Source: Supplied.

2016 Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) Outright victor Daniel Sanders has confirmed he will contest the FIM World Enduro Championship (EnduroGP) in both 2017 and 2018 after signing a two-year deal.

Sanders, who recorded a host of impressive results in 2016 including second Outright in the individual results at the International Six-Day Enduro in Spain, revealed the news to MotoOnline.com.au today, however he was unable to comment on which team he will be racing for at this point in time.

“Yeah, I sure am heading overseas,” shared Sanders. “I’ll be racing the world enduro championship – it’s definitely been a longterm goal, as a kid I always wanted to go race around Australia, and then go race the world. It’s a two-year deal over there, I just wanted to make sure I have the right opportunity and chance to have a crack at it.

“If something goes wrong in the first year – like an injury – I wanted to make sure I have a good shot at it to know that I’m capable and enjoy it enough for a while. Obviously the world enduro championship is as high as you can get. That’s always been the goal, to win an Australian championship, and then win a world championship.

“I wanted two years – it might take me a year to get used to the style of living, the team and what not. It’s the same thing with what I did with the two-year KTM deal here – learn for one year and go for the title the next year.”

The Victorian stated he’ll base himself out of Italy, which also happens to be within a close distance of where fellow Australian and 2016 EnduroGP champion Matthew Phillips resides during the season.

“At this stage, I’ll be based in Italy,” he continued. “Matthew Phillips is there as well, so it will be cool to not be too far from him. The area is supposed to be good for riding, I spoke to Phillips and he said it’s a good place to be.

“I’ve been good mates with Matty since he was racing in Australia, it will be a bit easier with an Aussie over there to chill out with and still feel like you’re at home. I think that because he has so much experience over there, it will be good to learn off him.”

An announcement on Sanders’ team for the next two years is expected to be made in the coming weeks. It was revealed yesterday that Daniel Milner and Lyndon Snodgrass will make up a new-look KTM Off-Road Racing Team for the 2017 Australian off-road season.