With a short one hour flight from Melbourne to Canberra, I arrived at the Vibe Hotel in time for the 2025 Yamaha WR250F presentation. That is where I got to lay eyes on the brand new WR250F for the first time. After the presentation we had a bite to eat while discussing some of the features of the WR with the team, before heading to bed. After testing the latest YZ250F, I was keen to try the WR.

The following day was a nice early start as we had a good couple hours drive up to Lyndon Heffernan’s Academy of Off Road Riding property at Bateman’s Bay to put the WR250F through its paces. Arriving at Heffo’s property, we were met with a fleet of 13 brand new 2025 yamaha WR205F’s just waiting for us to throw our legs over and have some fun.

Tech Highlights

Starting off with the updates to the chassis, the new bilateral beam chassis is identical to that of the YZ250F but with new enduro tuned engine mounts, making the WR250F more agile and able handle the different terrains you would find on any enduro course with ease. New aluminium footpeg brackets not only save weight but are also 10mm lower, creating a lower centre of gravity to optimise handling and open up the rider position.

The WR250F comes with a slimmer body thanks to its new slim 7.4 litre fuel tank and its slim radiator shrouds, which offer a comfier rider position and allow more for movement towards the front of the bike, making the WR250F easier to throw around in those tight and twisty sections out in the bush. The new seat is flatter with rounded edges, which increases the degree of freedom for the rider, allowing better movement and comfort during the ride.

The rear guard is redesigned stronger and with a hand held section giving you the perfect spot to pick the rear of the WR250F up if you’re in a sticky situation on a trail.

Fitted with revised 48mm KYB front suspension with 300mm of travel the forks are identical to the YZ250F suspension but tuned for enduro. There is also with a tool-free compression damping adjustment knob on the top of the fork for quick and easy adjustment to suit any terrain.

A revised KYB shock pairs with the front-end of the WR250F for precise control over the varied terrains that you will encounter. This also assists in increasing the traction on the front and rear for a more planted feel and to optimise handling. The 2025 WR250F also has a new lightweight rear wheel with a three-spoke lacing pattern and longer spokes for more flex, with a blue anodized 18 inch Excel rim laced to a 262G lighter reduced width hub.

The upgraded Power Tuner app now comes with a user-friendly interface, with intuitive tuning using a scroll bar to adjust between smooth and aggressive options. Traction control now has three levels of adjustment, there’s also a built in lap timer function and suspension and power tuning set-up advice.

The new multifunction mode switch comes with integrated engine stop and mode selection switch, making it easy to switch between two customisable power modes whilst out on your ride. The second power mode when the blue light controls traction control, making it easier to switch between modes with or without traction control during a ride.

The engine definitely wasn’t left untouched. Revised with a new reduced friction camchain paired with new camshaft sprockets, new camchain guide and new camchain guide stopper all helping to reduce the load and prolong the life of the engine.

The airbox and filter system has been modified allowing more airflow with air coming in from different directions. A curved filter element and optimised case increasing the volume of air flow by 30 per cent. Inside the airbox under the filter, the WR250F has a new funnel shaped design to create a smooth and longer air draw to increase torque.

The WR250F comes with a model specific ECU with optimised fuel and ignition settings. The ECU maps are similar to the YZ250F yet made to suit enduro competition riding and various terrains. Other components changed for light weight include the sub-frame, lightweight throttle cable, a new compact bar pad and a new shorter muffler.

The ride

After being told the WR250F offers more power while being lighter and with a lower centre of gravity, creating a more agile bike, I was eager to put the WR250F through its paces. And as soon as I sat on the WR250F it was clear how slim it is compared to previous models. Heffo’s property was the perfect place to test out the WR250F, with a motocross track, a linked enduro loop, and a flat track all surrounded by an uncountable amount of enduro trails leading in every direction!

After starting the WR250F my first thought was that it is much quieter than anticipated due to its new shorter muffler. At first this put a doubt in my mind, to which I am glad the WR250F changed very quickly. As I twisted the throttle I realised that a quieter exhaust doesn’t mean a less powerful bike.

The 270mm front brake disc and 240mm rear disc are paired with Nissin calipers, providing a strong and even braking power that is easy to control…

After a couple laps warming up on the flat track to familiarise myself with the WR250F it was time to open up the throttle and see what the 2025 WR250F has to offer. I was not disappointed, with plenty of torque and smooth linear power deliverance paired with the new slim body, made attacking the flat track feel as if I was on a motocross bike, the WR handling the soft loamy corners with ease and putting the power to the ground effortlessly on the straights.

The 270mm front brake disc and 240mm rear disc are paired with Nissin calipers, providing a strong and even braking power that is easy to control whether you need to come to a quick stop or to wash off a little bit of speed before entering a corner.

After a few laps on the flat track we headed to a small river crossing, where I really noticed the lower centre of gravity. This made the WR250F easy to control through the rough and rocky uneven terrains.

The WR250F comes with a cable operated clutch. Going through the rocky terrains I noticed the clutch engagement point felt a little off for my riding style, to which the cable made it easy to simply adjust on the fly to change the feel and suit my riding style with ease.

Although there is a larger preference of the hydraulic clutch over a cable, the WR250F’s cable clutch definitely holds its own feeling very light and smooth throughout the entire ride. The smooth and light clutch paired with easy to operate shift cam and six-speed gearbox made changing gears a breeze.

I was able to really put the clutch and gearbox to the test on Heffo’s property on the many hills of various terrains we tackled throughout the day. The 2025 WR250F has plenty of torque and down low power allowing you to ride in a taller gear even uphill under load with minimal clutch slips. Being a 450 rider myself I was very impressed as normally on a 250 I find myself jumping through the gears.

Being a 450 rider myself I was very impressed as normally on a 250 I find myself jumping through the gears…

The KYB front and rear suspension worked hand in hand with the chassis and engine of the WR250F allowing me to tackle anything thrown at me throughout the day. With the easy to adjust compression damper on the forks I was able to tune the forks to suit the terrain in front of me. This also came in handy on our long trail ride at the end of the day. As I started to get a little fatigued, I simply turned down the compression by a couple of clicks making the forks a little softer and less intense to provide a smoother ride.

Unfortunately I didn’t change any of the maps using the Power Tuner app but I did swap through the two standard maps that come stock on the WR250F. The maps that are equipped suited the terrains perfectly. Giving you the option to switch between traction control on with map two and traction control off with map one. I had fun trying out both in the wet and dry sections on the property, finding I was able to tackle any terrain without hesitation.

After having lunch we set out on a trail ride for a couple of hours, during which we tackled many different terrains consisting of rock beds, river crossings, long and tall hills and some single trail twisty sections. The 2025 WR250F tackled all of these obstacles with ease.

Overall, I enjoyed riding the 2025 Yamaha WR250F. With handling that felt like I was riding a motocross bike on a single trail enduro track. I did feel that the 2025 WR250F inspires confidence in its rider with its linear power delivery and wide range six-speed gearbox making it easy to tackle any obstacle in front of you.

Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced rider the WR250F will put a smile on your face with its user-friendly Power Tuner app, you can easily change the map settings to suit you and push your limits. The comfortable riding position, new slim feeling, lower centre of gravity, plus KYB front and rear suspension make riding effortless and will leave you with a smile on your face.

Read our in-depth tech look and see the video of the new WR250F here…

2025 Yamaha WR250F Specifications 

Yamaha-Motor.com.au

Price: $16,799 Ride Away
Warranty: N/A
Colours: Team Yamaha Blue
Claimed Power: N/A
Claimed Torque: N/A
Wet Weight: 113kg
Fuel capacity: 7.4L
Fuel Consumption Claimed: N/A
Fuel Consumption (measured): N/A

Engine: Liquid-cooled four-stroke, DOHC, four-valve, 77 x 53.6mm bore x stroke, 250cc, 13.8:1 compression, wet sump, EFI, electric start, TCI ignition, five-speed gearbox, cable clutch actuation

Chassis: Frame: Bilateral alloy beam frame.
Rake: N/A Trail: N/A
Suspension: Fully adjustable inverted KYB fork, 300mm travel (f) Fully adjustable KYB shock, 306mm travel. Aluminum swingarm (r).
Brakes: 270mm disc, Nissin two-piston caliper (f), 240mm disc, Nissin single piston caliper (r), Nissin master-cylinders.
Tyres: 90/90 – 21in Dunlop 54R EN91F (f), 140/80 – 18in Dunlop 70R EN91 (r).

Dimensions:
Seat height: 955mm
Ground clearance: 330mm
Overall width: 825mm
Overall Length: 2170mm
Overall height: 1265mm
Wheelbase: 1470mm

Instruments & Electronics: Digital ODO/Speedo instruments, Engine Mapping, Traction Control, Launch Control, Lap timer via Yamaha Power Tuner app.

Editor’s Note: If you are reading this article on any website other than BikeReview.com.au, please report it to BikeReview via our contact page, as it has been stolen or re-published without authority.

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For over 20 years, Yamaha Australia has been a major player in the Australian Off Road Championship and that will continue for 2024 as again the bLU cRU have taken up the naming rights of the long standing championship. Another 12 rounds over six weekends are scheduled and taking in some of the best riding terrain in the country with the nations’ best off-road pilots.

ShopYamaha Off-Road
Spearing Yamaha’s presence at the AORC will be the ShopYamaha off Road Team of Kyron Bacon and Wil Dennett. The two young guns of Australian enduro racing will be out to make their presence felt with Bacon contesting the E1 division (250cc) while Dennett steps up to handle the E2 duties (450cc).

Tasmanian based sensation, Kyron Bacon is fit, fast and motivated to get his AORC number 1 plate back after an injury interrupted 2023 season. Bacon took the E1 and outright honours in 2022, but a broken leg mid-way through the 2023 season halted any chance of retaining the crown, but to his credit, he still managed to charge his way back to a podium position by seasons end and finish the year on a strong note. 

“Last year had some challenges but it also had a lot of positive things I can take from it and I’m fired up and ready to get racing in 2024,” Bacon begins. “I’m well and truly over my injury and riding well and have already spent a few days with the team testing and preparing for the new season.”

“I missed a couple of rounds last year and even though Josh Green has retired, the depth of this years’ championship looks even better. Having Daniel back will be great for the championship and his profile can only add to the AORC and I look forward to racing not just him, but all the other riders in this years’ championship and doing my best to keep the number one plate on Yamaha for another year,” Bacon said.     

Alongside Bacon will be Wil Dennett who steps into the E2 division after the retirement of long-time racer, Josh Green. But make no mistake, Dennett earned his way onto the premier team with some sensational performances in the Under 19 class in 2023, that included plenty of Outright podiums and top five results.   

Racing with bLU cRU support in 2023, Dennett was comfortably the most improved rider in last years’ championship and the steep learning curve looks set to stay with his progression to the ShopYamaha team and under the guidance of AJ Roberts.

“I have been a Yamaha rider for a long time and it’s awesome that I have been able to work my way up through the ranks with their support and make it to the premier team,” Dennett says with enthusiasm. “Last year was awesome for me, and it was topped off when AJ called at the end of the season and offered me a ride. I’m not sure who was more stoked, me or my dad.

“I have to keep working hard and I have big shoes to fill with Josh retiring but I’m looking forward to it. The extra support from the team gives me more time to ride and train, my bikes will be better prepared, and I have worked hard over the off season to improve my riding and fitness, so I will be ready for the opening rounds.”

Yamaha Ballard’s Off-Road Racing
Jess Gardiner and her team are back for another season and looking to keep the momentum going from a successful 2024 season that saw her and Danielle McDonald win their respective championships as well as finish on the podium in the worlds team championships (ISDE) in Argentina.

Continuing with a three-rider outfit that will now see McDonald join Gardiner in the senior women’s class after dominates the junior girls while Jeremy Carpentier will fly the flag in the E1 class on the WR450F.

Gardiner will be gunning for eighth AORC championship, but it is highly likely, her main opposition will be parked right beside her in the JGR tent. Gardiner has been a mentor for McDonald over the past few seasons, but this year, they go head-to-head over 12 rounds. Will it be the gritty determination of the veteran in Gardiner that climbs the mountain again, or the young, fast and stylish McDonald that brings the gardiner train to a halt?

For Carpentier, the all new WR450F has been like a breath of fresh air and he has gelled with the bike the moment he threw a leg over it. The light, agile and exciting new model that was built for Australian conditions has Carpentier charged up for the new season and ready to create some damage in the E2 class.

Yamaha bLU cRU Support
A new layer of support was introduced by Yamaha for the 2023 and the success was instant. The three-rider team of Cooper Sheidow, Wil Dennett and Jett Yarnold finished the year with two AORC championships and a third place in an outstanding debut. The support given to Wil Dennett enabled him to move up to the ShopYamaha team while Sheidow and Yarnold return for another season with Yamaha bLU cRU Support.

Sheidow is the current E1 champion after a consistent and impressive start to his time on Yamaha. He was in the heat of the battle right from the opening round, filled in for the inured Bacon with the ShopYamaha team and when the pressure was on at the final round, Sheidow kept his composure and secured the championship for himself and Yamaha.

The South Australian rider established himself on the national scene in 2023 and with a season under his belt on Yamaha as well as the continued support of the ShopYamaha team, expect Sheidow to continue his upward trend in the 2024 season.  

Yarnold stepped out of juniors and made in an immediate impact, taking third in the EJ (under 19 championship), and finishing on the podium at most rounds. Yarnold adapted well to the team surroundings and will enter this year’s championships as one of the favourites in the development category.

GYTR Yamaha Junior Racing
Yamaha Junior Racing made the move into off road racing in 2023 with the two-rider line up of Marcus Nowland and Harley Hutton. Both return for 2024 with YJR support and will continue to fly the flag at AORC events.

Hutton won multiple rounds in 2023 and showed he is the real deal when it comes to off road despite his young age. He will again contest the J2 (85cc) class for 2024 and will be out to get the number one plate on his YZ85.

For Nowland, he had an up and down year but gained valuable experience in his first year on the bigger capacity bikes. Now settled and comfortable on the 250cc machine, Nowland will be aiming for the top as he embarks on the new season.

The 2024 AORC gets under way in March and will run 12 rounds ending in September. 

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Conditions were dry and dusty all weekend as the AORC competitors faced the Cross-Country format on Saturday with three hours of continuous racing and then backed up on Sunday with the Sprint format on already dry and rough ground.

Jess Gardiner continued her sensational 2023 form with another double class win over the weekend that sees her extend her lead in the Women’s AORC Championship. Despite a couple of falls throughout the weekend, Gardiner was able to regain her composure and continue to dominate the Women’s division.

“The weekend went well, and the team were able to achieve some great results in some challenging conditions,”Gardiner explains. “I’m not sure how much skin I have left on my elbows after racing each day, I don’t think it’s a lot, but I was able to put each crash behind me and keep going at a good pace to take the win on both rounds.”

“The dry conditions made it tough, especially if you started towards the back as vision be come an issue when the field was all together. But once I was able to get some clear track and see what was happening, I felt much more comfortable and didn’t make as many mistakes. Thank you to everyone at the club for putting on the event, and everyone that supports the JGR Yamaha team. We are all in a good place in the championship and will continue to work hard at the remaining rounds,” Gardiner ends.

Matching the results of her team boss, was junior sensation, Danielle McDonald. McDonald also finished with 1-1 results over the weekend but also took it to the boys in the junior divisions finishing third outright on both days. McDonald is a step above her rivals and continues to improve at each round.

“I’m pretty happy with how I went on the weekend, and it was good to get up near the front against the boys. I try to use them as a guide to how I’m riding and want to be closer to the front at every round we do. My bike was perfect all weekend and its good to have Jess and Jeremy on hand to guide me through any issues I face.”

After an injury interrupted start to the 2023 season, Jeremy Carpentier is finally back to full fitness and again contesting for top 10 out right results. On board the team WR450F, Carpentier finished the Cross Country fifth in class and just outside the top 10 Outright and was sixth in class on Sunday, again just missing the top 10 Outright.

“It was the first time in a while I have been able to race pain free at a national event,” Carpentier begins. “I have had wrist and hand injuries mar the start of my season but hopefully, I’m over them now and can get some continuity in my training and racing with an aim to get some good results before the season is over,” he ends.

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Set for high speeds and even higher heart rates, AORC will feature more than 250 riders set to tear up picturesque green fields. Featuring dusty tracks, we’re expecting low visibility and hot competition all weekend long. Before go-time this morning, here’s everything you need to know about Keyneton.

Check Out The Full Entry List Here…

This weekend AORC are welcoming more than 250 riders into Keyneton for Cross Country and Sprints. Your favourites are ready to go, including the return of Yamaha’s Kyron Bacon, GASGAS’s Korey McMahon, Beta’s Fraser Higlett and Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team’s Jess Gardiner.

The Women’s Development Program session was hosted by Jess Gardiner and Emelie Karlsson. Female competitors received an insight into different aspects of Cross County and Sprints, from nutrition, mindset, as well as track conditions and racing styles. Juniors joined Josh Green at the Yamaha truck for another YORTT session. This is a hassle-free opportunity available at every weekend of the 2023 season where you can learn from a world-class athlete, on all Off-Road tech and tips.

Keyneton is famously home to Henschke Wines and the gateway to the Barossa Valley. A beautiful township with massive gum trees and sweeping landscapes, this stunning location is 82 kilometres from Adelaide. Founded in 1842, Keyneton is part of the Mid Murray region. To found out more about this area.

The post Over 250 Racers Taking Part In The Keyneton AORC Round This Weekend! appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

The (ISDE) is a prestigious and renowned event that epitomizes the essence of off-road motorcycle racing. With a history dating back over a century, ISDE gathers the world’s most skilled and daring riders from various corners of the globe. Held annually, this gruelling competition challenges participants through demanding terrain, pushing the limits of endurance, precision, and adaptability.

Team Australia will be represented by the vastly experienced, multiple time Australian Off-Road Champion, 7-time Australian 4 Day Enduro Champion and 6-time ISDE Women’s Trophy Team winner, Jessica Gardiner. Alongside Jess will be 6-time ISDE Women’s Trophy Winner, 3-time GNCC Champion and 6-time Sprint Enduro Champion Tayla Jones and multiple Junior Girls Australian Off-Road Champion and 4-time Hattah Race Champion Danielle McDonald.

The significantly increased financial burdens encompassing travel, accommodation, and logistics to and from South America have posed an insurmountable challenge in sending representatives across all classes. Moreover, the limited access to crucial resources, including specialized and competitive equipment, spare parts, and technical support, has left MA and the ISDE Management Team to carefully reconsider the scale of this year’s Australian representation.

In addition, several regular Australia factory-contracted riders were unavailable to commit to the event, due to existing commitments. All efforts will be made to field a full Australian Team in 2024 when the ISDE heads back to Spain.

The post 2023 ISDE Team Australia Announced appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Thankfully the weather cleared up and the riders were treated to blue skies. After tackling the first lap, the dirt dried out which lead to grippy and competitive conditions, which gave the riders all the reason they needed to push hard.

Gold Class by Enduro Parts Australia

1 Sam Rogers
2 Darren Rudling
3 Jakob Petrig

Official timing results indicate that Sam Rogers was the only rider to complete all 4 laps within the Gold Category Race.

Sam Rogers: “Super happy to come away with the win being my first win of the season and in my racing career! These bikes really know how to tackle the hard stuff! The MR300 PRO hadn’t missed a beat all day, combined with the MITAS MX-MH double green tyres, I seemed to find more grip than everyone else which made my life a whole lot easier.”

The post Sam Rogers Wins WHES On A Rieju! appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Jonte Reynders, Anthony Solar, Chris Perry and Tim Coleman will represent team Sherco, covering the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC), Australian Hard Enduro Championship (AHEC), the Australian SuperEnduro Championship (ASEC) and selected standalone hard enduro events such as the Wildwood Rock Extreme Enduro.

Last year’s E3-class AORC runner-up, Jonte Reynders, is set to enter his fifth season with Team Motul Pirelli Sherco, embarking on a new challenge for 2023, competing in the hotly contested E2 class aboard the 300 SEF Factory 4-stroke. Reynders plans to contest the Australian 4-day Enduro series whilst also continuing to compete in his home state of TAS, defending his 2022 state championship.

After dominating the Australian hard-enduro scene in 2022, Sherco Australia is proud to announce forming of a new hard-enduro team dedicated to competing in Australia’s most gruelling races. Reigning Australian Hard Enduro Champion, Anthony Solar, will defend his #1 plate on his 300 SE Factory, looking to become Australia’s first SuperEnduro champion.

Solar’s biggest threat is arguably his teammate Chris Perry, who equalled Solar with AHEC points in 2022 but was edged out of the title by a podium countback. Perry will contest the 2023 ASEC aboard the 300 SEF Factory 4-stroke before reverting to his familiar 300 SE Factory 2-stroke for the AHEC and Wildwood Rock Extreme Enduro.

The hard enduro paddock was all the better for having fan-favourite Tim Coleman back in action. After being sidelined in 2021, Coleman gradually returned to racing competition, proving he still has what it takes to run with Australia’s best. Coleman will join Solar and Perry in the Australian Super Enduro Championship aboard the 250 SE Factory, as well as compete in selected events and continue to run his popular coaching clinics. 

“I’m stoked to be back with the Sherco team for another season, this year will be my fifth with the team. The transition to the 300SEF four-stroke has been seamless, I felt comfortable on it straight away and haven’t had to make any drastic changes to my set-up. I’m feeling fit, fast and looking forward to the new challenge in the E2 class”. said Jonte Reynder, Motul Pirelli Sherco Rider 

“The hard-enduro scene has grown so much in Australia over the last few years. Winning the Australian hard-enduro championship last year was a dream come true, and to now be a part of a factory team with Sherco Australia is surreal. We have all the ingredients to repeat last year’s successes, we just need to mix them right…I’m looking forward to the year ahead”. Said Anthony Solar, Motul Sherco Hard Enduro Rider

“I’m beyond excited to be part of Sherco Australia’s hard-enduro-specific factory racing team. Anthony and I have been doing this for a few years now, and we both enjoyed some support from Sherco last year, it’s great to be stepping things up for 2023 and bringing some of our key supporters and sponsors over in putting this team together. It is the complete package now; we can be prepared and have the support we need to compete at our very best domestically and take on the world stage in selected European events”. said Chris Perry, Motul Sherco Hard Enduro Rider

“Sherco is like a family to me, I’ve been with them for several years now, and I just love the people around me and having their full support, especially with my recent recovery journey. I really appreciate that there’s no pressure on me to compete full-time as I ease back into racing. I’m really excited about the fresh start with the team for this year, with Jonte competing in traditional enduro and Anthony, Chris and myself forming the new hard enduro team, I think we have a great mix of riders, and the whole team operation has taken a step forward this year in professionalism with the new Sherco factory racing gear, we’re looking good, feeling good and I’m sure we’ll turn a few heads this year”.  said Tim Coleman, Motul Sherco Hard Enduro Rider

“For 2023, Sherco Australia’s factory racing program has undergone a host of significant changes, with new official team riders, championship series, racing classes, sponsors, and overall appearance. Collectively, this has made the pre-season unbelievably busy. However, the upside is that our elevated program is now more closely aligned with Sherco’s factory operation in Europe, and the buzz, energy, and synergy within the team has never been higher.” said Derek Grundy, Sherco Australia Off-Road Racing Manager.

The post 2023 Sherco Australia Off-Road Team Revealed! appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

The Pony Express class is all about teaming up with your friends and combining your times to compete against other teams. The winners will be the team with the most laps and the shortest time. This class is sure to bring a new level of excitement and camaraderie to the AORC and will feature at all rounds of the championship.

The Legends class is for older masters of the sport who still want to race and show what they are capable of. This class is open to riders 50 years and older and will provide a platform for these experienced riders to showcase their skills, compete against their peers and also providing the opportunity for untold lies post-event…

Motorcycling Australia CEO, Peter Doyle, said “We are excited to launch the 2023 AORC and the addition of the Pony Express and Legends classes to the line-up. These new classes will bring a fresh dynamic to the championship and we can’t wait to see how they will play out on the track. We look forward to a great season of off-road racing and wish all the riders the best of luck.”

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSES 

• E1:  100cc to 200cc 2-Stroke & 150cc to 250cc 4-Stroke 
• E2:  220cc to 250cc 2-Stroke & 275cc to 450cc 4-Stroke 
• E3:  290cc to 500cc 2-Stroke & 475cc to 650cc 4-Stroke 
• EJ:  Under 18 All powers (*Age as at 1 January 2021) 
• Veterans:  35+ Years All powers (*Age as at 1 January 2023)  
• Masters: 45+ Years All powers (*Age as at 1 January 2023) 
• Women:   All Powers 

JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP CLASSES 

• J2:  12 – Under 15  85cc 2-Stroke & up to 150cc 4-Stroke 
• J3:  13- Under 15 years  125cc to 200cc 2-Stroke & 200cc to 250cc 4-Stroke 
• J4:  15 years  125cc to 200cc 2-Stroke & 200cc to 250cc 4-Stroke 
• JG:  12 to Under 16 years 85cc 2-Stroke & 150cc to 250cc 4-Stroke 

CUP CLASSES 

• Enduro Legends: 50+ Years All Powers (*Age as at 1 January 2023) - NEW
• Pony Express: Senior All Powers – (Teams of 2 Riders) – NEW
• 2T:  125cc up to 250cc 2-Stroke
• J1:  9 to Under 12 years  85cc 2-st &150cc 4-st (sw)
• JJ: 9 to Under 12 years 65cc

The 2023 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship Calendar 

• Rounds 1 & 2: Mendooran (NSW) – March 25-26, 2023
• Rounds 3 & 4: Queensland Moto Park (QLD) – April 22-23, 2023
• Rounds 5 & 6: Edenhope (VIC) – July 22-23, 2023
• Rounds 7 & 8: TBC (SA) – August 26-27, 2023
• Rounds 9 & 10: Kyogle (NSW) – September 16-17, 2023
• Rounds 11 & 12: Dungog (NSW) – October 14-15, 2023

The post AORC 2023 Categories And Calendar Announced! appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

Entered in the Gold Class and up against some of Australia’s top Hard Enduro riders, Sam travelled all the way from the Gold Coast to compete. Supported by his sponsors including Rieju Australia and WA Rieju Dealer, MotoMax Motorcycles, he fought hard and showed just what the Rieju MR300 Pro can do in some of the harshest conditions around. 

Sam was only just pipped at the post by Neil Price and Darren Rudling. Neil and Darren placed first and second respectively with Neil applying a severe amount of pressure, who only stopped to rest twice during the event.

Marketing Manager for Rieju Australia, Mal Jarrett, commented “We are thrilled with Sam’s result in W.A and the overall development of the Rieju MR300 Pro. Sam is starting to feel comfortable on the Rieju and is really coming to grips with the bike. We are looking forward to the rest of the season unfolding and more podium finishes for Sam.” 

“The bike rode perfect all weekend and super stoked to be on the podium! Excited to bring more to the table next season!” – Sam Rogers.

The post Rieju On The Podium In Australia! appeared first on Racing, Riding, Motorcycle Reviews, Race bikes, Tech Tips, Rider Training....

The Junior Trophy team consisting of Kyron Bacon (Yamaha), Blake Hollis (Yamaha) and Kory McMahon (GASGAS) finished the event in third after a gruelling six days of competition. The team were always in contention from a podium finish right from the get-go and kept in the fight right to the end to snare the final podium spot in a rewarding week for the three riders.

Bacon led the charge finishing an incredible third in the JSE1 class, fifth in JWT and 26th outright for the event on board his 250cc machine. Bacon has been nothing short of sensational in the 2022 season, winning the Australian Four Day Enduro, currenting leading the Australian Off-Road Championship and now a podium result at the most prestigious off road event in the world.

The 2022 ISDE was Bacon’s first attempt at the event and the experience gained will hold not only him, but the Australian team in good stead as he know has better knowledge of how the event is run and the skills required to compete on the world stage.

“That was pretty tough,” Bacon said not long after the finish. “Six long days on a bike, all done at close to race pace throughout on challenging and tricky trails and tests makes it super draining and such a hard event to contest.

“Each day presented another challenge as the tests were dry and dusty, then become rough and rocky so you really had to be on your game and stay focused. But being a team event, it’s awesome to have the support of everyone around you who help and offer assistance and I’m stoked to be able to stand on the podium with Blake and Kory to finish third. Thank you to Joakim and Yamaha Europe for this assistance during the event as well as AJ and everyone at Yamaha Australia who always support us. Also, thanks to Motorcycling Australia and the team sponsors who invested in us. It was a great event and I look forward to doing many more of these in the years to come.”

Blake Hollis also was on debut at the 2022 ISDE and proved to be a consistent and reliable anchor man for the team, coming home in eighth in JSE1, 12th pace in JWT and 56th Outright. Hollis battled some sickness during the week but continued to front up each and every day giving his all and helped his team mates to the podium result. Hollis also gained plenty of experience from the event and believes that it will do him good both domestically as well as the next time he competes at the ISDE.

“It’s pretty cool to be racing against the best off riders in the world and I got to watch and learn from them first hand. None of us in the junior team have had much international experience, so I think we learned a lot and worked well together to get a good result.

“We had a lot of people here supporting us, some of them volunteers who just wanted to be a part of it, so I’m thankful to them as well as everyone on the team and Yamaha. I would love to come back and do this event again as I think I can prepare better and achieve a better result, so I hope to get back and give another one a crack in the future.”

Jess Gardiner led the Women’s team to another podium result at the ISDE. Gardiner, an experienced campaigner who already has six ISDE gold medals to her name, can now add a bronze as the team of Gardiner, Emilie Karlsson and Ebony Nelson finished third in 2022.

For Gardiner, she found this one a challenge as conditions were tough and the riding long, but the ever determined rider she is enabled her to charge all the way to the finish and take fourth in individual honours and lead Australia to a third place finish.

“We had a bit of everything thrown at us this week, from dust to rocks and some rain here and there so it was a tough event and the tests were used several times so it was also rough. The girls did a great job, and I can’t thank them enough for giving it their best every day and I’m proud to be standing on the podium with them this week after some a gruelling event.”    

The only blemish during the event was the forced retirement of Josh Green. Green was riding well and consistently posting good times in the opening days of competition but on day four fell on rocks and severely injured his hand and fingers. This meant Green had to go to hospital as a nasty gash and cuts required clean up surgery and some wires placed to secure and stabilize his hand. He spent the last two days cheering on his teammates.

“It’s a disappointing way to finish the event and I feel bad for letting the senior team down. Daniel, Todd, Andy and myself were all battling away and trying to get towards a podium but that all went out the window when myself and Todd went down with injury. I’m gutted that I couldn’t help my teammates to the end. Doing an event like this is a huge effort from so many people. The work that goes on behind the scenes is massive, so a huge thank you to everyone who has had a handing in helping team Australia in all divisions. We all worked well as a team and it would have been awesome for everyone of us to be on the podium at the end, but it wasn’t to be,” Green said.

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