Yamaha rider Stefan Merriman will be hard on the throttle this weekend as he strives to remain undefeated in the South Australian installment of the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC).
Merriman, 37, from Nelson Bay (NSW) took the Outright and Yamaha Championship E2 Class wins at both Callington (SA) rounds of last year’s AORC.
The Ballard’s Wellard Yamaha rider this year sits second to Toby Price in Championship E2 after taking the Outright and class wins at round eight of the series, held at Wedderburn (VIC) on July 11th.
Merriman’s team manager, Geoff Ballard, said the “tough” rider would be doing his best to win again this weekend, even despite suffering from tendonitis in his clutch hand.
“He hasn’t been able to ride at all this week, he’s been trying to rest his hand,” Ballard said.
“He rode a state round last weekend and his hand played up, but he’s hoping it will be OK for this one.
“He’s been seeing a specialist who is treating him and he said it was feeling better.
“He’s a tough guy and he’ll be pushing hard to try and finish up this series as best he can.
“It’s just unfortunate he had to DNF at round seven, because of running out of fuel - he was rapidly making time on Toby and could have taken another win, which would have helped a lot in the points.
“But that’s the way it is. He didn’t let it get him down.
“Callington last year was all sand and he is a very good sand rider.
“This weekend isn’t sand at all, it’s clay-based. But Stefan is still the main competition for Toby, and he wants to win again, so that’s what it’s all about.”
The 2010 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) is coming to a close, with just rounds nine and 10, being held at Kapunda (SA) this weekend and the finale, being held at Cherrabah Resort (near Warwick) on September 4th and 5th, left to go.
Another Yamaha rider looking to score a coveted Championship Class podium spot is big-bore WR450F pilot, Kirk Hutton.
Even despite missing a round (due to the birth of his first child), Hutton is currently sitting a commendable fifth Outright and third in Championship E3.
The WR machine is also charging hard in the Championship Women’s and Master’s categories.
Jemma Wilson and Jessica Gardiner (both on WR250Fs) have collectively won all but one round of the series and are closing in on point's leader, Tanya Hearn (Wilson five points back, in second, Gardiner another six behind).
And in Championship Master’s, Geoff Ballard (WR450F) has accrued an impressive 26-point lead over closest rival, Steven Clark.
Only four rounds remain in the 2010 Yamaha AORC.
The next stop for the championship will be the Barossa Bar Banger on August 7th and 8th at Kapunda (Barossa Valley, SA).
Don’t miss the opportunity to see Australia’s best enduro riders in action in South Australia: gates at the property (located 6km’s south of Kapunda on the Kapunda-Greenock Rd) will open to the public at 9am Saturday and Sunday. Admission is just $5.00/adult, children under 14 are FREE.
The finale, the Boxing Roo Yamaha AORC, will be held September 4th and 5th at Cherrabah Resort (near Warwick, QLD).
Yamaha AORC Top-10 Outright (after round eight)
1. Toby Price Points: 122
2. Jarrod Bewley 100
3. Ben Grabham 92
4. Stefan Merriman 83 YAMAHA (2nd in E2)
5. Kirk Hutton 51 YAMAHA (2nd in E3)
6. AJ Roberts 47
7. Mitchell Bowen 47 YAMAHA
8. Luka Bussa 47
9. Ben Burrell 41 YAMAHA
10 Jason Davis 39