Motorcycles
A RECORD field of 255 took to the custom Traralgon motocross-bush hybrid circuit over the weekend for rounds one and two of the 2013 Yamaha Victorian Off-Road Championships, where Daniel Milner dominated the senior division.
The 2012 Australian Four-Day Enduro champion continued his stellar run of form by taking out the pro class first round on Saturday ahead of Alex Stephenson and Daniel Sanders, a result he mirrored in round two on Sunday.
With an influx in female participation in motorsport, the off-road championships featured a dedicated women’s division for the first time in Traralgon.
Wonthaggi’s Charlotte Bolding claimed the overall victory in the women’s class in her comeback race.
Traditionally a motocross competitor, Bolding won round one on Saturday over Rebecca Lipsett and Kellie Catanese.
A second place on Sunday sealed a spectacular weekend for Bolding, while Tyla Jones took the second round win with Kellie Catanese again in third.
After a year off due to injury, Bolding was keen to test the recently renovated bushland course at Traralgon.
“I thought I’d give off-road a go,” she said.
“I’ve had 12 months off the bike, so it was pretty tough to come back to; It was challenging but I enjoyed it.”
With local Country Fire Authority brigades on hand to keep dust down and provide much needed moisture to the dirt track, race co-ordinator Steve Mason said the course and off-road format were hits among the entire field.
“Everyone loved the new bit (bush track) obviously it chewed out a bit as it does with that many riders… everyone had a smile on their face,” he said.
“One loop was hard and technical and the other one flowed a bit better because you had those two different types of track.
“Everyone liked the concept of starting together on the motocross track… so it was really good.”
Traralgon 12 year-old Nick Graham claimed a class second place in his first off-road event on Saturday in a standout local performance.
Round three of the Victorian Off-Road Championships will be a junior sprint event in Dandenong next month.
