Image: Russell Colvin.

With the 2014 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) will commence this weekend at Bulahdelah in New South Wales on 22-23 March.

The championship will work its way up through Queensland, across to South Australia and into Victoria before charging back through Northern NSW and down to regional Victoria for the finale showdown in September.

Long-time partner Yamaha has once again swung its support behind the championship, continuing on as official naming rights sponsor for another full season of Australia’s premier off-road competition.

As in previous years, the series will run alongside state championship events, ensuring 12 rounds of fast-paced competition featuring a packed field of familiar faces, seasoned riders and brand new competitors.

The competitive sparks will fly from the opening day of competition, with 2013 standout performer and overall top point scorer Daniel Milner (CDR Yamaha) launching his campaign to top the AORC leaderboard tally in back-to-back seasons.

Milner will have to defend the number one position from his CDR Yamaha Off-Road teammate Chris Hollis, former AORC number one in 2011, who claimed second spot Outright last year just 33 points behind Milner’s top score of 268.

Hollis is showing himself to be in top form ahead of the season opener, having already blitzed the 2014 Australian Enduro-X Nationals.

The dueling CDR Yamaha duo will join a formidable line-up fighting for podium honours in the three E1, E2 and E3 championship classes along with newly introduced 19 and under class.

The Motorex KTM Off Road Racing pairing of multi-time Australian champion Toby Price and reigning Enduro Junior World Champion Matt Phillips are also scheduled to battle it out for top honours

Dust will also fly under the wheels of double Australian Four Day Enduro winner Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team), current Hattah Desert Race king Josh Green (Active8 Yamaha) and 2013 International Six Day Enduro Junior team mates Scott Keegan, Lachlan Stanford (both of Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team) and Tom McCormack (Active8 Yamaha).

The pro chargers will share the spotlight at each round of the Series with the Masters, Veterans and Junior classes and a world class Women’s field featuring former Australian Champion Jemma Wilson (Yamaha), ISDE standout Tayla Jones (KTM), and rising international star Jess Gardiner (Sherco) and returning rider Emilie Karlsson (Yamaha).