Milner, Phillips and Price on top at Round 4 of the AORC

Russell Colvin

The fourth round of the 2012 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) has wrapped up in Wonthaggi today, bringing a big weekend of class performances to a close.

A colossal haul of competitors from the Australian and Victorian Off-Road Championship pushed through dry but overcast conditions to complete a second day of sprint challenges.

Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road rider Daniel Milner claimed the E1 class for the second day in a row, snaring the top position in a tight race with Josh Green (Active8 Yamaha Yamalube) and Ben Burrell (Motorex KTM Off-Road).

Matt Phillips (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road) took his second consecutive victory in the E2 Class, showing his speed against Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna Racing Team) and Christopher Davey (Christensen’s Motorcycles).

E3 Class honours once again went home with Toby Price (Motorex KTM Off-Road), while Stefan Merriman (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road) and Daniel Sanders (KTM) clocked in the second and third fastest total times of the day.

Outright honours rolled to Series leader Toby Price for the second day in a row, with Milner and Phillips claiming the remaining pegs on the overall leaderboard.

Damian Smith continued his dominance of the Veterans Class, piloting his Husqvarna to victory over Jason Pearce (Kawasaki) and Craig Wease (Yamaha), while the Masters Class proved a carbon copy of the third round with Mike Shearer (Husqvarna) taking the first place trophy from Trent Lean (Suzuki MX1 Australia) and Ian Jenner (Husaberg).

Emilie Karlsson (Yamaha) dominated the Women’s Class, sweeping all four sprints of the day to take the top step of the podium above fellow Yamaha riders Jess Gardiner and Jemma Wilson.

The J4 Class was a mirror image of the third round, with Peter-Daniel Allan (Yamaha) claiming another victory over Todd Barry (KTM) and Isaac Richardson (Suzuki). Tom Mason (KTM) continued his perfect run in the J3 Class, locking in his fourth consecutive win to finish the day ahead of KTM pilots Nic Tomlinson and Hayden Bryan.

Dylan Heaton (KTM) took another first place finish in the J2 Class, nudging out Wil Ruprecht (Suzuki MX1 Australia) and Lyndon Snodgrass (Kawasaki), while Jake Brennan (Kawasaki) bagged J1 honours ahead of Jake Gogol (Honda) and Mitch Brierley (Kawasaki).

The AORC will now head to Coonabarabran, NSW for the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2012 Series on 28-29 April.

Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship, Round 4

E1

1. Daniel Milner (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road)
2. Josh Green (Active8 Yamaha Yamalube)
3. Luka Bussa (Husqvarna Racing Team)

E2

1. Matt Phillips (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road)
2. Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna Racing Team)
3. Christopher Davey (Christensen’s Motorcycles)

E3

1. Toby Price (Motorex KTM Off-Road)
2. Stefan Merriman (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road)
3. Daniel Sanders (KTM)

Outright Top Ten

1. Toby Price (Motorex KTM Off-Road)
2. Daniel Milner (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road)
3. Matt Phillips (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road)
4. Josh Green (Active8 Yamaha Yamalube)
5. Stefan Merriman (Ballard’s Yamaha Off-Road)
6. Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna Racing Team)
7. Daniel Sanders (KTM)
8. Christopher Davey (Christensen’s Motorcycle)
9. Mitcham Harper (Yamaha)
10. Luka Bussa (Husqvarna Racing Team)