AORC’s “19 & Under” Class

So, exactly why was the ’19 & Under’ class introduced into the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) for 2014, and how have young Aussie enduro riders taken to it?

To get the down-low on the impetus behind the introduction of this new class, and how it fits into the AORC’s existing class structure, we spoke to Series Coordinator, Denise Hore…

TM: Righto, Denise, let’s get this right from the get-go. It’s not the Under 19 class; it’s the “19 & Under” class, correct?

DH: Yes, that is correct. In fact, it’s the Transmoto 19 & Under class. Remember, you guys have naming rights…

^ Nick Lean

That’s right; we do. Okay, so explain the age eligibility for the class.

As of January 1, riders must be 19 years of age or under. Of course, they must also be at least 16 years old as of Jan 1. It might sound like semantics, but one of the main reasons we call it ‘19 & Under’ – rather than Under 19 – is to ensure there’s a more a level playing field for riders from all the states at Enduro-format events where public roads are used. Because riders from Queensland and Victoria cannot get their Learner’s Permit until they’re 18 (whereas the age ranges from 16 years, to 16 years and nine months in all the other states), they would be at a serious disadvantage at those Enduro events. So we felt it was better to relax and broaden the age restrictions on the class slightly, rather than scrub those events from the race calendar altogether.

^ Tom Mason

What was the rationale behind establishing this new class for 2014?

For young riders who turn 16 and move out of the Junior classes, it’s always been a huge jump to suddenly be up against the older riders in the Senior classes. They go from being a big fish in a small pond to a very little fish in a big pond, which prompts some to lose interest and even drop out of the sport. For much the same reasons it was introduced into the national motocross series a few years ago, the AORC’s 19 & Under class is designed to provide a stepping-stone for these young off-road riders and make that transition to the big league easier. In fact, I’d argue that the jump from Juniors to Seniors in enduro is more difficult, as being a successful AORC rider takes more experience, which you can only gain over time. For that reason, the top AORC riders tend to be older than the top MXers.

^ Kane Hall

The Under 19s class was made compulsory in the MX Nats. Is it also compulsory for the AORC?

No, it’s not compulsory. There were a few young riders this year who ‘leapfrogged’ the 19 & Under class for reasons that don’t make a whole lot of sense to me as, once they have decided to enter the Pro classes, they can’t backtrack into the 19 & Unders. Of course, if a 17-, 18- or 19-year-old rider is already on a factory team, then he’d automatically go into a capacity-based Pro class. We’re trialling the class this year, and therefore looking at some of these grey areas on a case-by-case basis to fine-tune the rules for subsequent years. So far, it’s been received very well and all the feedback has been extremely positive.

^ Broc Grabham

So riders in 19 & Under are scored in the AORC’s Outright results, but not in the individual classes: E1, E2 or E3. Correct?

Yep, that’s right. It’s another Championship class. Its riders are scored in the Outright and 19 & Under class results only. It’s an age-based class, rather than a capacity-based class. That means they can ride whatever sized bike they have, and they can change from round to round if they really want to. Of course, you’ll find that most riders compare their times with the guys in the E1, E2 and E3 classes to get a feel for how they’re performing relative to riders in those Pro classes. For instance, Daniel Sanders won the 19 & Under class at the series opener at Bulahdelah, and he ran sixth and eighth Outright for the weekend’s two rounds. Daniel’s impressive Saturday result – in terrain he wasn’t entirely comfortable in – would have actually put him in second place in the Pro E3 class.

^ Daniel Sanders

It seems to have struck a chord with young riders, given that there were 36 starters in the 19 & Under class at Bulahdelah.

Absolutely! Those numbers have vindicated our belief that young riders are more comfortable to spend their entry fee money on the AORC if they’re not thrown immediately into the deep end. There’s obviously some real talent in the class, because after two rounds, there are five 19 & Under class riders in the top-20 Outright standings. But 23 of the new class’ 36 riders scored some points in a national championship at Bulahdelah, so that’s an encouraging stat for young riders to look at. I have no doubt that the new class has attracted more riders to the series.

^ Liam Clover

Plus riders in the class will also receive special attention through Transmoto’s website and social media…

Yes, and that’s one of the main reasons Motorcycling Australia saw fit to get Transmoto on board as naming-rights sponsor for the new class. Transmoto has been a huge supporter of off-road racing in this country for years, and I really think that the dedicated coverage you’ve guaranteed to give these young riders – not just the top guys, but some of those who might be racing for the first time – will be seen as another reason to get involved in the class. It creates an opportunity for young riders to get the sort of coverage – for themselves and sponsors – that they otherwise wouldn’t get. It also gives them the chance to develop their skills and confidence – and the way they present themselves – in dealing with the press. And I think that by offering this exposure through Transmoto’s huge website and social media audiences, it’s the perfect way to speak with and engage these younger riders in our discipline. Along with MA, I’m very positive about the benefits this new class will bring to the sport.