Off-Road: Merriman takes clean sweep at Murray Bridge AORC
Dirt Bike Promotions:
Four-time World Enduro Champion Stefan Merriman was on fire in the loamy South Australian sand today, cruising away with the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship round six win.
Merriman, 35, of the Ballard’s Wellard Yamaha Off-Road Team, beat the 218-strong field today by more than a minute.
About 1000 spectators were on hand at the Callington property, near Murray Bridge, to witness Merriman’s victory.
“It went pretty good today, it was hard work though,” Merriman, from Nelson’s Bay (NSW) said. “I was a bit tired from yesterday and doing another eight laps of the eight-minute course today, it really took it out of ya, the whoops were pretty big.
“I managed to pull away slowly from Toby… it was hard work and the bike went really well.
“I’m really happy with how everything went, the team and everything – everything was great.”
Today’s final two Outright and Championship E2 Class podium positions were also the same as yesterday’s, with MSC Kawasaki’s Toby Price (from Singleton, NSW) and GHR Honda’s Peter Boyle (Gippsland, VIC) finishing second-third.
Boyle’s teammate, AJ Roberts (from Bribie Island, QLD), and AORC Championship E1 leader, Ben Kearney, rounded out the top-five Outright.
Yamaha rider Jarrod Bewley finished sixth Outright, followed by Championship E3 leader, Geoff Braico, in seventh.
Ben Grabham, Chris Hollis and Blake Hore came eighth, ninth and 10th respectively.
Merriman’s win today took his championship lead to 21-points ahead of AJ Roberts, who moved one-point ahead of Bewley. Toby Price is two-points behind Bewley in fourth.
In Expert Outright it was Daniel Milner (Expert E2/3) who took the honours ahead of South Australian riders Ivan Long and Rhyce Ahola. BMW pilot Luke Tomlinson and Ballard’s Wellard Yamaha’s Liam Robertson came fouth-fifth.
Ivan Long won Expert E1, followed by Ahola in second.
In today’s remaining championship classes, Queenslander Jemma Wilson was again the fastest Championship Woman.
Wilson is now tied for the series’ lead with reigning Champion, Alison Parker.
Fellow Yamaha racer, Geoff Ballard again won Championship Masters, Orange (NSW) rider Stuart Bennett was the quickest Championship Veteran.
In the Clubman categories, Queenslander Matthew Sprenger took the Outright and Clubman E1 Class wins. Thomas Clark won Clubman E2/3 and Darren Averay won Clubman Veterans.
Young gun Tom McCormack claimed the highest podium spot for Juniors for the first time today ahead of Alex Stephenson and Jake Wright.
McCormack’s ride today moved him into the lead for Junior Outright, eight points ahead of former leader, Benjamin Burrell (who had bike problems in today’s round).
For full championship point’s standings, results from today’s round, pics and video interviews, go to www.dirtbikepromotions.com.au
The 2009 AORC is a 10-round series held over five weekends.
The championship now heads to the Sunshine State for rounds seven and eight to be held at Warwick’s Cherrabah Resort on August 15th and 16th. The final two rounds will be held at Young (NSW) on September 12th and 13th.
The championships boasts classes for every level of rider, from Juniors older than 9-years to Clubman, Women, Veterans, Masters, Experts and championship-level racers.
The AORC are fantastic for spectators, with nail-biting action and the chance to get up close and personal with the stars of Australian enduro racing.
To enter or for more information please visit www.dirtbikepromotions.com.au, contact Dirt Bike Promotions on 02 63624437 or 0438721024 or email [email protected].
Yamaha AORC Round Six Outright Top-10
1. Stefan Merriman
2. Toby Price
3. Peter Boyle
4. AJ Roberts
5. Ben Kearney
6. Jarrod Bewley
7. Geoff Braico
8. Ben Grabham
9. Chris Hollis
10. Blake Hore
Yamaha AORC Championship Top-10 (after round six)
1. Stefan Merriman 138 points
2. AJ Roberts 117
3. Jarrod Bewley 116
4. Toby Price 114
5. Ben Grabham 94
6. Chris Hollis 90
7. Ben Kearney 85
8. Peter Boyle 79
9. Kirk Hutton 67
10. Geoff Braico 60How the Grinch Stole Christmas! movies Wedlock dvdrip Bangkok Dangerous
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