Jess Gardiner: 7 AORC Titles & Counting!

Just a month back, when Yamaha’s Jess Gardiner claimed her 100^th AORC podium result, we marveled at the stats this plucky 29-year-old had amassed over her incredible off-road racing career. So, it would be remiss of us to overlook what is arguably Gardiner’s most impressive milestone yet: a seventh AORC title in the EW (Women’s) class, claimed at the final round of the 2022 AORC in Tasmania two weeks ago.

Here is Yamaha Motor Australia’s PR, which reflects on a red-letter season for the blue bikes…

Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off-Road racer, Jess Gardiner, has racked up her seventh Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC), while Yamaha riders amassed a total of nine Australian class champions in the 2022 AORC.

After some wild and woolly weather in the days prior, Wynyard in Tasmania turned on the postcard picture weekend for the final weekend of the AORC with championships on the line and history being made.

Jess Gardiner now has seven AORC championships to her name. Yes, seven! Gardiner clinched her seventh AORC championship at Round 12 of this year’s series after another outstanding performance that now has her as the most winning female off-road rider Australia has produced. Gardiner overcome a challenging start on Saturday, where she was bogged in axle-deep mud in one of the early special tests to recover for a second-place finish for the round and need only to score points on Sunday to clinch the crown.

But that’s not her way. Gardiner came out swinging and took another round victory on Sunday to make it eight round wins from the 10 contested and, in turn, won another AORC title.

“The weekend was tough as the rain made things wet and rutted on both days, but I like that style of riding and enjoy the challenge that it brings. Not sure I enjoyed getting stuck in the mud – in fact, I was ready to give up as I couldn’t get my bike out – but on my last attempt, I was able to get it moving and get back into the race, and I lost around three minutes in just that section.

“From then on, everything went well, and the bike was perfect all weekend. I wanted to win the final round as that’s the best way to win a championship, so it was good feeling to get it done and share it with Danielle, who was also able to win her class for the day and the championship.

“Our team of sponsors are awesome, and we couldn’t do it without them. Yamaha, Gas Imports, Yamalube, Thor, Kincrome and a heap more all contribute to our little team and it’s great to work with such cool people,” Gardiner beams.

The team made it two championships out of three when Danielle McDonald won the Junior Girls class for the weekend and the series. McDonald entered the final round battling a knee injury sustained at the Australian Junior Motocross Championships the week before but was able to soldier on and take victory on her YZ125.

“It’s been a huge month with racing for my family, from being in Rockhampton and then in Wynyard in Tasmania – going from motocross to off-road – but it’s all worth it now. To finish the year with both the round win and the championship is unreal and I can’t thank my whole family enough for the sacrifices they put in for me to go racing.

“Also, thanks to Jess and Jeremy for their help and guidance again this year. It’s great to have someone in your corner who understands racing and that you can talk to them about things on and off the bike,” McDonald said.

Jeremy Carpentier finished the year strongly with a third-place finish at the final round. Carpentier wasn’t in championship contention as he missed several rounds due to injury, but the podium finish was good for his confidence and provided some motivation as we head towards 2023.

Over the course of the weekend, Yamaha teams and riders racked up a massive nine AORC championship victories. The ShopYamaha team claimed three with Outright, E1 and E2; the JGR Yamaha girls added another two in EW and JG; and then it was a bunch of Yamaha-mounted Junior riders who capped of a stunning year for the bLU cRU.

Harley Hutton took the win in J1 on his YZ85 Small-Wheel. Marcus Nowland won the 85cc Big Wheel. Ollie Gear claimed the 13-14 Years division on his YZ125, while brother Davey Gear win the 15 Years class on his YZ250F.

“It was simply an amazing weekend for Yamaha at the final round of AORC and to capture nine national championships is a credit to the riders, teams and families involved,” begins Yamaha Motorsport Manager, Scott Bishop.

“I’m continually in awe of the sacrifices these families make to go racing and particularly would like to congratulate the riders and families who chose to purchase and race a Yamaha. We understand there are many options out there, but these riders wanted to be on a Yamaha and purchased their own bikes and parts to make it happen. We are humbled by that and sincerely congratulate them on an amazing season.

“Our teams again turned in professional and clinical performances and are well led and managed by AJ Roberts and Jess Gardiner. I thank both for their contribution to Yamaha’s results as well as the teams’ sponsors and partners who allow us to go racing at the level we do.

“I would also like to pass on out thanks to Matt, Michael, and the team at MA for putting together the AORC. After two years of interruption, it was so good to see everyone back at the events and people enjoying riding in our great country,” Bishop went on to say.