There's palpable excitement in the air, with the 2022 season for the expanded Motul Pirelli Sherco Race Team getting underway this weekend (February 26-27) when Jonte Reynders begins his defence of the Tasmanian Grasstrack Series at Bakers Beach.
After what he described as one of his best shakedown tests of his career in Victoria last weekend, 24-year-old Reynders is looking to resume normal service in his home state after sweeping all before him in 2021.
"It was great to spend some time with (Sherco Race Team Manager) Derek and Chad from Chad's Offroad Setups, and I've couldn't be happier with how I've dialled in my 300 SE Factory," said Jonte.
"We managed to tick off so many things, and I'm feeling confident heading into Bakers Beach against what will be a quality field. I can't wait to get amongst it again."
For more information on the Tasmanian Endurance Riders Club events, visit
www.taserc.com.
Jonte's first appearance on the mainland in 2022 will be on March 19-20 for round one of the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) in Cherrabah (Qld). He will again compete in the E3 class.
Jonte will be joined in the AORC by new team signing Callum Norton on a 450 SEF Factory in the E2 class, with the latter then stepping up to a 500 SEF Factory for the nation's big two desert races – Finke and Hattah.
Norton has been spending plenty of time acclimatising to the French hardware in his hometown of Lorne – where he's a bit of a local legend after again winning the popular coastal town's golf club title in 2021 – but will flick to switch to race mode in the Mallee Motorcycles-backed 'Desert Moto X' in Mittyack (Vic) on March 13.
The inimitable Tim Coleman – a moto trials and extreme enduro superstar, as well as an internationally lauded stunt man – is the third member of the Motul Pirelli Sherco Race Team in 2022, with his focus on the Australian Hard Enduro Championship.
In 2021, Coleman was stopped in his tracks by severe heat exposure sustained at the opening round of the hard enduro title, but he continues to get stronger and fitter by the day with the ultimate goal of returning to his bullocking best alongside a plethora of Sherco satellite riders.
2022 MOTUL PIRELL SHERCO NATIONAL RACE TEAM CALENDAR
AUSTRALIAN OFF-ROAD CHAMPIONSHIP
Rounds 1 & 2: March 19-20, Cherrabah, Qld
Rounds 3 & 4: April 8-9, Mackay, Qld
Rounds 5 & 6: July 16-17, Kyogle, NSW
Rounds 7 & 8: August 6-7, Nowra, NSW
Rounds 9 & 10: September 17-18, Kingston SE, SA
Rounds 11 & 12: October 8-9, Wynyard, Tas
AUSTRALIAN HARD ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIPRound 1: April 2-3, ‘Kosciuszko Killer’, Toowong Upper, Vic
Round 2: May 14-15, ‘Tenterfield Terror’, Upper Rocky River, NSW
Round 3: June 25-26, ‘Ironstone Extreme’, Mount Morgan, Qld
Round 4: August 13-14, ‘Hill Storm’, Hillston, NSW
Round 5: September 24-25, ‘Insane Ride’, Poatina, Tas
FINKE DESERT RACEJune 10-13, Alice Springs, NT
HATTAH DESERT RACEJuly 2-3 Hattah, Vic
WILDWOOD ROCK EXTREME ENDURONovember 6, Wildwood, Vic