Image: Fourohfour.

Active8 Yamaha’s Tom McCormack delivered AJ Roberts’ team its first Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) in the E1 ranks at Heathcote.

McCormack entered the final two rounds with the championship lead and a comfortable gap back to his nearest rivals but was determined to make every post a winner and out to stamp his authority on the E1 division.

Things started off badly for McCormack on Saturday when he fell on the opening lap of the three-hour sprint race, but he quickly regained his composure and charged back through the field to take round win and in the process lock down the E1 championship with a round to spare.

McCormack again cut loose on Sunday and took the E1 victory, making it nine rounds wins out of the 12 rounds. This victory combined with his E1 A4DE win caps off a great year for McCormack and one that he will long remember.

“The past 12 months have been a bit of a dream run for me and I have been able to meet more goals again today,” McCormack said. “This championship means a lot to me as I have put in an enormous amount of work to make it happen as have the people around me.

“The Active8 Yamaha team have been unreal and have been a huge part of my success. AJ Roberts is always there to lend a hand or pass on some advice and the 2014 Yamaha YZ250F is just an amazing bike.

“Thank you to everyone that has helped and supported me this year, Yamaha as our team sponsors as well as the series sponsors and everyone involved in the organisation of the AORC.”

Roberts has enjoyed the milestone season with McCormack, acknowledging the success of the McCormack/YZ250F combination.

“Tom proved that he is the man this year in the E1 class and he basically dominated that class for the majority of the season,” Roberts said. “He deserved his win and there was no question that he was the best rider this year.

“I would also like to thank Yamaha, Active8 Refrigeration and our team sponsors for their support and belief this year. To have four riders, all at the highest level, takes a lot and our sponsored delivered all season long.”

The Active8 Yamaha team now switch to safari mod and will be the team behind the campaign of Rod Faggotter and Shane Diener at the upcoming Australasian Safari to be held in WA, later this month.