Webmaster posted on May 30, 2010 13:27
Reigning Yamaha Australian Off-Road Champion, Toby Price, continued his clean sweep of the 2010 championship today by claiming the Yamaha Championship E2 Class and Outright wins at round five held near Moruya (NSW).
Toby Price wins E2
Price, 22, of the Motorex KTM Team, finished the Titan Enduro seven-seconds ahead of Ballard Wellard Yamaha’s Stefan Merriman.
“Today wasn’t too bad, I felt a little off the pace, it surprised me with a win that’s for sure,” Price, from Singleton (NSW), said.
“I managed to stay on the bike, didn’t crash or anything, it was good.
“I’ve been up in Finke for over a week testing, so I’m used to high speed and going in straight lines.
“Coming back into the tight and windy conditions, I felt a little slow, but obviously my times were fairly good.
“Hopefully the series keeps going as it is.”
Price said today’s battle had been close, with Merriman and Jarrod Bewley both “on the pace”.
“It was good, makes for a more interesting day,” Price said.
Price kicked off his year win dual wins at the first and second rounds of the Yamaha AORC held at Port Macquarie in March. Rounds three and four of the championship (scheduled for May 1st and 2nd) had to be canceled due to heavy rainfall in the host area (Conondale, QLD).
Merriman (from Nelson Bay, NSW) put in a solid fight today, winning two of the seven special tests and finishing seven-seconds behind Price and six-seconds ahead of GP Industries Championship E1 Class winner, Jarrod Bewley.
Bewley’s Motorex KTM teammate, Ben Grabham, trailed Bewley in fourth Outright and took the win in the Pirelli Championship E3 Class.
Fifth Outright and third in E2 went to Force Honda Thor Michelin Off Road Team racer, AJ Roberts.
Yamaha’s Kirk Hutton was two-seconds behind Roberts in sixth Outright. Hutton finished second in E3 on his big-bore WR450F.
Up-and-coming riders, local Luka Bussa (Husqvarna) and Mitchell Bowen (privateer) put in great rides today, coming seventh and eight Outright respectively.
Damian Smith (Pacific Ink Motorex Coastal KTM) and Mitcham Harper (BPL Race Team) rounded out the top-10.
For full results go to: www.aorcracing.com.au
Round six of the Yamaha AORC, scheduled for tomorrow, has had to be canceled due to a severe storm being forecast for the area.
The next stop for the championship will be 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).
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.
For more info or to get involved in the 2010 Yamaha AORC, please contact Denise Hore at denise.hore@bigpond.com.
MA would like to thank the sponsors of the 2010 Yamaha AORC:
Yamaha AORC round five Top-10 Outright
1. Toby Price Class: E2 Bike: KTM
2. Stefan Merriman E2 YAMAHA
3. Jarrod Bewley E1 KTM
4. Ben Grabham E3 KTM
5. AJ Roberts E2 HONDA
6. Kirk Hutton E3 YAMAHA
7. Luke Bussa E1 HUSQVARNA
8. Mitchell Bowen E3 YAMAHA
9. Damian Smith E1 KTM
10. Mitcham Harper E3 KTM