KTM BIDS FAREWELL TO DANIEL MILNER

After sensationally winning the International Six Days Enduro’s (ISDE) Outright crown back in 2018, Daniel Milner always seemed destined for more success on the international stage. But with an ill father and the birth of his first child, the Victorian off-road ace decided to put career plans for Europe and/or the USA on ice in recent years, while he continued cleaning up on home soil. Now, a few years down the track (and just a few days after it was announced the 2021 AORC has been cancelled – meaning Milner’s domestic racing commitments for the year have come to an end), KTM has announced that the 30-year-old has plans to race overseas next season, and that their super-successful partnership would come to an end.

No doubt the announcement will lead to much speculation that Milner’s OS racing plans do not involve KTM. So stayed tuned. As soon as track Milner down to see what he’s prepared to divulge, we let you know.

Meantime, here’s the full transcript of today’s PR from KTM, which reflects on the super-successful partnership that KTM and Milner shared over the past five years…

KTM expresses its gratitude to multiple Australian champion, Daniel Milner, as his time with KTM draws to a close in order to embark on an international opportunity for 2022. The pairing has achieved outstanding results together, both nationally and abroad over a remarkable five-year term.

In 2017, when Milner initially joined KTM, it was an instant success. Aboard a KTM 450EXC-F, he went on to dominate the Australian Off-Road Championship(AORC) in the E2 class and Outright, becoming the first person to clean-sweep the series. Also during that first year with KTM, he rode a 500EXC-F to victory in the Hattah Desert Race on debut.

Milner backed up this success in 2018 after stepping up to the 500EXC-F full-time, again winning the AORC Outright title, along with the E3 championship this time around. He captured the Australian 4-Day Enduro (A4DE) Outright and took individual honours at the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) in Chile, in addition to winning the World Trophy with Team Australia.

Further victories followed for the KTM and Milner combination, claiming the 2019 AORC E2 championship after entering both KTM 350EXC-F and 450EXC-F machinery at times that season, also storming to victory in the Hattah Desert Race once again riding a 500EXC-F.

In the shortened 2020 season, Milner won the AORC title Outright and another E2 championship equipped with the 450EXC-F. Bringing the successful relationship to a close in 2021, the 30-year-old once again stood atop the podium at Hattah, as well as claimed both E3 and Outright AORC round wins at Golden Beach on a 500EXC-F prior to the series cancellation.

Daniel Milner: “The five years that I’ve been with KTM have been the most memorable of my career. We’ve won nearly every race entered and have been very successful together. So to be able to win as many titles that we have and also to win the ISDE – one of my biggest dreams since starting off-road – has been a really special part of my career. We achieved a lot with the KTM Group and I’m really thankful for those times as part of the team, with so many great people involved along the way.”

Kyle Blunden (KTM Group Australia & New Zealand Motorsport Manager): “Daniel has done a fantastic job during the five years that he’s been with the KTM Racing Team and he has been a pleasure to work with. Achieving unparalleled success, both locally and internationally, during his time with KTM, Daniel has showcased almost our entire EXC-F range at the front of the field, regardless of where he was competing. We thank him for his incredible effort and unrelenting drive towards success and wish him and his family well as they set their sights on the next chapter in his career.”