republic.

It was Colton Hakker who took full advantge last time out, taking the round win and moving himself into second place in the championship.

Cody Webb remains in striking distance of taking this years crown, sitting just 7 points from the championship lead.

2016 MAXXIS BRITISH MOTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP Round 1: Lyng, Norfolk

With the first euro round of the 2016 MXGP season just around the corner a handful of championship contenders will use this weekends opening round of the 2016 British motocross championship as a hit out to keep their race form at 100%.

Having won the MX1 title for the last two years, Wilvo Virus Performance KTM‰Ûªs Shaun Simpson is the man to beat. The Scotsman was unbeaten around Lyng last year winning all three motos and will be a solid bet for the win heading into this weekend.

Now onboard a Monster Energy DRT Kawasaki and in full health, which is something that has plagued Tommy Searle‰Ûªs previous seasons, the man from Kent, now residing in Derby, will definitely be one to watch as one of Great Britain‰Ûªs most talented riders yet to add a British title to his CV.

Also looking hungry for a slice of podium pie are Dave Thorpe‰Ûªs boys Kristian Whatley and Graeme Irwin who seem to be running a hot pace on their Buildbase Honda‰Ûªs at the moment, while the locals will be pumped to see the #45 of Hitachi Construction Machinery Husqvarna‰Ûªs Jake Nicholls back on the cable after spending the best part of the last two seasons couch bound and on the mend.

CLICK HERE for more information on this weekends event

Its the weekend, get out and ride! Credit: Aaryn Minerds

- Australian Freestyle Motocross Grand Prix, Albert Park- Victoria
- RXT Helmets Shell Advance Gippsland Motocross ChampionshipRound 1, Maffra-Sale - Victoria
- Barry Francis Western Region MX SeriesRound 2, Portland - Victoria
- Northern Region MX SeriesRound 1, Cobram - Victoria
- CMXC Club Day: Blackwood Park, Penguin - Tasmania
- King of Pinjar/ Prince of Pinjar: Pinjar Park Speedway Motorcycle Club - Western Australia
- Riverland JMCC Club Series Round 1, Renmark - South Australia
- South Coast MX Club Series Round 1, Murray Bridge - South Australia
- Coolum Club Day - Coolum Queensland
- Moreton and Districts Club day, Queensland
- Rum City Club Day, Queensland
- Kilcoy Club Day, Queensland
- Toowoomba Club Day, Queensland
- Central Queensland MX Championship Round 2, Biloela Queensland
- Gumboot Classic, Tully Queensland

FULLNOISE.COM.AU's Weekend Ahead

After enjoying last weekend out on track, this weekend we will swing off the lens instead of the bars - Credit: Eric McConnochie

Our weekend has gotten off to a bit of a delayed start!

After heading to six rounds of the Australian Off-Road Championship in 2015 we are looking to spend even more time following the national enduro championship in 2016 and are currently en-route to Queensland for the opening two rounds this weekend. Unfortunately a few delays have us well behind schedule and we are finishing up this weekends dirty weekend ahead from the VIrgin Lounge in Adelaide.

The original plan was to head over and race Saturday's event and with the help from Kessner Motorcycles here in South Australia we had everything lined up to have our Suzuki RM-Z450 heading to Queensland.

Unfortunately things have gotten a little hectic as they do and with no time to prepare to ride, we have opted to spend two days walking around shooting and covering the event and will now leave the racing plans to the Victorian and South Aussie rounds!

Keep an eye on the site over the weekend for updates if we can find some reception and be sure to head back Monday morning for what should be a jammed packed MONDAY MOTOBOARD where will put all the weekends racing results and links to local racing results in one easy to find page, then head back throughout the week as we upload a couple of galleries from the opening two rounds of the 2016 AORC.