Gallery: 19 & Under AORC Class

An AORC image gallery, showcasing the front-runners of the 2015 Transmoto 19 & Under class.

^ At least some of the Transmoto 19 & Under class entrants got the memo about the “class of 2015” group shot at the Kyogle round. The class, now in its second season, boasted a total of 40 starters in 2015.

^ Having run third in the 19s class last year, Tom Mason came into this season as the favourite. After a mid-season injury sidelined him for two rounds, the Bolton’s KTM rider regrouped and brought the title home.

^ Kawasaki-mounted Lyndon Snodgrass stepped up big-time this year. The Victorian showed lightning speed, even posting an 11^th Outright in the South Oz sand! He came into the final weekend’s racing level on points with Tom Mason, and finished second by just five points.

^ Like a lot of young off-road racers, Snodgrass has got an enthusiastic old man and supportive family in his corner.

^ Two-time third-place-getter in the MX Nats MXD (Under 19s) class, Jack Simpson, rocked up for a crack at the AORC’s final two rounds. He made a damn good fist of it too, running 3-2 at Monkerai.

^ Still adapting to the narrower off-road tracks, Simpson also acquainted himself with the old bunting-in-the-rear-wheel-trick. And like all good motocross racers, he had someone else take care of it.

^ Hunter Valley local and former AORC Junior champ, Will Ruprecht, showed he’s a name to watch. From the season’s 12 rounds, the Suzuki rider posted three wins and another seven podiums. But missing two round in South Oz through injury didn’t help his cause. He came out swinging at the Monkerai series finale, posting an impressive 2-1 scorecard. But he came up five points short of second place and 10 points short of the championship win.

^ The AORC’s Kyogle pit paddock – pretty as a picture, with epic trails to match.

^ Alongside Daniel Sanders (last year’s 19s-class winner), Tom Mason spearheads a new wave of young talent to come out of Victoria.

^ Mason’s film star good looks means he could moonlight as a motocrosser. Almost!

^ The 2015 series podium for the Transmoto 19 & Under class – (from left) Tom Mason, Lyndon Snodgrass, Will Ruprecht – three youngsters who share the AORC pit paddock with plenty of world-class Aussie talent in whose footsteps they plan to tread.