HQVA press release:

HUSQVARNA AUSTRALIA IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE THE SIGNING OF 2016 AUSTRALIAN OFF ROAD CHAMPION DANIEL, “CHUCKY” SANDERS TO THE HUSQVARNA FACTORY OFF-ROAD RACING TEAM FOR 2018.

The 23-year-old from Three Bridges, east of Melbourne, shot to international stardom after winning the E3 category of the annual International Six-Day Enduro in 2015, and finishing fourth outright, before returning a year later to win E3 a second straight time and claiming second outright for 2016.

Sanders spent 2017 competing in the World E2 Championships for the KTM Factory Team, but has now returned home to attempt to reclaim the Australian Off-Road Championship he dominated in 2016.

Adding substantial firepower to the already successful Husqvarna team managed by former motocross pro Christian Horwood, Sanders has been contracted to take on the AORC, A4DE, Hattah as well as selected other events.

The exquisite Husqvarna enduro motorcycle range spoils any rider for choice, and the team is yet to confirm which machine Sanders will ride, pending off-season testing.

Daniel Sanders: “It’s a big change for me, after eight years on KTMs. I’m looking forward to it with some renewed motivation. I’m going to be riding a White Knight, but I don’t know which one yet. I’m having some fun at the moment on an FE 450; visiting some motocross and enduro tracks and getting a feel for it.

Stock standard they’re a magnificent bike and real reliable and enjoyable to ride. Every bike requires a different riding style and you learn something different off each one. I’ve had a bit of time on the 500s in the desert races, and now I’m just waiting for the new TPI bikes to roll into the country to test out too.

It’ll be good jumping back into the AORC. I think next year will be a much stronger field, and there’s already a lot of hype about it.

Daniel’s (Milner) always been a strong rider, but as long as we each have a consistent year, I think it’s going to be pretty close.

Right now, I’m nowhere near where I want to be after the season I’ve had. It’s going to be a long summer to be ready in time for round 1. Then I’ll use that for a stepping stone and go from there.”

Christian Horwood: “I’m very excited to have Chucky onboard for 2018. He’s only young but he has accomplished a lot in his off-road racing career, so it’s great to have a former AORC series champion, Hattah contender and Wildwood winner on-board.

We know that he’s going to be strong both in off-road and some extreme races as well, and after 12 months in Enduro GP, he’s going to bring a lot of experience to share with all of us. I think we’ll all learn a lot from him.

He has a couple of options with what he might end up riding yet. He has been known as a two-stroke specialist in the past, but he’s also shown at Hattah that he can ride a big four-stroke at winning pace too, so we need to test a couple of different bikes with him and see what he’s going to be most comfortable on.

I’m very excited about it – I can’t wait.”

FAST FACTS:
Name: Daniel Sanders
Team: Husqvarna Factory Off Road Racing Team
Home town: Three Bridges, Victoria
Date of Birth: 8/30/1994
Height: 180cm
Weight: 80 kg

Career highlights:
2016 ISDE – E3 Champion
2016 ISDE – 2nd Outright
2016 Australian Off-Road Champion
A4DE/AORC E3 Champion
2016 Hattah Desert Race 2nd outright
2015 ISDE E3 Champion