TRARALGON South teenager Nick Graham has no use for brakes at the moment.
It’s been full steam ahead in the J3 Victorian Off Road Championship for Graham this season, continuing at this month’s surprise one day cross country competition at Leongatha, put on ahead of the larger two day program planned for 23-24 July at Welshpool.
The 8.9 kilometre circuit was well designed with a mix of grass paddock, bush, log crossings and tight corners but Graham rode the technical course smoothly in two hours for a win in his class to hold on to his championship lead.
Jack Newton also thrived on the demanding course and also went on to claim podium in the C1 class, in which he tops the standings.
Travis Selwyn is finding his feet in the tough over 35 expert class and came in fifth, gaining enough points to rise to third in the championship.
Chris Perry, still recovering from successful rides in Erzberg, Austria, where he came third in the Xtreme Rocket Hillclimb and 32nd in the main event, still managed to ride well in the highly competitive pro class.
Lachie Skinner came sixth in his class and found the tight, muddy course a vast contrast to the dust he negotiated earlier in the week at the Finke Desert Race in Alice Springs.
Having just returned from the Northern Territory, Skinner was still recovering from the gruelling desert race in which he came 12th in the 250cc four stroke class in his first crack at the 458km event.
It wasn’t a day to remember for Billy Newton, who was leading C3 in the championship ahead of the round.
He came to grief at the beginning of his race and suffered some nasty knee injuries which have put him out for the rest of the season.
Riders are now preparing for the popular Welshpool round, which has been designated VORC and an Australian Off Road Championship round with riders coming in from around Australia.
