Snodgrass performs but Sanders steals the win

Today was far from glamorous for the penultimate round of the 2016 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship as bikes trudged through the skatey mud and a deep river crossings in three Sprints today at Penshurst, Victoria.

With unforeseen torrential weather conditions yesterday forcing the AORC management team to make a quick decision to switch from a Cross Country Race format to Sprints.

Competitors were facing deep mud ruts with limited grip, deep creek crossings and plenty of off camber sections to test their skills and treat spectators to an entertaining and action packed day of racing.

Husqvarna supported rider Lyndon Snodgrass (E3) flew out in front in this morning’s test to cross the finish line with a first outright position, posting a fastest time of 13:32.366. Yamaha mounted Riley Graham also putting his bike through the paces finishing the first test strong in second, 13:34.375. Notable absentee from the lead was third placed KTM Enduro Racing Team’s Daniel Sanders with a 13:37.070 lap time.

Fourth and fifth were left for Jack Simpson (13:37.579) and Peter Boyle (13:41.527) respectively after test number one.

By the conclusion of the second test Snodgrass (27:03.805) was once again in the number one position outright with just one test to go. KTM’s Sanders (27:06.182) looking on to secure his name on the Championship trophy with a second place finish. While Simpson also pushed bumping himself up another position to third with an overall time of 27:13.048.

Boyle (27:31.990) made his way to fourth also improving his speed, while CDR Yamaha’s Chris Hollis (27:58.830) shot to fifth concluding the second test.

Transmoto 19 and Under competitor Nic Tomlison concluded the second test sitting in the number one position for his class. Flea Flemming, Jemma Wilson and Glenn Stiles sat first in the Masters, Women’s and Vets classes respectively, looking to hold their position in the last test.

With rain falling sporadically throughout the day and the tracks being cut and diced in every direction, conditions were becoming even more tricky for riders as they headed in to their third and final test.

The pressure of winning got the better of Snodgrass in the third test with a small stop on one of the hills allowing Sanders to get past, and just pip him to the finish line with a total fastest finishing time of 40:11.014. Snodgrass (40:17.005) finished second outright with a mighty fight and only a small margin of seconds separating himself from Sanders.

Simpson finished the day in third outright with a 40:29.107 lap time. Boyle (41:16.075), Grabham (41:38.390) and Active8 Yamaha Yamalube’s Beau Ralston (41:44.394) finished fourth, fifth and sixth outright with their respective finishing times.

KTM mounted Jack Simpson, despite sitting third outright, managed to clean up in the E1 class with a first place. Following behind the orange machine in the Championship E1 class was Baylee Davies with a concluding time of 43:38.040. Jake Blackwood finish third iwith a 43:36.964.

Boyle proved that he was a wiz in the mud manouvering his machine to take the Championship E2 spoils today. Last rounds standout performer Yamaha mounted Broc Grabham cemented second place. Tye Simmonds let the mud and the slippery conditions get the better of him today, but still managing to finish strong with a third placing in his class with a 41:48.269, gripping the Championship still.

Sanders fought hard to take the win today against Husqvarna competitor Snodgrass but proving why he is in the Championship leader Sanders finished in position one today both outright and in the Championship E3 class. Rounding out the E3 podium was Snodgrass and Active8 Yamaha Yamalube’s Ralston.

A glitch in timing saw Transmoto 19 and Under competitor Ben Kearns timed in the Championship Vets class, however once results were rectified it has been confirmed that Kearns today was victorious over Motul Pirelli Sherco Factory Team rider Wil Ruprecht. Sherco mounted Ruprecht finished second with a 42:52.649 combined time. KTM mounted Tomlinson (42:54.363) finished third.

Jemma Wilson finished the day strong once again claiming victory over her fellow Women’s competitors, despite the copious amounts of mud layering her Yamaha machine. Sophie Coldicutt, also Yamaha mounted, improved throughout the day with a concluding time of 51:18.816 to cement second place, while Jessica Gardiner (54:14.256) finished third.

David ‘Flea’ Flemming (43:32.040) claimed Masters Victory today putting his machine in the top position. Despite a tough fight, Grundy (48:14.213) and Fred Patterson (50:28.019) just couldn’t quite match the speed of Flea putting themselves in second and third respectively for the Championship Masters class.

With new names competing in the Championship Veterans class, and a notable absence from the front in Bjorn Osborne. It was Glenn Stiles (47:03.784) who secured himself a victory. Scott Szabo sped through the mud with a time of 50:04.641, mere seconds in front of third placed Con Privitera – 50:27.159 to finish the day.

Round 11 is now done and dusted for competitors, and with the penultimate round finished, tomorrow will be a history making day at Round 12 of the 2016 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship seeing new Champions crowned at Penshurst in Victoria.

For a full list of results click here.

To catch up with everything happening this weekend at the Yamaha AORC head to www.ma.org.au, like the AORC on Facebook and follow @aorc_ on Instagram.