Dungog AORC Special
Words and Pics by John Pearson Media
The first Enduro format for the AORC series this year was held at Dungog with rounds 3-4 being run at the same Chichester Dam property as last year.
![AORC Dungog Riley McGillivray AORC Dungog Riley McGillivray](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field.jpg)
In the week leading up to the event there had been good rain meaning that in some places there was actually mud on the track, a stark contrast to the previous rounds at Toowoomba (or many of the rounds in the last 12 months for that matter).
![AORC Dungog Stefan Granquist AORC Dungog Stefan Granquist](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-1.jpg)
A record 250 odd riders showed up for the event meaning the pits was packed. Everyone was keen to get amongst it and after rider’s briefing the field fell upon the perfectly prepared surface to make the most of the damp conditions.
![AORC Dungog Daniel Milner and crowd AORC Dungog Daniel Milner and crowd](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-2.jpg)
Round Three
The first time-carded enduro of 2019 would give everyone a chance to hone their skills in preparation for the eventuality that the A4DE would run this year.
![AORC Dungog Will Price AORC Dungog Will Price](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-3.jpg)
After a postponement late in March it was unclear when, or even if the event would run.
![AORC Dungog Jacob Peacock AORC Dungog Jacob Peacock](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-4.jpg)
It’s a format that doesn’t get much use these days with many rounds being either sprints or cross country/sprint combinations.
![AORC Dungog Riley Nancarrow AORC Dungog Riley Nancarrow](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-5.jpg)
To see riders put to the test of organisation, planning as well as being forced to battle the elements all day long, while trail riding between special tests, is not only entertaining but intriguing.
![AORC Dungog Fraser Higlett AORC Dungog Fraser Higlett](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-6.jpg)
Making sure you complete a whole load of trail and/or special tests and work periods before arriving at the start line of a special test on time adds a whole other aspect to this game.
![AORC Dungog Jonte Reynders AORC Dungog Jonte Reynders](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-7.jpg)
True to form, the boys at the pointy end continued their domination of their respective classes with Milner, Sanders and Styke keeping the fires burning in E2, E3 and E1 respectively.
![AORC Dungog Michael Driscoll AORC Dungog Michael Driscoll](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-8.jpg)
Yamaha had all three of their Activ8 Yamaha Team riders finish in the top five outright positions with strong showings in each of their classes.
![AORC Dungog Josh Green AORC Dungog Josh Green](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-9.jpg)
KTM’s Lyndon Snodgrass had a disappointing day finishing 4th in E1, an unusual result for a rider rarely off the podium.
![AORC Dungog Lyndon Snodgrass AORC Dungog Lyndon Snodgrass](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-10.jpg)
However it was KTM’s Daniel Milner who managed the fastest time for the day showing why he’s the world’s number 1 at this type of event.
![AORC Dungog Daniel Milner Spray AORC Dungog Daniel Milner Spray](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-11.jpg)
Jess Gardiner continued her strong form to take out the Women’s class again and extend her lead. The question is, can anyone step up and break the stranglehold she has on the competition this year? Her form is ominous and her competitors seem to be struggling to match her speed.
![AORC Dungog Jess Gardiner AORC Dungog Jess Gardiner](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-12.jpg)
Round Four
Sunday showed us a track that had dried out to the point that some areas were turning to bulldust.
![AORC Dungog Nathan Dalbosco AORC Dungog Nathan Dalbosco](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-13.jpg)
Three riders per minute kept the dust to a minimum, which not only helped the riders but also the spectators, who tried to watch the racing without choking through their handkerchiefs.
![AORC Dungog Daniel Milner AORC Dungog Daniel Milner](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-14.jpg)
The class wars continued with Milner and Sanders schooling their competition, both riding like men possessed.
![AORC Dungog Brad Williscroft AORC Dungog Brad Williscroft](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-15.jpg)
Styke put in another conscientious effort showing his skill as an off-road rider is without question.
![AORC Dungog Geoff Braico AORC Dungog Geoff Braico](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-16.jpg)
As the day wore on though it was clear to see the effect long hours in the saddle were having on the riders with many struggling through a deteriorating track and trail conditions that ranged from dried out dust filled ruts, to slippery creeks beds and rainforest type trails.
![AORC Dungog Jeremy Carpentier AORC Dungog Jeremy Carpentier](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-17.jpg)
For some the end couldn’t come quick enough but the consensus was the event was fun because it was different to the usual sprint format and challenged a lot of riders.
![AORC Dungog Lee Stephens AORC Dungog Lee Stephens](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-18.jpg)
After all was said and done the torch passed from Daniel Milner to Husqvarna Offroad Racing Team’s Daniel Sanders for completion of Sunday’s round in the least amount of time, giving Chucky a boost leading into the desert racing season.
![AORC Dungog Daniel Sanders AORC Dungog Daniel Sanders](https://www.motorcyclenews.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/dungog-aorc-milner-and-sanders-top-the-field-19.jpg)
In a final twist to the weekend, a satellite link outage meant that all official results from Sunday’s round 4 were incorrect, and would need to be tallied manually, meaning none were available at the conclusion of the round. Motorcycling Australia was working on rectifying the issue with results expected to be released in the coming days.
Next
The AORC will now head into a 14-week hiatus before it’s return to the iconic Kyogle tracks to allow events such as the Hattah Desert Race and the Finke Desert race to be run.
The A4DE was planned to be run also during this break but at the time of writing, the event has been postponed with no rescheduled date yet released. As the weeks slip away it’s possible there won’t be time left, or space between events for it to be run in what would be the second cancellation of the world renowned event in three years.
Source: MCNews.com.au