HQVA press release:

Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team rider Lachy Stanford hopes to continue the momentum of recent AORC rounds when he heads into this weekend’s 9th and 10th round of the series at Kyogle, 160 kilometres south of Brisbane, in northern New South Wales.

Last time out at Aratula, Stanford maintained his second place in the competitive E2 class and successfully wrapped up his third consecutive Queensland Enduro Championship, and now the Byron Bay charger will race what he considers to be a ‘home’ round at Kyogle – a little over an hour from home.

The Husqvarna FE 350 rider enjoys the conditions of the venue, and for the first time since the AORC opener at Gympie, he’ll bring both AORC and Queensland Championship experience to the venue where he logged his highest overall finish of season 2014 – a 4th outright.

Team Manager Glenn Kearney’s AORC stocks were also on the rise last time out when he registered his strongest ride of the series at Aratula.

Kearney will come into this weekend’s cross country/sprint round with his closest estimation yet of the perfect rear braking solution, employing a twin rear caliper system with a thumb operated rear brake, as he continues to adapt to the limitations of a fused right ankle from off-season reconstructive surgery.

The revered Aussie enduro racing veteran also believes he’s heading into ground that will particularly suit his mighty Husqvarna FE 501.

This weekend’s penultimate stop on the AORC calendar will see 15-year-old Husqvarna FE 250 rider Fraser Higlett attempt to stretch his lead in the Junior 4 class. Higlett was flagged by senior team pro Stanford as a potential rider of the future after Stanford watched him race at the Husqvarna Sprint series opener a fortnight ago.

Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team Manager Glenn Kearney (FE501): “I’m excited to get back into another AORC, it’s been a while since the last one with Hattah in between and I’m looking forward to this one for Lachy. He had some really good times there last year, and it’s almost a local race for him. It’s an awesome property where they have it, nice and hilly with plenty of grass track, and Lachy tells me they’ve that had bit of rain so it could be a little bit slick. I think he’s going to go well, he’s sitting second in E2, not too far off Ralston so hopefully he can set himself up for a strong finish. Looking forward to another cross-country myself, I’ve had another few weeks to refine the brake set up and I feel I’ve struck the best system we’ve had all year so I hope that reflects in the results. The Husky 500 is always the bike of choice up there too. There’s a lot of tight corners leading into steep hills, so the horsepower could be fairly helpful there I reckon.”

Lachy Stanford (FE350): “I raced at Kyogle in last year’s AORC and then I’ve ridden some Queensland State title stuff there as well. I’ve got a good relationship with the Kyogle Dirt Bike Club, they always help me out when I go overseas and stuff like that, they’re a good bunch of people. Last year in the off-roads I got a fourth outright there. I always have fun at this property, it’s exactly what I like to ride – the hardback, clay stuff – and I have a lot of fun there. I haven’t been 100% happy with how I’ve been going lately and I really want to pick it up for the end of the season and get up front again. I think this is the weekend to do it, for sure. I just want to ride as hard as I can and I’m certain I’ll be up there somewhere.”

Fraser Higlett (FE250): “I’ve never been to Kyogle before but I’ve heard it’s a bit more sort of loamy dirt and black soil, but I don’t know. Either way it will be good. It’s good that I’ve been practising for motocross a lot lately, because it helps out in the cross-country. I like the cross-countrys because I have a little watch on my handlebars and I just go as hard as I can the whole time and put everything into it. Dad just pulls me in whenever I need to get fuel, so it’s good. I’d like to get two firsts this weekend, but even if I get two seconds I’ll still be leading the championship. See how we go.”

For more information on Husqvarna motorcycles visit www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com.