Andrew Warnest

PENULTIMATE ROUNDS OF THE 2019 SAORC – THIS WEEKEND AT KEITH

This weekend sees the reigning MSA Club of the Year host rounds 4 & 5 of the 2019 SAORC, supported by partners WSB Distributers, KTM & Husqvarna, with this being the penultimate rounds of the 2019 Championship. The final rounds will be held at Coonalpyn on August 31 & September 1, which will also be rounds 8 & 9 of the 2019 Australian Off Road Championship, with entries for this round opening next Monday, the day after these rounds!

 

 

With this weekend being hosted by the Keith & Districts MCC, it is great that a number of the South East’s talented riders will be in action this weekend, with the following members of the host club throwing a leg over;

Seniors

Jayden Pilgrim               Pro Open Class

Jaxon Rayner                 C1 Clubman class

Jordan Rayner               C3 Clubman Class

Juniors

Archer Colwill                J1 Junior Class

Davey Gear           J1 Junior Class

Ollie Gear             JJ Junior Class

Mitch Goldsmith  JJ Junior Class

Jaxon Rayner currently sits 4^th in C1, and after missing out on points at round 1 is chasing down the leaders, led by Olly Simpson,  to get back into a podium position, while Jordan & Jayden will be riding their first rounds of 2019 this weekend.

In the Juniors, Davey Gear is in a big battle with Lachlan Metcalf in the J1 Class, with Lachlan holding a 3 point lead over the Keith member, with Archer Colwill sitting in 8^th after missing round 1, while Davey’s younger brother, Oliie, currently leads the JJ Class, with 3 round wins from 3 starts so far, with Mitch about to have his first ride this weekend.

Good luck to these members of the Keith & Districts MCC, a club that runs events at SA Championship level in more than one discipline, enduro and motocross, as they also have their great motocross venue, Andy Caldecott Park, so if you are keen to ride or race and live in the central areas of the South East of SA, Keith may be the club for you.

 

In the premier classes, Pro & Outright Senior – it’s a case of the youngsters chasing the ‘older’ hands, with Cooper Sheidow (3^rd), Will Price (4^th) and Nathan Howe (5^th) chasing Riley Graham (currently 1^st) and defending Champ, Andy Wilksch (2^nd), with the 3 younger guys currently ripping it up in the EJ Class in the AORC as well!

In the J4 Class for juniors, the battle to become the SA#1 junior for 2019 is still well up in the air, with Samuel Pretscherer currently holding Zak Crafter, Mitchell Stanway and Alex Kreig at bay, with Charlie Milton on the charge after not scoring any points at round 1 and looking to make up lost ground!

For a look at all the points’ tables for all classes, junior & senior, follow the link and check them out!

https://www.saoffroadchampionships.com/pts/

 

ROUNDS FOUR & FIVE – THE NEED TO KNOW!

RACING STARTS

8.00am Saturday

8.30am Sunday

FORMAT

Saturday 27th – will be a Cross Country, in three separate races, of the duration below.

• Race 1 (KTM Course) – JUNIOR (JJ & J1) – (5 Kms) – Duration 1.5 Hours includes sight lap
• Race 2 – (WSB Distributors Course) JUNIOR (J2, J3, J4) – (16 Kms) – Cross Country – Duration 2 Hours includes sight lap
• Race 3 – (WSB Distributors Course) SENIORS – Cross Country – (16 Kms) – Duration 3 Hours includes sight lap

Sunday 28th – will be a sprint format, with all classes racing all day.

• KTM Course 1- JUNIOR (JJ & J1) – (5 Kms) – will remain on the same course all day.
• WSB Distributors Internal Course 2 – JUNIOR (J2, J3, J4) – (7 Kms) – will remain on the same course all day.
• WSB Distributors outside Course 3 – SENIORS – (8.5 Kms) – will remain on the same course all day.

TERRAIN Soft sandy loam over clay, scrubby mallee with sand.

FACILITIES – CAMPING ALLOWED Friday – Strictly From 12.00pm onwards. There is no charge for camping and camping is available in the pit area. Camp / open fires – Open fires are permitted provided they are in a contained fire container/brazier or contained fire pit. Fires from 5.30pm to 6.00am. All fires must be extinguished by 6am Saturday & Sunday. Gas cookers are allowed.

TOILETS & SHOWERS Available on site

MOBILE COVERAGE Telstra 4G/3G okay depending on height and area, other networks unknown.

CATERING OPTIONS Full canteen facilities available with BBQ, Roast Meat Rolls and other options. Bar facilities and coffee van available.

FIRSTCARE MEDICAL has been organised for the event and will be in-attendance from 8.00 am on both race days.

DOGS & FOOTWEAR Please note: NO Animals or mini bikes (except those entered and human aid dogs) are not permitted at the event. NO open footwear.

DIRECTIONS FROM KEITH TO THE VENUE From the main township of Keith turn right from the Dukes Highway onto Emu Flat Road. Travel along Emu Flat road for 12kms then turn left onto Dark Island Well Road (MBL Protein Sign). Continue along Dark island well road for 13kms until ‘Tamboore’ gateway at the end of the road (1467 Dark Island Well Road), follow driveway and signage until entering pit area\

 

ALEX KRIEG JOINS THE KESSNER KTM OFF ROAD RACE TEAM AT WANBI!

Roger Kessner, from Kessner KTM Off Road Race Team, has put into place a 2019 initiative to help junior development in the Enduro/Off Road discipline this year by bringing in a junior rider under their team tent for a race weekend, so they can get the full experience of what it is like to be a part of a race team.

It is always fantastic when people / businesses invest in the future of their  specific sport, and this is what Roger and his team have done for many years, across many disciplines, and continue to do so – and in a way that not only highlights the future of the sport, but also some of the talented riders within!

A rider is invited to become part of the team for the whole of the weekend and receives the following;

• Full access to the Kessner KTM Off Road Race Team trailer, as well as use of all of the team’s Motorex products
• The rider and family receive support from team manager Scott Billing as well as guidance from team riders (track walk, mentoring, nutrition tips).
• Suspension adjustments and bike set up from Grant Beale – Bike Tune. For this round Grant was available and he helped the whole team, he was out watching the team riders on a test and then would make relevant adjustments as needed.

The Kessner KTM Off Road Race Team has always prided itself on bringing a real family environment to the team, and they aim at developing riders to their full potential each year, as much as they aim at getting race wins each weekend.

The team is very supportive of its riders and team members and they also ensure that the fun factor always remains in the sport, and there are a lot of laughs and fun along the way.

The Junior rider who joined the team at Wanbi was: Alex Krieg

After having to calm the lad down after he was asked to join the team for the weekend – saying no was never an option apparently – Alex grabbed this opportunity with both hands – and didn’t want to let go, even after the event had ended!

Whilst this initiative is not ‘results driven’, to not put too much pressure on the young rider and keep the whole experience enjoyable, what was obvious to all who were watching closely was that the improvement from Alex as the weekend progressed was obvious to see.  

And it wasn’t so much his speed that improved, as much as it was the smoothness in riding as the weekend progressed, which comes from bike set-up and thinking more about lines on the track walk, which he would have got from talking to the team mechanics, and the team riders.

And what did Alex think, well, here are a few questions that the team asked him after the event;

Congratulations and well done to Roger and the whole Kessner KTM Off Road Race Team for this great initiative!

The Kessner KTM Off Road Race Team aim to carry this initiative on throughout the remainder of the 2019 season.

Stay tuned for an announcement on who the lucky rider will be for the next SAORC rounds at TBA!

 www.facebook.com/kessner.motorcycles

 kessner_race_team 

SAORC TO PLAY IN THE SANDS OF WANBI THIS WEEKEND FOR ROUND 2 & 3!

The Ariel Motorcycle Club is proud to stage round 2 and 3 of the 2019 South Australian Off-Road Championship this weekend in Wanbi.

This year the club returns to their iconic track designed to put man/woman and machine to the ultimate test of endurance. This was the site for the 2015 round of the AORC series that was taken out by none other than the Dakar champion, Toby Price. That particular event won round of the series and also helped the club achieve Motorcycling South Australia’s ‘Club of the Year Award’.

Once again the club is running a full enduro format for the juniors (mirrored on the senior event). This gives our up and coming juniors a rare insight into what this type of racing is all about and puts them in good stead for their enduro racing futures.

The 2019 event features a significantly expanded course thanks to the tireless efforts of the club’s dedicated membership.

The Ariel MCC would like to take this opportunity to thank the District Council of Karoonda East Murray for all their support in making this event possible.

EVENT DATE: 22^ND & 23^RD OF JUNE 2019

 

EVENT FORMATS:

Enduro Format

Each lap of an Enduro course will typically take between 1 and 1.5 hrs to complete, the event consisting of between 2 and 3 laps.

Each lap consists of trail and typically 2 – 3 tests. Trail is timed to the minute and tests are timed to the second.

Riders leave in groups of 2 or 3 at 1 minute intervals from control points and individually every 20-30 seconds for Tests. Tests fall under two categories, cross (mx) and enduro.

Enduro tests are pre-ridden (first lap usually not timed) and are generally more technical through tree’s, hills, etc. Cross tests are not pre-ridden and are generally more open and fast. A generous amount of time is given between each lap for refuelling and rest. The enduro rewards riders with the perfect balance between raw speed and endurance.

Sprint Format – The course will be approximately 5 kms long and consist of sand tracks of fast open and between trees

Juniors and Seniors will swap between the Enduro and Sprint formats each round

 

PROGRAMME

Friday 21^st June

Tracks Open to Walk from 11am

Sign on and Machine Examination 3pm – 6.30pm and 7.30pm – 8.00pm

 

Saturday 22^nd June

6.00am – 7.00am           Track Available to walk, Sign on and Machine Examination

7.15am                           Rider Briefing

8.05am – 8.15am           First Senior collects bike for start

8.15am                           Junior’s start sprints

 

Sunday 23^rd June

6.15am – 7.00am           Sign on and Machine Examination

7.15am                           Rider Briefing

8.05am – 8.15am            First Junior collects bike for start,

8.15am                           Senior’s start sprints

THE COURSES:

SPRINT; All riders WSB Distributers Sprint – The course is approximately 5 kms long and consists of sand tracks of fast open and between trees.

ENDURO; The course consists of fast, open sand tracks, scrubby single track though sandy bushland, a few steep sand hills to negotiate. The track then makes its way back to the pits where you will need to restart on your allocated Minute. 

There are two timed tests on the enduro course:

Enduro TEST – Nitschke Energy Test 4 km; Cross TEST – KTM Test 5 km

 

DIRECTIONS TO THE VENUE

Distance is approx 200kms from Adelaide so allow approx 2 & 1/2 hrs drive.

Head north east along the Karoonda Hwy after Karoonda for 46kms through Halidon, until you reach Mindarie Turn right on to McCabe Road and travel along for 9 kms until you reach the T-Junction at Charleson Rd. Turn hard right and continue straight for another 4.4kms. The Wanbi Golf Course is on the right. Ariel MCC signage will be posted out the front of the property.

Nearest civilisation for fuel/etc is Karoonda (day only), or Loxton.

 

GENERAL INFORMATION:

CAMPING allowed from Friday – Strictly From 11.00am on there is no charge for camping and camping is available in the pit area.

CAMP / OPEN FIRES; Open fires are permitted provided they are in a contained fire pit (in a contained fire container/brazier). Fires from 5.30pm to 6.00am. All fires must be extinguished by 6.00am Saturday & Sunday. Gas cookers are allowed.

BRING YOUR OWN WOOD – BUT NO FIRE’S ON SUNDAY

TOILETS & SHOWERS; Available on site MOBILE COVERAGE – Poor (need to be up on top of the sand hill)

DOGS & FOOTWEAR; Please note: NO Animals or mini bikes (except those entered and human aid dogs) are not permitted at the event. NO open footwear.

ENTRY & CATERING; Full catering including Espresso Coffee & Rollin Roast Catering Company commences from Friday 6.00pm till Sunday at conclusion of racing – This includes breakfast Saturday & Sunday.

 

WHAT YOU’RE WATCHING!

This weekend will see well over 200 riders take up the challenge of the SAORC for 2019, with the riders entered in a number of classes, which cater for all levels of riders, and are;

SENIOR;

PRO; the best of the best who will fight for the SA#1 plate

EXPERT EO; CLUBMAN C1, CLUBMAN C2, CLUBMAN C3

VETERANS 35-44 YEARS; MASTERS 45+ YEARS; OPEN WOMEN

JUNIOR;

JJ; 8-11 YEARS (65cc 2 stroke)

J1; 9-11 YEARS (85cc 2 stroke & up to 150cc 4 stroke, standard small wheels only)

J2; 12-15 YEARS (85cc 2 stroke & up to 150cc 4 stroke)

J3; 13-14 YEARS (125-200cc 2 stroke & 200-250cc 4 stroke)

J4; 15 YEARS (125-200cc 2 stroke & 200-250cc 4 stroke)

SO, WHO TO WATCH OUT FOR;

SENIORS

In the senior classes there should be a great battle for the outright, and the PRO Class between the current SA#1, Victorian Andy Wilksch, keen to keep his hard earned #1 plate for a 2^nd year, and Riley Graham, who started the 2019 SAMX Championships last weekend well, and also capped 2018 with a maiden win in the famous 24 Hour Trial – but – look out for a couple of young upstarts to spoil their party!

Newly promoted to Pro Class, Will Price & Cooper Sheidow will be out to prove that last year’s top 5 outright placings as first year senior riders was no flash in the pan, and both have started the AORC (Australian Championship) in good form!

And with riders seeded by their first heat times, from heat 2 onwards these 4 riders could well be covered by 30 seconds, or less, on the track – will be some awesome viewing!

Possibly not far behind will be a couple of former juniors stepping up into the senior classes for the first time, 2018 MSA Rising Star nominee & SA#1 junior in 2018, Rory Hill, and former Australian Junior Champion (AORC) and MSA Rising Star winner, Jayden Rudd, who missed most of his final junior year last year with injury!

Look for these two outstanding talents to do what Will & Cooper did last year and upset all the established riders in the battle for top 10 outright honours!

The Clubman Classes have been well supported this year and make up a bulk of the field, with almost 80 entries received across the 3 classes, and there is so much talent in these classes, picking possible podiums before round 1 has proven almost impossible!

However, there will also be action aplenty, with MSA Rising Star nominees from 2018, Max Price & Jared Watson debuting in C2 & C3 Classes, plus they will also see the return of former Off Road guns, and current road race guns, the Simpson brothers, with Olly & Jordy in C1 and Mitch in C2.

JUNIORS

An outstanding total entry of 90+ juniors have entered for this weekend’s opening round, spread across the 5 classes, and like the seniors, it is virtually impossible to pick possible podiums with no form to go by, such is the quality of the entries (in the J2 – J4 classes at least, as most are returning riders, with JJ & J1 made up of a lot of newbies to the Championship)

Some names to watch out for though are;

In J4, Charlie Milton, 3^rd in the AORC in 2018, this MSA Rising Star nominee from 2018 will possibly start favourite to lift the SA#1 Junior plate this year, and had a solid start to his AORC campaign last month. Look for Charlie to lead the way.

In J3, AORC regular, Max Leibekhnecht, will be at the pointy end of the class, as will a famous name in Haydion, with Kyan being the 3^rd generation of his family to take up the SAORC challenge, with the multi discipline (enduro, speedway, motocross & trial) talented Clay Burnett one to watch as well!

In J2 keep an eye out for Emma Haylock, who has started her motocross year with some outstanding form and results, and could well be the dark horse in this class in 2019!

FREE ENTRY FOR SPECTATORS, HOT & COLD FOOD & DRINKS, 200 RIDERS WITH SOME OUTSTANDING SOUTH AUSTRALIAN TALENT – MAKING SANDCASTLES AT WANBI IS THE PLACE TO BE THIS WEEKEND!