As rounds 5 and 6 of the Yamaha WSB SA Off-Road Championship came to a close last weekend, Harrogate hosted a thrilling showdown featuring South Australia’s top off-road competitors, ready to take on everything ACUSA Park could throw at them. After an intense year of racing, with only minimal differences in the final championship standings, it was clear that only the most well-rounded riders would excel during the sprint and cross-country events.
To catch up on the full results for all classes, click here.
Images by Josh Reynolds.
Pro
With top championship contenders Max Midwinter, Chad Sparrow, and Sean Throup all vying for the top spot, joined by the returning force of Cooper Sheidow, the race for the final championship was far from settled. Saturday’s cross-country event saw Max Midwinter’s endurance give him a slight edge in a tight battle with Chad Sparrow, while Cooper Sheidow claimed third, edging out Sean Throup by just six seconds.
As the horsepower ramped up in Sunday’s sprint session, Sparrow regained control, narrowly edging out Sheidow in fiercely competitive heats 6 and 9. Midwinter completed the podium in third, securing crucial championship points in the process.
Expert Open
Trailing by just seven points, Aaron Dent knew time was running out for final points, but boy did he deliver at Harrogate. Dent took victory in Saturday’s cross-country, finishing ahead of Oliver Pitchford and Max Price, and then followed it up by going two for two with a sprint-to-the-finish win in Round 6. Price challenged Royden Harrold for the final spot on the Round 6 podium, with Harrold coming agonizingly close midway through the sprint.
C1
Victoria’s Ethan Alderton demonstrated remarkable stamina as he withstood the pressure from championship runner-up Thomas Mosey during a successful weekend, achieving a clean sweep of wins. In Round 5, Henry Berkin secured second place, finishing ahead of Mosey. On Sunday, Mosey continued to impress, climbing the podium to claim second place once again, this time finishing ahead of Charles Ingham in a fierce battle for those crucial final points.
C2
As the season progressed, the battle for the championship became increasingly fierce, with Thomas Winter, Mackyle Thomson, and Rhys Birthisel each vying for supremacy. Winter’s strategic racing style and ability to handle pressure led him to take the final win in both Round 5 and Round 6. The weekend unfolded like a scene from the past, with Thomson successfully fending off Birthisel for the Round 5 and 6-second spot.
C3
Continuing his dominant winning streak from Rounds 3 and 4, Kyle Porteous clinched victory in the final championship outing, delivering a weekend of déjà vu as he secured the two-day win. He finished ahead of championship newcomer Archer Colwill, who claimed second, and the hard-charging Cody Schiller, who rounded out the podium in third. Porteous’s consistent performance throughout the weekend not only reinforced his status as a top competitor but also showcased the intensity of the C3 Championship across the rollercoaster of six rounds.
E Masters
Riding the momentum from his recent 2024 Australian Masters Off-Road Championship win, Rowan Pumpa had an exceptional weekend at Harrogate. Pumpa swept the weekend with straight wins, holding off Shane Diener and Ross Tregoning for Saturday’s Round 5 victory, before fending off Tom Cozens and Craig Donaldson to secure the Round 6 top spot, finishing 2024 in exceptional style.
E Veterans
As Matthew Boyle approached the final two rounds of the season, his 39-point advantage over Peter Rossi provided him with a rare opportunity to relax, especially with Rossi absent for the weekend. This newfound freedom enabled Boyle to chase those last wins and appreciate his championship journey. Round 5 saw him secure a confident two-lap win against Michael Worthington. However, Round 6 presented a challenge, with Mat Harkness joining the fray and ultimately clinching the sprint victory, keeping Boyle from a perfect back-to-back finish for 2024.
J4
Continuing his winning streak, Ollie Gear showcased his dominance in the J4 category, transitioning from Australian Champion to Harrogate hero. He maintained a commanding lead in the X-Country event, finishing ahead of Bjorn Cardenas and Lachlan Coppen. Gear backed up his impressive performance with a clean sweep in Sunday’s Round 6 sprint session. Cardenas secured the silver medal for the second consecutive day, while Jackson Rossi claimed the final podium spot in third after a hard-fought battle against Coppen, featuring several nail-biting heat finishes that kept everyone guessing.
J3
After a stellar second-place finish in the Australian Championship, Harry Gilbertson can enjoy a well-earned off-season, adding two more trophies to his already bursting collection. He secured a clean win in the X-Country event and continued his dominance throughout the Round 6 sprint session, where the remaining podium spots were up for grabs. In Round 5, Toby Roth and Jesse Bartsch claimed the silver and bronze medals, while Lachlan Gardiner and Owen Roth both had that extra boost needed to secure second and third place, respectively, in the Round 6 sprints.
J2
Logan Stephens and Australian Champion Levi Rossi kept off-road fans on the edge of their seats at Harrogate, entering the weekend tied at 94 points for the championship overall. The two riders continued their thrilling back-and-forth battle, with Stephens clinching victory in Round 5, finishing ahead of Rossi and Blake Launer. However, Rossi turned the tables in Round 6, claiming the gold medal while Stephens secured a solid second place. Harrison Marsh made his mark by edging out Launer for the final podium spot in third during Harrogate’s sprint session.
J1
Ending 2024 on a high note, Ollie Paech claimed a dominant final-day winning streak. Demonstrating why he has been a front-runner for the championship, Paech held off Ryder Lambing and Hudson Wilson across both days to secure the final wins against a stacked J1 field of talent.
JJ
With just an 18-point margin separating the top three contenders—Cooper McCully, Reid Haydon, and Rhys Thomson—there was plenty on the line heading into the final rounds of 2024. Reid Haydon continued his strong form by securing the Round 5 win ahead of McCully and Max Donald. However, Round 6 turned the podium on its head as McCully scored top marks, taking the win ahead of Koben Corbell and Thomson in third.
As the dust settles on another edge-of-your-seat South Australian Off Road Championship, we would like to highlight and extend our thanks to our major sponsors, without whom the Championship would not have been possible. A heartfelt thanks to Yamaha, WSB Distributors, Nutrien, Painttech, EIF Industries, Redtech, CSJ Electrical, Rarcoola Structural, Rhythm Race Suspension, Kessner Motorcycles, and Simpson Signs for your incredible support and for continuing to fuel the passion for off-road racing in South Australia. We would also like to extend our thanks to all the clubs and volunteers who made 2024 such a huge year—you are all true champions! With the results in the books, we can’t wait to see you at the Presentation Night for the crowning of our 2024 champions—the ticket box will be open soon!
