Source: Supplied.

The KTM Enduro Racing Team has re-signed current Australian off-road champions Daniel Milner and Lyndon Snodgrass for the 2018 season, with the successful duo taking a core focus on the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) and the Australian 4-Day Enduro (A4DE).

Multi-time champion Milner, who displayed incredible form both domestically and at the International Six-Day Enduro (ISDE), was undefeated in the E2 division of the AORC series this year, and will now transfer to the E3 category in an effort to complete the elusive triple-crown.

Milner’s switch will effectively see him indirectly trade places with 19-year-old revelation Snodgrass, who after clinching this year’s E3 title and claiming second in the unofficial outright standings, is due to make the move to the E2 division. In doing so, he will also switch his title-winning KTM 300 EXC two-stroke for a KTM 450 EXC-F four-stroke next season.

“I’ve never had the opportunity to ride the E3 class in previous years,” Milner explained. “But KTM has such a diverse range of bikes to ride and they’re happy for us to ride whatever bike we select, so I thought it’d be ideal to choose the 500 EXC-F after riding one in the Hattah Desert Race – it will be good to have a bit more torque in the off-road scene as well.

“Our tracks are a bit more open and more like motocross tracks in the bush, so the 500 will work really well in that environment. Nobody has ever won an E1, E2 and E3 title outright, so it would be a big achievement to do that, but it’s another year next year and we never underestimate the challenges ahead. To get the opportunity to sign with KTM again and work with GK, Mick, Harry and then with Lyndon as my teammate, it’s nice to have that continuity.”

Snodgrass revealed he’s excited to step up to the KTM 450 EXC-F in 2018, explaining that remaining with the same powerhouse squad has him confident ahead of his campaign in the new year.

“I’ve been in Sydney testing the KTM 450 EXC-F and it was pretty interesting, switching from the two-stroke to the four-stroke,” Snodgrass commented. “After getting used to the power differences, it’s an awesome bike to ride because it has really smooth power and a heap of torque.

“I’ve had a strong year riding the KTM 300 EXC in my first year with the KTM Enduro Racing Team and to finish first in E3 and second outright was an amazing result for myself and the whole team. Getting on the KTM 450 EXC-F for next year is exciting, I can’t wait for 2018 to start up and to get the AORC series underway. It’s good to have the same team heading into next year and having the same teammate in Milner to ride together with again – I’m definitely confident with the people around me.”

The 2018 AORC calendar is yet to be released, however the A4DE is slated to kick off on 3 April at the event’s birthplace in Cessnock, New South Wales.