Daniel Sanders On Top at AORC

In Queensland fashion, Round 1 of the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) was a steamy affair with temperatures reaching into the mid-thirties and humidity adding that sweaty cherry on top. Husqvarna’s Daniel Sanders proved he has what it takes to dominate in the dry, dusty conditions.
Here’s the official press release from Husqvarna Australia…

Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team’s Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders has delivered the E3 class victory in rounds one and two of the 2019 Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) in Toowoomba, Queensland. Last year’s E2 champion Sanders was unstoppable aboard his factory Husqvarna FE 501 to open the season this weekend, powering through dry and dusty conditions to assert his authority on the series in its early stages.

Daniel Sanders: “To win both days in E3 was good, especially battling up front with [Daniel] Milner for the overall, so it was a strong weekend. The Husqvarna FE 501 was definitely competitive for me and I will keep working to gain strength so I can throw it around more to make the most of it in the coming rounds. It’s been a positive start to the season and now we will look ahead from this stage in the season.”

It was a relatively consistent opener for teammate Fraser Higlett in his second year with the Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team, overcoming a number of mishaps to record fourth-place finishes on both days riding his Husqvarna FE 250 in E1.

Fraser Higlett: “It was a tough weekend for me, that’s for sure. The results weren’t what I wanted, but I pushed through and scored decent points, which is good. This gives me something to work from for the rest of the year and I know where I can be if I put it all together. I did have a few good test times, but struggled with some crashes this weekend, and I hope that the next rounds are more positive in terms of results. My Husqvarna FE 250 was really solid all weekend though, so now we will look ahead to the next one.”

Championship Standings (After 2 of 11 Rounds):

E3
1. Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna) 50
2. Andrew Wilksch (Sherco) 42
3. Beau Ralston (Husqvarna) 42
4. Jesse Lawton (Husqvarna) 36
5. Matt Murry (Husqvarna) 32

E1
1. Lyndon Snodgrass (KTM) 47
2. Luke Styke (Yamaha) 47
3. Michael Driscoll (Yamaha) 40
4. Fraser Higlett (Husqvarna) 36
5. Jonte Reynders (Yamaha) 31

Next for the Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team will be Dungog’s third and fourth AORC rounds in New South Wales on 6-7 April.