The Motul Pirelli Sherco Team has burst from the metaphorical starting blocks of the 2020 Australian Off-Road Championship to record podium placings in two classes. Rounds one and two of the AORC were held in Toowoomba, Queensland over the weekend where riders were faced with enduro sprints each day.
Tasmanian duo Jonte Reynders and Dalton Johnson spearheaded the Sherco charge with Reynders racing a Motul Pirelli 300 SE Factory edition in the E3 Class for open capacity machines. Reynders was the sole two-stroke in the hunt for the podium in the E3 Class and he proved the Sherco 300 SE is a force to be reckoned with by placing second behind defending Champion Daniel Sanders.
Reynders was consistent throughout the weekend and managed 9th place outright across all classes on Saturday and improved two places to finish seventh outright on Sunday.
“What a great way to start 2020,” said Reynders. “The Team has my bike running perfect and Chad’s Off-Road Setups has it handling perfectly. I put in a big pre-season and I feel fit. I enjoyed being back in competition and thriving off the adrenaline. I’m pumped on where I am at with regards to the other riders because I know I can move forward. My bike is the fastest two-stroke in the entire Championship and I love it.”
Dalton Johnson impressed with a fine third place in the 2-Stroke cup in what was his first AORC aboard a Sherco. Johnson raced a Motul Pirelli Sherco 250 SE with backing from Bike Barn Hobart and despite crashing a number of times, he showed he has race pace.
“I made a few mistakes that really cost me,” Jonhson explained. “I was trying perhaps a bit too hard and it brought me unstuck. With some extra fitness training and focus I am positive I can win this class at the next round.”
Rounds three and four of the AORC will be held in Dungog, NSW of March 14-15.