Webmaster posted on July 31, 2010 13:48
South Australians will again get to enjoy all the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) action when the penultimate weekend of the series hits Kapunda next weekend (August 7th and 8th).
Dozens of local riders are expected to take advantage of the opportunity to compete in the national championship (which has been linked with rounds four and five of their state series).
The Yamaha AORC rounds, dubbed the Barossa Bar Banger, are being organised by Motorcycling Australia in conjunction with the Gawler Motorcycle Club.
Gawler Motorcycle Club’s David Ahola said the property (located just south of Kapunda) was looking “absolutely magnificent”.
“It’s pretty much a virgin property, so riders will be treated to fresh tracks,” Ahola said.
“The property has very, very clay soil, so, fingers crossed - we’re praying - we don’t get too much more rain, because it could be quite slippery.
“At the moment we’ve got beautiful, bright, blue skies, so hopefully it should be perfect.
“The property runs along the top of the Greenock Range, which forms part of the Barossa Valley.
“So, the tracks will be very undulating - we run down one side of the range and up the other side, it’s a technical track.
“It will have some areas of open country. Also has some rocky outcrops and a creek crossing, but it is very undulating and clay-based - completely different to how it was in Callington for the AORC last year.
“The Barossa Valley is a very strong motorcycle area and there’s a lot of interest in the event.
“Riders are interested in competing, but we should also get a fair few spectators because it’s the only time they get to see the Stefan Merriman’s and Toby Price’s.
“All they do is read about them in [Australasian Dirt Bike Magazine] and the other dirt bike magazines - it’s a bit of a highlight for everyone here.
“The local media are also very supportive, which is fantastic. Make sure to tune into Flow FM [99.5] to hear about the event and pick up a copy of The Bunyip and Barossa Herald.”
David’s son, Rhyce (who has just signed a deal to ride for Hart & Huntington, a company started by Freestyle MX pioneer, Carey Hart) will be one South Australian looking to trump the east coast riders in the race.
Ahola moved to the senior ranks this season after scoring a top-three junior ranking in the 2009 Yamaha AORC.
The 18-year-old is two-points ahead of fellow South Australian, Ivan Long, for the lead in Expert E1 with four rounds to go. Long is ahead in the point’s race for Expert Outright, leading Ahola by one-point.
The Barossa Bar Banger will kick off with a cross-country (mass-start) race next Saturday (round nine).
Cross-country format consists of a mass-start, 2.5-hour race (for Pro and Expert, other classes race for less time, see supp regs for more details www.aorcracing.com.au).
Sunday will be a ‘sprint’, which sees competitors start one-at-a-time and complete one lap at a time, doing several heats in the day.
The AORC are fantastic for spectators, with nail-biting action and the chance to get up close and personal with the stars of Australian enduro racing.
Gates at the Kapunda property (located 6km’s south of Kapunda on the Kapunda-Greenock Rd) will open to the public at 9am August 7th and 8th. Admission is just $5.00/adult, children under 14 are FREE.
Toby Price currently leads the Yamaha Championship E2 Class and Outright.
The Yamaha AORC includes the following Australian Championship classes: GP Industries E1, Yamaha E2, Pirelli E3, RK Chains Veteran’s, Master’s, Motul Women’s and Junior Class 1,2,3,4 & 5 (see supp reg’s for more info), as well as the following support classes: Polisport Expert E1, Endura Expert E2/E3, Clubman E1, Clubman E2/3 and Clubman Veteran’s.
Get your entry in now for the Barossa Bar Banger Yamaha AORC: supplementary regulations are available from www.aorcracing.com.au
The finale, the Boxing Roo Yamaha AORC, will be held at Queensland's Cherrabah Resort on September 4th and 5th.
MA would like to thank the sponsors of the 2010 Yamaha AORC: YAMAHA, MOTUL, PIRELLI, RK CHAINS, ENDURA, POLISPORT, ADB MAGAZINE, BALLARD’S OFF-ROAD and GP INDUSTRIES.
Barossa Bar Banger Yamaha AORC
Where: Track located 6km’s south of Kapunda on the Kapunda-Greenock Rd
When: August 7th & 8th
Time: Gates open 9am both days
Tickets: Available at the gate.
Cost: $5.00/adult, children under 14 are FREE