Image: Foremost Media.

A gritty performance at Nowra’s 2024 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) decider has placed Daniel Milner in the history books, the KTM DM31 Racing rider securing a record-equalling fifth outright title on his way to the E2 crown.

Milner was in the frame to clinch the E2 title at Kingston SE last month until suffering a shoulder injury, which saw him withdraw from the weekend and placed him in doubt for the final in New South Wales.

The Victorian prevailed, riding to a measured seventh outright and fourth in class on Saturday before a championship-winning ride in Sunday’s finals, where fourth outright and third in class were enough to secure the number one plate – the feat marking his 10th national class championship.

“To have matched the record of five AORC championships and 10 titles, I don’t think it’s sunk in yet, as it’s something I’ve had my eye on for quite some time,” Milner explained. “I hadn’t really ridden since Kingston SE, because I wanted to give my shoulder as much time as possible to recover.

“As a result, yeah, I was pretty nervous entering Saturday’s racing. Yesterday’s tests included parts of the motocross track and some big bumps, and I didn’t feel very confident out there, but today’s tests were more flowy and I was able to push a bit more without worrying about my shoulder. Once I got myself into a good position early in the day, I was able to then slow up, manage it to the end, and do what I needed to do to win the title.”

Milner, an ISDE World Trophy champion, shares the record of five AORC outright titles with two-time Dakar Rally champion Toby Price, cementing himself as one of the greats in Australian off-road racing.