Image: Russell Colvin.

KTM Enduro Racing Team’s Daniel Sanders has commenced the 2016 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship with the round one victory in Kilkivan, Queensland, on Saturday.

The win marked a career-first Outright for Sanders, heading Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team’s Lachlan Stanford and Active8 Yamaha’s Josh Green.

“I knew that it was going to be the same sorts of tracks as last year, so I knew what to expect,” said Sanders who finished with a total time of 46m00.731s.

“To get my first outright win done and dusted has been a goal of mine which I wanted to do this season, so this a real big confident booster leading into tomorrow.”

Sanders was also the victor in the E3 division over Stanford, while reigning E2 champion Beau Ralston (Active8 Yamaha) completed the class podium.

In E2 it was last year’s E1 title winner Green who led the field to start the season, over Tye Simmonds (KTM Enduro Racing Team) and Chris Hollis (CDR Yamaha).

Yamaha-mounted Scott Keegan was the class of the E1 field to open the new year, joined by ex-motocross regular Jack Simpson (KTM) and Stefan Granquist (Yamaha). Glenn Kearney (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team) claimed seventh despite a broken shoulder.

Motul Pirelli Sherco rising star Wil Ruprecht won the 19 and Under category, leading home Fraser Higlett and Nic Tomlinson completing the podium.

In the Women’s it was Queensland’s Jemma Wilson (Yamaha) taking the spoils, winning all six heats. The 2011 champion beat fellow Yamaha riders Emelie Karlsson and Sophie Coldicutt, while Jess Gardiner, who is now back on a Yamaha for 2016, finished in fourth position. Rounding out the top five was the next best Queenslander Tamara Gray.

Other class winners for round one included Jason Salopayevs (Masters), Kirk Hutton (Vets), while Mathew Pye took the glory in the J2 division, Jye Bennett was the winner in the J3 and Zak Mitten in the J4 class.

2016 Australian Off-Road Championship
Round one – Kilkivan, Queensland