HQVA press release:

Eighteen-year-old Husqvarna Factory Support racer Lyndon Snodgrass blasted his Husqvarna TE300 to a matching pair of AORC podiums – his highest outright finish at that level by ten places – as the series continued in trying conditions at Hedley, Victoria.

While championship leader Daniel Sanders marched relentlessly onwards with a pair of victories over Tye Simmonds, Snodgrass was an exciting addition to presentation proceedings at both rounds- and he earned every drop of the champagne.

The always testing seaside Hedley venue found a new level of difficulty as round seven and eight of the Australian Off-Road Championships unfolded, when a wild storm took place above an already waterlogged course during Saturday’s three hour cross-country event.

Fellow Husqvarna Factory Support racer Broc Grabham was the next best of the Husqvarna men, the FE450 rider coming away with is best outright finishes of the series thus far, eighth on Saturday and sixth in slightly easier conditions today, as well as 3-2 finishes in the hotly contested E2 category.

Outright contender and Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team rider Lachy Stanford slipped one position in the AORC overall standings, with a 10-8 finish not helped by a brush with a tree, which has left him with a suspected broken hand.

His first setback in an otherwise stellar season, the Husqvarna FE501 rider finished 3-4 in the E3 class.

Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team Manager Glenn Kearney rode to 4-2 finishes in the E1 category, in the process lifting himself to second in the class.

Sixteen-year-old Transmoto 19 and Under class rookie Fraser Higlett added another interesting senior racing experience to his young career, and came away with 2-6 class results, on his way to 16-24 outright finishes.

Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team Manager Glenn Kearney (FE250): “It was a tough one here, four seasons in one day. There was a lot of standing water before we started, and then we got a heap of rain. We took on a bit of water with the bikes, which everyone was having trouble with because it was a bit more like a jet ski race than anything else. But it’s a testament to the Husqvarna I guess that they got water and sand in them and they still kept on running for three hours, so that’s pretty impressive. I ended up going backwards a bit as it became a battle for survival. Lachy started really strong, but took on some water and had a stoppage, but fought his way back to ninth. Disappointing, but there was promised in Lachy’s riding, and the fact that we both finished was good when a lot of other brands went out. Today the conditions were better but we still had the same jet ski paddock part of the race. I rode better but Jack Simpson still beat me, he was riding really good this weekend. I ended up second in E1 and I’ve moved to second in the class, but lost points to Simpson. Lachy was riding decent but he collected a tree in the third test and it looks like he’s broken his hand. He soldiered on and finished, but he has dropped back to third in the outright positions. The Husky support guys went unbelievably well. Lyndon was third outright both days; really at home in the sloshy sandy stuff. I got to see him a little bit today and he had that 300 singing, it was really good to watch! Broc Grabham had two solid days. I’ve known for ages that he has had it in him because of the state rounds we race. It seems like maybe he has figured out how to push some of the pressure aside at some of these big ones and ride like he can. Fraser was on the podium yesterday but a little bit off today and Mitcham probably have a weekend he’d rather forget. It was a real big weekend this weekend for the mechanics, Christian, Kevvy and Dave worked harder than us this weekend, they were flat out with all the sand and water. It’s right on Bass Strait so it’s almost salt water that’s coming up through the ground. The bikes get destroyed. Christian was sulking on his way home (laughs) because he’s got a couple of weeks ahead of them fixing it all up! But they did a great job.”

Lyndon Snodgrass (TE300): “That’s my best AORC finish by 10 positions, I’m pretty happy! I actually didn’t know where I was placed yesterday so it felt good when I figured out that I had finished third. I never expected an outright podium this weekend! The track suited me, but I just seemed to be having a lot of fun out there. The TE300 was awesome – we did that cross-country and it lasted through the sloppy mud and rain, and then finished out the sprints today! The confidence is rising in me, and I’m happy to be getting these results.”

Lachy Stanford (FE501): “A weekend I want to forget. Yesterday in the cross-country I was clear that I needed to stay dry and let everybody else have the problems. I was off to a good start in the top three and felt comfortable, but then water got into my bike and a few people got past. They were pretty tough conditions – it hailed on us for times – it’s frustrating because I had the pace, it’s just that little mistakes in the cross-country cost me. Today in the third one I clipped a tree and drove my hand into it. RaceSafe think I’ve broken the outside bone. I could only hold on with two fingers the rest of the time, so I ended up eighth overall. I need to hit these last two rounds really hard and try and get back up in the points. Just hope this hand goes well tomorrow. A big thanks to the mechanics, they worked just as hard as we did today, and to Crystal and Amy, standing out in the cold with a pitboard.”

Broc Grabham (FE450): “In the cross-country I spun a bit in the mud, like everyone did, and in the fourth corner I dropped it and a few of the boys hit my bike and from then on I had no rear brake, which made it a bit hard in the tight stuff – but it helped me to learn to ride without the rear brake. I just kept charging – every now and again I would shoot off the track but just find my way back on and keep going. Even without a brake I came away with eighth outright, and third in class for some good points and it built my confidence a bit for today. First up today I caught Hollis and McCormack so I knew I must have been going okay. I’ve got some new Danny Apro-tuned suspension and everything feels good, and after the New South Wales round last weekend my confidence has risen a little bit – my training is going good and everything is coming together.”

Fraser Higlett (FE350): “It was pretty crazy, Saturday was muddy as, and we got hailed on and rained on, then today I sort of struggled a bit trying to get the aggression up. I think I was cruising around in 3-hour mode! At least I didn’t fall off though, so I was pretty happy with that. We got down there on Friday night and it was just pouring, then Saturday there was a panic, there was like about 20cm deep of water and just slushy mud, and you just had to hold it pinned through it, it was pretty fun actually for a while, but then your boots started filling with water and your grips started getting slippery and then it turned pretty crazy. Oh well, I got it done, but I’m keen to get back to some warmer and more predictable weather!”

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