Yamaha ready for rounds seven and eight of the AORC

Queensland Moto Park, one hour southwest of Brisbane, hosts rounds seven and eight of the Australian Off Road Championship, and with perfect winter days on the forecast, it’s shaping up to be a huge weekend of racing. Words: Yamaha

The weekend will see competitors tackle the bush and tracks around QMP in the enduro format. The previous rounds have been sprints only due to the dry conditions and changed from enduro for the safety of the riders due to the lack of vision in the dust. But it’s enduro this weekend and a test of man and machine across both days. 

Things are in good shape in the Yamaha camp and confidence is high with plenty of riders recently selected to represent Australia at the ISDE. Kyron Bacon, Will Dennett, Cooper Sheidow, Jess Gardiner and Danielle McDonald will all don the green and gold later in the year as part of the Australian team. 

Weekend Story Lines 

Kyron Bacon is back after a month in Europe contesting the World Enduro Championships and will be looking to take the good form he showed on the world stage and apply it this weekend. Bacon did four rounds of the World Championships finishing with three round wins and a top five in the junior divisions and is desperate to keep that going at QMP. 

Alongside him in the E1 division will be Cooper Sheidow. After a long lay off due to a wrist injury, Sheidow returned to action at the SA24 Hour event a few weeks back and was leading into the night until he and some wildlife came together in the darkness. There may be wildlife around QMP, but he shouldn’t be racing in the dark.

The girls go back at it again with the Gardiner vs. McDonald battle taking centre stage. McDonald gained the upper hand at the last round, so Gardiner will be out to reel her teammate back in and get things back on an even keel for the final few rounds. 

The Weekend Ahead 

What: Round 7 & 8 of the Australian Off Road Championship 

When: 27 – 28 July 

Where: Queensland Moto Park 

Yamaha Riders in Action: Kyron Bacon, Jess Gardiner, Jeremy Carpentier, Harley Hutton

Image: Yamaha Australia