As the 2024 SAORC journey rolled on, the caravan of riders, families, and friends headed to Kingston SE last weekend for what promised to be an unforgettable two days. Rounds 3 & 4 of the 2024 Yamaha WSB SA Off Road Championships shared the spotlight with rounds 9 & 10 of the National Off Road Championship (AORC). With the endurance cross-country demands of Round 3 and the fast-paced sprints of Round 4, the weekend at Kingston provided a comprehensive test of the riders’ skills, intensifying the battle for points over the tough and technical conditions.

To view the full results for all classes, please click HERE.

Pro

Showing well-rounded form and plenty of skills, Max Midwinter claimed the Enduro Pro clean sweep across both rounds. He secured Saturday’s Round 3 cross-country victory with a gap of 20:46.7 ahead of Sean Throup in second and Chad Sparrow in third. Midwinter continued to apply the Championship pressure through Round 4’s sprint session, maintaining a strong lead, while Sparrow turned the tables on Throup to take over the Pro second place for Sunday.

Expert Open

With Championship leader Davey Gear not lining up at Kingston, the door opened for a fierce battle for the Enduro Expert top spot among Oliver Pitchford, Aaron Dent, and Max Price. Pitchford set a blistering pace in Round 3, securing the win with a commanding lead of 31:14.0, leaving Dent in second and Price rounding out Saturday’s podium in third. After a 6th-place finish in Round 3, Royden Harold joined the top contenders for Sunday’s sprints, challenging Pitchford. Despite Pitchford gaining the upper hand in the 4th stage test, Harold claimed first place in Round 4, relegating Pitchford to second. Price demonstrated consistent performance to secure third place in Round 4, ahead of Dent, who put up an exceptional challenge.

Women

Leading the Women’s Championship into the weekend, Emma Haylock was poised to continue her lead after a 2-lap win on Saturday ahead of Meg Pitchford. Unfortunately, Haylock’s Round 4 efforts came to an end after an abrupt end in the third test, allowing Pitchford to claim the sprint win.

E Masters

Continuing an exceptional Masters Off Road Championship run, Rowan Pumpa proved unstoppable with a convincing 3-lap win in Saturday’s cross-country session, ahead of Brett Farr. He maintained his dominance throughout Sunday’s sprint challenges, achieving a clean sweep of wins.

E Veterans

Matthew Boyle took the Veterans’ Round 3 win before a Round 4 shakeup saw Nathan Newell seize the sprint session win, disrupting Boyle’s clean sweep weekend.

C1

Charles Ingham joined the Kingston Round 3 & 4 clean sweepers with a strong performance across both rounds. Henry Berkin claimed silver in Round 3, finishing ahead of Thomas Mosey. On Sunday, Ethan Alderton gained the upper hand to secure second place, while Mosey’s consistency earned him another third-place finish.

C2

Matthew Bunnick took the challenge directly to the current C2 overall leader, Thomas Winter, who secured the Round 3 win. However, Bunnick outpaced Winter in all but one sprint test. Mackyle Thomson continued to be a top 3 contender in the Championship, securing third place in both rounds.

C3

Demonstrating his potential as a serious Championship contender, Kyle Porteous delivered a standout performance on the Kingston course. He successfully held off Cody Schiller and Ryan Waldhuter to win the cross-country challenge on Saturday and followed up with a strong performance in the C3 sprint session on Sunday. After a 7th-place finish on Saturday, Clinton Voigt climbed the rankings to claim second place on the Round 4 podium, finishing ahead of Ryan Waldhuter.

JJ

Picking up his Championship campaign where he left off at Black Hill, Reid Haydon secured the Saturday JJ win with a time of 1:18:19.098, finishing ahead of Cooper McCully and Rhys Thompson, who took third. Sunday tested endurance, with Cooper McCully taking an early lead in the first sprint. However, Thompson regained control to win Round 4, finishing ahead of McCully. Reid Haydon held off Max Donald to secure third place in Round 4.

J1

Tightening his grip on the overall Championship, Ollie Paech put on a standout show, winning Saturday’s cross-country ahead of Ryder Lambing and Hudson Wilson. Continuing his strong performance into Round 4’s sprints, Paech maintained his lead throughout all the sprint tests, while the remaining podium positions saw a shake-up as Lambing and Wilson secured second and third place, respectively.

J2

After starting the Championship in second place, Levi Rossi gained the upper hand to secure the Round 3 & 4 podium win, finishing ahead of Logan Stephens and Blake Launer on both days. With the battle for the top spot intensifying, the Championship showdown is far from over.

J3

Setting a blistering pace and maintaining complete control, Harry Gilbertson took a commanding lead in Saturday’s cross-country event, finishing ahead of Riley Howell and Toby Roth. Continuing his impressive Championship clean sweep, Gilbertson also won the Sunday sprints, with Howell finishing second and Lachlan Gardiner making a strong return to the Championship podium in third.

J4

As the J4 Championship continues to heat up, Ollie Gear is increasingly likely to achieve a clean sweep of gold for 2024 following his exceptional weekend performance, securing wins in both the Cross Country and Sprint events. Jackson Rossi and Victoria’s Bjorn Cardenas rounded out the Round 3 podium. After an unfortunate DNF for Rossi in Sunday’s sprint session, Cardenas seized the opportunity to move up to second place in Round 4, while Harry McDonald took to the podium in third.

With Kingston now wrapped up, riders and teams are setting their sights on the highly anticipated final round of the 2024 Yamaha WSB SA Off Road Championships. Presented by the Velocette MCC, this exciting conclusion will take place at ACUSA Park on the 21st and 22nd of September. With entries now open on Ridernet, it’s time for riders and teams to gear up for a spectacular finish to the Championship.

To lock in your place for the final round 5 & 6 Yamaha WSB Championship outing – click HERE.

The spectator program is now available online! Limited printed copies will be available on the day so down load it to your phone now

This weekend, all eyes in Australia’s off-road racing community turn to Kingston SE, where anticipation is building for the return of the Yamaha WSB 2024 SA Off-Road Championship as Rounds 3 & 4 take centre stage. Turning up the heat, South Australia’s championship contenders will give it their all for any edge in the championship points, but the excitement doesn’t stop there. Rounds 9 & 10 of the AORC will also join the fun, promising a spectacular weekend of racing on a standout course meticulously prepared by the Green Triangle Enduro Club. With the competition heating up, Kingston is the place to be for an unforgettable weekend of racing.

Competitors

The future of racing will be fully on display with a strong lineup of junior talents ready to make their impact. Victoria’s Cooper McCully is in excellent form, aiming to maintain his lead from Rounds 1 & 2 in the JJ class. However, in the unpredictable world of Enduro, South Australia’s Max Donald is determined to close the gap and challenge for the top spot.

In the J1 class, Ollie Paech and Ryder Lambing are set to reignite their fierce rivalry from Round 1, with Hudson Wilson also vying for a top position. Numerous J1 Championship hopefuls are eager to shake up the standings, promising unpredictable and exhilarating action. Meanwhile, in the J2 class, Logan Stephens aims to make 2024 his year with a clean sweep of wins after setting a blistering Championship pace. Don’t miss the returning young guns—Harry Gilbertson, Jesse Bartsch, and Xander Brown—who are ready to make waves in the competitive J3 class.

As Riley Graham and Max Midwinter continue their intense duel from Rounds 1 & 2, the question remains: who will clinch the Pro class win and emerge victorious at Kingston?

Building on her recent successes, Emma Haylock will go head-to-head with Meg Pitchford for SA Championship points in the EW class, promising another fierce battle.

With a stacked lineup, including Expert Open, Masters, Veterans, and Clubman classes, you won’t want to miss a moment of the action!

Where

Just a short 30-minute drive from Kingston SE, the course will keep riders on their toes with its challenging mix of sand, clay, and rock. The entrance is off James Road, Keilira, South Australia.—click HERE to plan your trip.

Program Timetable

This Weekend’s Course

Saturday’s endurance-focused cross-country format will test the riders’ stamina, while Sunday’s high-speed sprint session will round out the weekend’s events, showcasing the riders’ speed and skill.

Catering

Fueling both riders and fans throughout the action-packed weekend will be a variety of onsite food options, including coffee and hot food, available from Friday through Sunday. Due to the venue’s remote location, remember to carry cash, as EFTPOS might not be available.

Timing & Results

Don’t miss a second of the action—follow the live timing on the SA Off Road Championships website via the “LIVE TIMING” link, or keep an eye on one of the TV screens at the track.

Once the dust settles, the final results will be published on the SA Off Road Championship website. For Supp Regs, the Rule Book, the latest news, and more, visit saoffroadchampionships.com or motorcyclingsa.org.au.

Socials*

Stay updated with all the off-road action by following the SA Off Road Championships on Facebook and Instagram.

Final Riders Information for Rounds 3 & 4, Kingston is now available HERE
Also please don’t forget your self scrutineering forms
Note: These rounds are run along side the AORC, documentation is branded as AORC

Final instructions
Rider briefing notes

Information for SA Competitors:

TRANSPONDER HIRE:
Transponders will be available for collection on Friday and Saturday at Sign On and available for hire $15.00 if not purchased through your entry. Transponder brackets will not be hired – brackets will be for sale at sign on for $15.00 please ensure you bring the correct money.
If you don’t return your transponder you will be charged a late fee for the return of transponder of $15.00 to the method of payment used for race entry. If you don’t return the transponder within four (4) days you will be charged the cost of the transponder of $460.00 to the method of payment used for race entry, and your license will be suspended until outstanding fines are paid.
Please ensure you bring cable ties to secure your transponder & bracket to your motorcycle

ROUND PRESENTATIONS
Round presentations will be held at the final rounds in Harrogate 21st September

Making its long-awaited return for 2024, the Yamaha WSB  SA Off Road Championship absolutely lit up Black Hill, presented by the Velocette MCC. With exceptional amounts of work to return the Championship to its former glory, rounds 1 & 2 saw past and future off-road Champions come together to put on a standout show.

To view the full results for all classes, please click HERE.

Images thanks to Josh Reynolds.

Pro

Setting the tone for a down-to-the-line finish in the 2024 Championship, Riley Graham set the pace early on Saturday’s round 1 win with Max Midwinter providing some exceptionally close competition across the day as Max would take second and Chad Sparrow in third. However, Sunday wouldn’t be Riley’s day as he made the unfortunate mistake with fuel levels in heat 4, costing him the round despite putting down some top leaderboard times. Taking the opportunity with both hands and continuing his exceptionally consistent weekend, 2023’s Expert Champion Max Midwinter went on to take Sunday’s round 2 win and overall Championship lead, despite the late final heat charge of Chad Sparrow in second and Sean Throup in third.

Expert Open

Davey Gear made a remarkable impression in his debut year of racing, dominating the competition by securing victories in both rounds 1 and 2 with total times of 00:59:52.6 and 00:52:32.8 respectively. His stellar performance left his fellow racers, Oliver Pitchford and Aaron Dent, battling for second place. Oliver clinched second in round 1, only for Aaron to reverse the roles in round 2, setting the stage for an intense rivalry as they traded positions on the podium. This rivalry hints at an exciting year ahead, raising the question: can anyone dethrone Davey Gear’s championship reign?

Women

Emma Haylock surged ahead to take the early championship lead with a comfortable over 10-minute buffer, whilst Chloe Barton and Meg Pitchford were left to sort out the remainder of the podium places. Taking on everything the dusty Mallee course could throw at them, Chloe had the right moves to firmly maintain the second position across both rounds, and Meg walked away with the bronze.

E Masters

Putting those AORC skills to good use, Rowan Pumpa would set the bar exceptionally high to beat and take a clean sweep of wins across both days. Following in tow would see Shane Diener.

E Veterans

Veterans saw a shakeup with 4 taking to the course over a tight round 1, Peter Rossi, after assisting a rider on the track and receiving some time back, would go on to take out the top spot to start his Championship with a total time of 1:11:14.7. The times would tighten right up with Matt Curyer in second and followed by under 4 minutes, Matthew Boyle in Third. Continuing his charge into round 2, Peter Rossi would keep the top step finish after a battle with Matthew Boyle in second. Unfortunately, Matt Curyer & Michael Worthington would not take to the course for Sunday’s round 2 giving Peter and Matthew that crucial slight points buffer going into rounds 3 & 4.

C1

Rivalling the Junior classes for entry numbers, C1 kept SAORC fans guessing who could clinch the early lead. Ethan Alderson had a battle down to the wire with a round 1 finish time of 01:04:24.2, just over 14 seconds ahead of Reagan Mayes who finished at 1:04:38.3. Harry Guy settled for third place in round 1. Round 2 saw Ethan maintaining the Championship lead by just over 3 minutes ahead of Reagan; however, Harry Guy couldn’t replicate his third-place finish as he ended up in sixth, and Jye Martin secured his first Championship podium for 2024.

C2

Thomas Winter emerged as the front-runner in the 2024 C2 Championship, narrowly surpassing Mackyle Thompson in both rounds. Alexander Cowan claimed the third position in round 1, outperforming Jack Wormald. However, in round 2, Rhys Birthisel surpassed Alexander to secure the third spot on the podium, reshuffling the standings.

C3

With the level of racing prowess emerging from our juniors, their presence in serious competitions is sure to keep the pros on their toes. Will McInnes will make his senior racing debut in 2024 and has already made a strong start, securing the gold medals in rounds 1 & 2, ahead of Kye Porteous who claimed second place in both rounds. The battle for third place was intense. In round 1, Alexander Cowan took the podium, while in round 2, his absence from the course opened the opportunity for fellow senior newcomer Ryan Waldhuter to secure third place.

JJ

Cooper McCully, determined to improve on his 4th place finish in the 2023 JJ Championship, dominated rounds 1 and 2, securing the top spot honors. Reid Haydon, who finished third overall in the 2023 Championship, engaged in a thrilling battle with Max Donald. Haydon claimed the silver in round 1, but Max Donald turned the tables on Sunday, narrowly edging him out by under a minute to snatch the round 2 runner-up position.

J1

Joining the SA Off Road Championships for 2024, Ollie Paech wasted no time in making his mark, securing wins in both rounds 1 and 2 ahead of Rider Lambing over both days. Hudson Wilson clinched third place in round 1 after engaging in a back-and-forth battle with Austin Schultz through the heats. In round 2, Austin managed to secure third place after putting down some cracking times across the first 3 heats. Despite a late charge from Hudson in the last 2 heats, he couldn’t close the gap to take back third.

J2

Logan Stephens had a fantastic weekend, taking the wins in rounds 1 and 2 at Black Hill. This wouldn’t have been possible without some nail-biting challenges, including Levi Rossi right on his heels, trailing by just 17.8 seconds at the end of Round 1. Hot on Rossi’s heels, Blake Launer joined the weekend podium in third place.

J3

Continuing his championship run from 2023, Harry Gilbertson has his sights set on adding a J3 Championship to his trophy cupboard after last year’s near-flawless finish in J2. Jesse Bartsch secured second place in round 2, leading by just 45 seconds ahead of Xander Brown. However, not returning to the track for round 2 gave Harvey Gulin the chance to secure second place, with Lachlan Gardiner finishing in third.

J4

The podium standings over the two days felt like déjà vu, with Ollie Gear demonstrating his skill and securing the J4 class win ahead of Harry McDonald in second place, closely followed by Bjorn Cardenas in third. It certainly could be anyone’s game in 2024, given the level of competition coming from the overall J4 class. The seniors are going to need to keep on their toes in the coming years.

With the opening round finally wrapped up, sights turn to rounds 3 & 4 presented by the Green Triangle Enduro club as they bring the 2024 Yamaha WSB SAORC story to Kingston South East over the 24th & 25th of August 2024.