Craig Dack’s CDR Yamaha team clinched both the AORC and A4DE titles on debut. Image: Simon Makker/Makkreative.com.

CDR Yamaha’s Craig Dack is celebrating the team’s first Australian Off-Road Championship in what was the powerhouse Motocross outfit’s maiden season of Enduro competition.

Coming off five consecutive MX Nationals titles, Dack took on the factory Yamaha off-road team for 2013, with Daniel Milner delivering the AORC and Australian Four-Day Enduro titles.

Despite giving up the MX Nationals title to Suzuki and Matt Moss, Dack has deemed this season a successful one largely due to the results of the off-road arm at CDR Yamaha.

“When Yamaha came to me with the idea to run both teams, it all seemed a bit overwhelming,” Dack explained. “But as the year wore on and the CDR staff continued to work hard things started to progress and in the last month we have seen our Motocross team end up on the podium in the MX Nationals and now Daniel has won both the AORC and the A4DE.

“So, it’s been a lot of hard work for everyone but when I look back at it, it’s been quite an achievement and something that everyone in CDR Yamaha can be proud of. We have a great group of riders, fantastic sponsors and a working relationship with Yamaha that continues to breed success.”

Dack gave credit to both Milner and former world champion teammate Stefan Merriman, who finished fourth Outright in the 2013 title chase.

“Daniel has worked enormously hard for his results this year and has grown as a rider and person in 2013,” Dack said. “He deserves his success and I couldn’t be prouder of him. Stefan is a machine.

“I’m in awe at some of the things he can do and his commitment to racing despite doing it for so long. He has my total respect and to finish where he has is a credit to him.”

With the 2013 off-road season now complete, Milner now looks forward to representing Australia in upcoming International Six Day Enduro (ISDE) starting late September in Italy.