Yamaha back on board for Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC)

Australia’s premier off-road motorcycle racing series continues to grow from strength to strength in 2010 with the announcement of Yamaha Motor Australia as the continuing naming right’s sponsor.

This year the championship is being organised by Motorcycling Australia (MA) in conjunction with leading motorcycle clubs from New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia.

The 2010 Yamaha AORC official website is now live, check it out at www.aorcracing.com.au

MA CEO David White said today they were happy with the level of industry support for the series, with Yamaha as well as Motul, Pirelli, RK Chains, Polisport, Endura, Australasian Dirt Bike Magazine, Ballard’s Off-Road and GP Industries all sponsors.

“Even despite the tough economic climate several leading companies have dug deep to ensure the continued growth and success of this vital championship,” Mr White said.

“I would like to thank all of our dedicated sponsors, especially Yamaha and our Official Tyre Sponsor for 2010: Pirelli, Official Oil Sponsor: Motul, Official Graphics Sponsor: GP Industries and Official Media Partner: ADB Magazine.

“Without the commitment from all of our sponsors this championship wouldn’t be possible and our vision for its growth and progression this year certainly wouldn’t be a reality.

“We’re very excited about the championship this year, it’s shaping up very well and all the clubs and individuals who are involved are working tirelessly to ensure each round is a hit for riders, spectators and sponsors.

“The Hastings Valley Motorcycle Club have been hard at work preparing a fantastic track for the opening rounds at Port Macquarie, so we’re expecting the series to really kick-off with a bang on March 13th and 14th.”

Mr White said a lot of thought and effort was also going into new avenues for promoting the championship this year.

MA have appointed Leigh Hutton from Shooting Star Media as head of PR, Marketing and Advertising for the series.

“We are going further to market the championship with the adoption of American Grand National Cross-Country-style individual round branding,” Mrs Hutton said.

“This means each of the weekend’s has their own unique name and logo and we will use these to generate interest in the event with the help of official event T-Shirts, posters etc.

“The opening rounds on March 13th and 14th have been dubbed the Port Mac Piston Yamaha AORC, then we’ve got Green Park (at Conondale, QLD), the Titan Enduro (at Moruya, NSW), the Gold Rush (at Wedderburn, VIC), the Barossa Bar Banger (at Kapunda, SA) and the finale, the Boxing Roo (location TBA, NSW) on September 4th and 5th.”

Sparks are expected to fly at the Port Mac Piston on March 13th and 14th at Port Macquarie (NSW) with reigning AORC champ Toby Price (now a member of Motorex KTM) to go head to head with the nation’s best, including five-time World champ, Stefan Merriman (Ballard’s Wellard Yamaha).

Supplementary regulations for the Port Mac Piston will be available shortly from www.aorcracing.com.au

The remaining rounds are: Green Park Yamaha AORC May 1st and 2nd at Conondale (QLD), the Titan Enduro May 29th and 30th at Moruya (NSW South Coast), the Gold Rush on July 10th and 11th at Wedderburn (VIC), the Barossa Bar Banger on August 7th and 8th at Kapunda (Barossa Valley, SA) and the finale, the Boxing Roo Yamaha AORC, September 4th and 5th at (location TBA) NSW.

For more info or to get involved in the 2010 Yamaha AORC, please contact Denise Hore at denise.hore@bigpond.com. For media enquiries contact Leigh Hutton (Leigh@shootingstarmedia.com.au).

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.