Transmoto’s 19 & Under Class Explained

The Transmoto 19 & Under Class was one of the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship’s (AORC) resounding success stories. Introduced in 2014 for the same reasons it was brought into the MX Nationals a few years ago – as a stepping-stone to help bridge the gap between being a hero in Juniors and a zero in the Pro ranks – the new class attracted 52 young off-road racers throughout the 12-round 2014 series. It proved the perfect opportunity for young riders to peg their lap times against each other and the sport’s elite in the Outright rankings, rather than being disheartened by finishing way down the order in the Pro E1, E2 or E3 classes. One year down the track, we spoke to Series Coordinator, Denise Hore, to get her thoughts on how young Aussie enduro riders took to the all-new category last year, and to explain the ins and outs of how it all works…

Remind us, Denise: what was the rationale behind establishing the 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 has been 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.

Do you think it succeeded?

Yes, I think it worked incredibly well. At the end of the day, riders get better by competing against those who are better than them, so we really can’t do anything more beneficial than allow these teenagers to go up against the best Australia has on offer. A lot of riders sell themselves short; they think that if they can’t win in the top class, they shouldn’t race at all. The 19 & Under class allowed a lot of riders to have a go without feeling discouraged. And for young riders who are attending state rounds anyway to be able to have a go at the AORC is really good, too. I look forward to seeing fresh talent in the class this year.

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 last 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’ll continue to look at some of these grey areas on a case-by-case basis to fine-tune rules for subsequent years.

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.

As per last year, riders in 19 & Under will be 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 in 2014, 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.

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, again. 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.

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Check out our interview with last year’s Transmoto 19 & Under Class winner, Daniel “Chucky” Sanders.