Last month saw the Aussie outback come alive in New South Wales and Queensland as each state ran a round of their respective off road championships with Yamaha riders again out in full force and looking to keep their skills sharp for up-coming AORC events.

The Yamaha team mates, Josh Green and Luke Styke were battling up the front in Appin last month.

The Shop Yamaha Off Road pairing of Josh Green and Luke Styke fronted the starter at the Appin round of the New South Wales Off Road Championship and were out for bragging rights of the top rider in the team over the weekend. And in a strange twist of fate, we are none the wiser as they ended up a tie.

The Saturday round saw Styke take the victory in a hard fought contest with his team mate Green as the pair traded test wins all day until Green made a mistake and fell from his bike giving Styke a clear path to victory.

Jeremy Carpeniter was also battling his teammate for the final podium spot on his Yamaha WR450F.

Then on Sunday the roles were reversed as Green got the upper hand as Styke soiled-sampled in one of the tests. The weekend proved to be a great hit out for both riders and the speed escalated throughout the weekend that will hold both riders in good stead come the next AORC round at Kyogle.

The battle for the final podium spot was also a Yamaha dual to the end between Jeremy Carpentier and Stefan Granquist. The two WR450F mounted riders split results over the weekend with Carpentier finishing with 3-4 results while Granquist took home a 4-3 result. This gave Yamaha a full lock out of the Pro podium on both days.

“The two WR450F mounted riders split results over the weekend with Carpentier finishing with 3-4 results while Granquist took home a 4-3 result. This gave Yamaha a full lock out of the Pro podium on both days.”

In the Women’s division it was the Emilie Karlsson show as she was a step above her rivals on both days. She comfortably took the round wins in convincing fashion and took full advantage of her main rival, Jess Gardiner, still sidelined due to injury.

With Styke and Green racing in New South Wales, it was left to Blake Hollis to fly the Yamaha flag in Queensland at the state round on the same weekend. Hollis has relocated up to Queensland to be closer to the team and get an intense crash course of off road riding from team boss AJ Roberts.

Emelie took out the round win comfortably in NSW after her main rival, Jess Gardiner, was sidelined due to injury.

Hollis was behind the eight ball from the early going in the Saturday round when he feel heavily and damaged his bike in one of the tests. This left him well down the leader board but he battled bravely to claw his way back to seventh by the end of the day.

Sunday saw a much cleaner run from the 17 year old rider and he was able to finish third for the day in a much improved performance. Conditions were dry and rocky, and the weekend gave Hollis plenty of knowledge and experience to draw upon next time he races in those conditions.

“In the junior classes, son of AORC champ, Harley Hutton finished on top on the weekend with 1-1 results on his YZ85.”

In the junior classes, Harley Hutton finished on top on the weekend with 1-1 results on his YZ85. Harley, son of former AORC champ, Kirk Hutton, is a chip off the old block and continues to impress in off road.

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