by SAORC Admin
News
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!
The spectator program is now available online! Limited printed copies will be available on the day so down load it to your phone now
Final Riders Information for Rounds 5 & 6, Harrogate is now available: HERE
Also please don’t forget to complete your Self Scrutineering Form
Riders Briefing Notes: HERE
Get ready for the final SAORC showdown this weekend! ACUSA Park in Harrogate, SA, will be the stage for the concluding rounds 5 and 6 of the Yamaha WSB SA Off Road Championship. South Australia’s top off-road racers will come together for two days of fierce competition. This is the season finale you won’t want to miss!
Competitors
With just 17 points separating Max Midwinter, Chad Sparrow, and Sean Throup in the Pro Open Championship, the race is on! Will Max maintain his winning form, or will the arrival of Cooper Sheidow and Victoria’s Liam Mason tip the balance?
If 2024 has taught us anything, it’s that the Expert Open competition is still wide open. Oli Pitchford holds a narrow 7-point lead over Aaron Dent, but with intense competition from Dent and Round 4 winner Royden Harrold, the battle for the final points promises to be thrilling.
In the three Clubman classes, 20 of the top riders from SA and Victoria will be vying for the top spots. Championship frontrunners Ethan Alderton, Thomas Winter, and Kyle Porteous are gearing up for their ultimate showdowns, ensuring fierce competition as they fight for the final points.
This weekend, watch out for the newly crowned AORC Champions: Rowan Pumpa in Masters, Ollie Gear in J4, and Levi Rossi in J2. Also in the mix is AORC J3’s second-place finisher, Harry Gilbertson, as they all set their sights on the 2024 SA Championships.
Adding to the excitement, the Open Women, Veterans, J3, and JJ classes will bring their A-game, making ACUSA Park the ultimate destination for racing fans this weekend.
Images courtesy of Josh Reynolds.
Where:
Only an hour’s drive from Adelaide CBD, ACUSA Park provides riders with challenging dusty hills and rocky terrain. The entrance is located at 345 Snake Gully Rd, Harrogate — click HERE for directions.
This Weekend’s Course
On Saturday, riders will be tested on a demanding X-Country circuit, while Sunday sees the SAORC adrenaline get ramped up for an all-out sprint session.
Catering
Stay energized during the action-packed two days with a range of onsite food options, including coffee and hot dishes, available across Saturday and Sunday. Given the venue’s remote location, please bring cash, as EFTPOS services might not be available.
Timing & Results
Stay in the loop with every moment of the action by checking the live timing on the SA Off Road Championships website via the “LIVE TIMING” link. If you’re at the track, you can also catch all the updates on one of the TV screens. This way, you won’t miss a second of the high-octane excitement!
Once the dust has settled and the final results are in, you can find all the details on the SA Off Road Championships website. For supplementary regulations, the rule book, and the latest updates, be sure to visit saoffroadchampionships.com or motorcyclingsa.org.au. Stay up-to-date and get all the information you need to follow the action.
Socials*
Catch every twist and turn of the off-road championship showdown by staying connected with the SA Off Road Championships on Facebook and Instagram.
As the 2024 SAORC journey rolled on, the caravan of riders, families, and friends headed to Kingston SE last weekend for what promised to be an unforgettable two days. Rounds 3 & 4 of the 2024 Yamaha WSB SA Off Road Championships shared the spotlight with rounds 9 & 10 of the National Off Road Championship (AORC). With the endurance cross-country demands of Round 3 and the fast-paced sprints of Round 4, the weekend at Kingston provided a comprehensive test of the riders’ skills, intensifying the battle for points over the tough and technical conditions.
To view the full results for all classes, please click HERE.
Pro
Showing well-rounded form and plenty of skills, Max Midwinter claimed the Enduro Pro clean sweep across both rounds. He secured Saturday’s Round 3 cross-country victory with a gap of 20:46.7 ahead of Sean Throup in second and Chad Sparrow in third. Midwinter continued to apply the Championship pressure through Round 4’s sprint session, maintaining a strong lead, while Sparrow turned the tables on Throup to take over the Pro second place for Sunday.
Expert Open
With Championship leader Davey Gear not lining up at Kingston, the door opened for a fierce battle for the Enduro Expert top spot among Oliver Pitchford, Aaron Dent, and Max Price. Pitchford set a blistering pace in Round 3, securing the win with a commanding lead of 31:14.0, leaving Dent in second and Price rounding out Saturday’s podium in third. After a 6th-place finish in Round 3, Royden Harold joined the top contenders for Sunday’s sprints, challenging Pitchford. Despite Pitchford gaining the upper hand in the 4th stage test, Harold claimed first place in Round 4, relegating Pitchford to second. Price demonstrated consistent performance to secure third place in Round 4, ahead of Dent, who put up an exceptional challenge.
Women
Leading the Women’s Championship into the weekend, Emma Haylock was poised to continue her lead after a 2-lap win on Saturday ahead of Meg Pitchford. Unfortunately, Haylock’s Round 4 efforts came to an end after an abrupt end in the third test, allowing Pitchford to claim the sprint win.
E Masters
Continuing an exceptional Masters Off Road Championship run, Rowan Pumpa proved unstoppable with a convincing 3-lap win in Saturday’s cross-country session, ahead of Brett Farr. He maintained his dominance throughout Sunday’s sprint challenges, achieving a clean sweep of wins.
E Veterans
Matthew Boyle took the Veterans’ Round 3 win before a Round 4 shakeup saw Nathan Newell seize the sprint session win, disrupting Boyle’s clean sweep weekend.
C1
Charles Ingham joined the Kingston Round 3 & 4 clean sweepers with a strong performance across both rounds. Henry Berkin claimed silver in Round 3, finishing ahead of Thomas Mosey. On Sunday, Ethan Alderton gained the upper hand to secure second place, while Mosey’s consistency earned him another third-place finish.
C2
Matthew Bunnick took the challenge directly to the current C2 overall leader, Thomas Winter, who secured the Round 3 win. However, Bunnick outpaced Winter in all but one sprint test. Mackyle Thomson continued to be a top 3 contender in the Championship, securing third place in both rounds.
C3
Demonstrating his potential as a serious Championship contender, Kyle Porteous delivered a standout performance on the Kingston course. He successfully held off Cody Schiller and Ryan Waldhuter to win the cross-country challenge on Saturday and followed up with a strong performance in the C3 sprint session on Sunday. After a 7th-place finish on Saturday, Clinton Voigt climbed the rankings to claim second place on the Round 4 podium, finishing ahead of Ryan Waldhuter.
JJ
Picking up his Championship campaign where he left off at Black Hill, Reid Haydon secured the Saturday JJ win with a time of 1:18:19.098, finishing ahead of Cooper McCully and Rhys Thompson, who took third. Sunday tested endurance, with Cooper McCully taking an early lead in the first sprint. However, Thompson regained control to win Round 4, finishing ahead of McCully. Reid Haydon held off Max Donald to secure third place in Round 4.
J1
Tightening his grip on the overall Championship, Ollie Paech put on a standout show, winning Saturday’s cross-country ahead of Ryder Lambing and Hudson Wilson. Continuing his strong performance into Round 4’s sprints, Paech maintained his lead throughout all the sprint tests, while the remaining podium positions saw a shake-up as Lambing and Wilson secured second and third place, respectively.
J2
After starting the Championship in second place, Levi Rossi gained the upper hand to secure the Round 3 & 4 podium win, finishing ahead of Logan Stephens and Blake Launer on both days. With the battle for the top spot intensifying, the Championship showdown is far from over.
J3
Setting a blistering pace and maintaining complete control, Harry Gilbertson took a commanding lead in Saturday’s cross-country event, finishing ahead of Riley Howell and Toby Roth. Continuing his impressive Championship clean sweep, Gilbertson also won the Sunday sprints, with Howell finishing second and Lachlan Gardiner making a strong return to the Championship podium in third.
J4
As the J4 Championship continues to heat up, Ollie Gear is increasingly likely to achieve a clean sweep of gold for 2024 following his exceptional weekend performance, securing wins in both the Cross Country and Sprint events. Jackson Rossi and Victoria’s Bjorn Cardenas rounded out the Round 3 podium. After an unfortunate DNF for Rossi in Sunday’s sprint session, Cardenas seized the opportunity to move up to second place in Round 4, while Harry McDonald took to the podium in third.
With Kingston now wrapped up, riders and teams are setting their sights on the highly anticipated final round of the 2024 Yamaha WSB SA Off Road Championships. Presented by the Velocette MCC, this exciting conclusion will take place at ACUSA Park on the 21st and 22nd of September. With entries now open on Ridernet, it’s time for riders and teams to gear up for a spectacular finish to the Championship.
To lock in your place for the final round 5 & 6 Yamaha WSB Championship outing – click HERE.
The spectator program is now available online! Limited printed copies will be available on the day so down load it to your phone now
This weekend, all eyes in Australia’s off-road racing community turn to Kingston SE, where anticipation is building for the return of the Yamaha WSB 2024 SA Off-Road Championship as Rounds 3 & 4 take centre stage. Turning up the heat, South Australia’s championship contenders will give it their all for any edge in the championship points, but the excitement doesn’t stop there. Rounds 9 & 10 of the AORC will also join the fun, promising a spectacular weekend of racing on a standout course meticulously prepared by the Green Triangle Enduro Club. With the competition heating up, Kingston is the place to be for an unforgettable weekend of racing.
Competitors
The future of racing will be fully on display with a strong lineup of junior talents ready to make their impact. Victoria’s Cooper McCully is in excellent form, aiming to maintain his lead from Rounds 1 & 2 in the JJ class. However, in the unpredictable world of Enduro, South Australia’s Max Donald is determined to close the gap and challenge for the top spot.
In the J1 class, Ollie Paech and Ryder Lambing are set to reignite their fierce rivalry from Round 1, with Hudson Wilson also vying for a top position. Numerous J1 Championship hopefuls are eager to shake up the standings, promising unpredictable and exhilarating action. Meanwhile, in the J2 class, Logan Stephens aims to make 2024 his year with a clean sweep of wins after setting a blistering Championship pace. Don’t miss the returning young guns—Harry Gilbertson, Jesse Bartsch, and Xander Brown—who are ready to make waves in the competitive J3 class.
As Riley Graham and Max Midwinter continue their intense duel from Rounds 1 & 2, the question remains: who will clinch the Pro class win and emerge victorious at Kingston?
Building on her recent successes, Emma Haylock will go head-to-head with Meg Pitchford for SA Championship points in the EW class, promising another fierce battle.
With a stacked lineup, including Expert Open, Masters, Veterans, and Clubman classes, you won’t want to miss a moment of the action!
Where
Just a short 30-minute drive from Kingston SE, the course will keep riders on their toes with its challenging mix of sand, clay, and rock. The entrance is off James Road, Keilira, South Australia.—click HERE to plan your trip.
Program Timetable
This Weekend’s Course
Saturday’s endurance-focused cross-country format will test the riders’ stamina, while Sunday’s high-speed sprint session will round out the weekend’s events, showcasing the riders’ speed and skill.
Catering
Fueling both riders and fans throughout the action-packed weekend will be a variety of onsite food options, including coffee and hot food, available from Friday through Sunday. Due to the venue’s remote location, remember to carry cash, as EFTPOS might not be available.
Timing & Results
Don’t miss a second of the action—follow the live timing on the SA Off Road Championships website via the “LIVE TIMING” link, or keep an eye on one of the TV screens at the track.
Once the dust settles, the final results will be published on the SA Off Road Championship website. For Supp Regs, the Rule Book, the latest news, and more, visit saoffroadchampionships.com or motorcyclingsa.org.au.
Socials*
Stay updated with all the off-road action by following the SA Off Road Championships on Facebook and Instagram.
Final Riders Information for Rounds 3 & 4, Kingston is now available HERE
Also please don’t forget your self scrutineering forms
Note: These rounds are run along side the AORC, documentation is branded as AORC
Final instructions
Rider briefing notes
Information for SA Competitors:
TRANSPONDER HIRE:
Transponders will be available for collection on Friday and Saturday at Sign On and available for hire $15.00 if not purchased through your entry. Transponder brackets will not be hired – brackets will be for sale at sign on for $15.00 please ensure you bring the correct money.
If you don’t return your transponder you will be charged a late fee for the return of transponder of $15.00 to the method of payment used for race entry. If you don’t return the transponder within four (4) days you will be charged the cost of the transponder of $460.00 to the method of payment used for race entry, and your license will be suspended until outstanding fines are paid.
Please ensure you bring cable ties to secure your transponder & bracket to your motorcycle
ROUND PRESENTATIONS
Round presentations will be held at the final rounds in Harrogate 21st September