The Mount Misery in Victoria proved a formidable challenge for competitors in rounds three and four of the 2024 Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC). Amongst the dust and rocks, Motul Pirelli Sherco team rider Jonte Reynders faced triumph and tribulation, showcasing resilience and determination throughout the weekend's racing action.
Saturday's showdown unfolded amidst dry, dusty conditions, with the track's technical layout posing a stern test for the contenders. Reynders encountered a setback during the second of seven sprints due to an electrical issue, hampering his progress. Despite this setback, Reynders rallied to clinch the third-fastest outright time for the day, clocking in at 13:03.937. Despite losing valuable points, Reynders remained undeterred, setting his sights on redemption for the following day's competition.
As Sunday dawned, Reynders embraced the fresh opportunity presented by a new round of racing. Negotiating the same challenging course under a reduced five-sprint format, Reynders unleashed a series of strong and consistent performances. Reynders would ultimately secure second place outright and in the E2 class, trailing closely behind championship rival Daniel Milner with a total time of 1:05:10.309.
Reflecting on the weekend's trials and triumphs, Reynders expressed a mix of emotions but remained resolute in his pursuit of success. Despite the increased gap to the series points leader, Reynders affirmed his commitment to building upon the positives and closing the deficit in the upcoming rounds.
"Saturday wasn’t the best with a DNF due to an electrical fault. It’s just one of those unfortunate things; I’ve done hundreds of hours on the Sherco 300 4-stroke and haven’t had any issues like this before, so it's just one of those freak things," remarked Jonte Reynders. "Sunday was a lot better. I put in pretty consistent sprints except for one where I had a decent crash and bent the gear lever back, but we managed to bring that one home. A lot of riders either damaged their bikes or themselves this weekend, so I’m happy to come away healthy with a P2 for Sunday."
Looking ahead, Reynders and the Motul Pirelli Sherco team remain steadfast in their championship pursuit, setting their sights on rounds five and six of the 2024 AORC, scheduled to take place in Edenhope, Victoria, on May 18-19.
The provisional E2 category results for Rounds 3 and 4 are as follows:
2024 AORC Round 3 E2 Top 3 Provisional Results:
- Daniel Milner 1:30:23.028
- Andy Wilksch 1:33:40.695
- Will Dennett 1:35:43.523
Jonte Reynders – (Motul Pirelli Sherco Team) DNF
2024 AORC Round 4 E2 Top 3 Provisional Results: - Daniel Milner 1:03:52.269
- Jonte Reynders (Motul Pirelli Sherco) 1:05:10.309
- Will Dennett 1:06:45.944
For more information on the championship and upcoming events, please visit www.aorc.org.au.