The sun was out to play for Round 11 of the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) here in Omeo, Victoria as Jessica Gardiner took second place, but it was enough to crown her the 2018 AORC Women’s champion. Emelie Karlsson took the Women’s victory, whilst Chibnall and Ballard both recorded victories.

Gardiner capped off her return to the AORC with the title after competing in France last season, the Yamaha rider was thrilled to take this season’s title; “It was pretty good weekend, I had some great battles with Emelie today just like we had all year, it was a great way to cap off the season. After riding in Europe last year and taking the French championship, it was fun to come home racing with familiar faces. I can’t thank everyone around me enough including Yamaha, the MX Store Ballard Off-Road team and my supporters,” finished Gardiner.

Womens

After an intense battle in yesterday’s cross country, Gardiner and Karlsson were back at it again today in the sprints. The only difference to yesterday’s battle was that Karlsson got the better of Gardiner in the sprints. The pair were neck and neck throughout the first four sprints until Karlsson pulled away in the last sprint. Karlsson finished the day taking the win with a time of 51:54.860.

Settling for second wasn’t so bad for Gardiner as she her time of 52:07.860 was enough to take the 2018 title. Although Gardiner would have loved to take the win and the title, she leaves Omeo with a pretty big smile on her face.

Rounding out the podium and make it a pair of third place finishes here was Emma Milesevic, the local Victorian impressed this weekend in the AORC. Her time at the end of the five sprints was 53:40.550.

AORC Womens Round 11 Provisional Results

  1. Emelie Karlsson 51:54.860
  2. Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha MX Store Ballards Off-Road Team) 52:07.071
  3. Emma Milesevic 53:40.550
  4. Sophie Coldicutt 55:00.916
  5. Danielle Foot 58:41.867

Veterans

You may have thought that after wrapping up the championship yesterday, Chibnall may have taken it easy in today’s sprints? That certainly wasn’t the case, as the KTM rider once again showed his class how its done, clocking a 50:51.596.

Peter Rudd bounced back after missing yesterday’s podium to end his season with a second-place finish, after crossing the line with a 52:07.071.

The last spot on the podium went to local rider Darren Lessio as he ended the day with a time of 54:15.654.

AORC Veterans Round 11 Provisional Results

  1. Richard Chibnall 50:51.596
  2. Peter Rudd 52:07.071
  3. Darren Lessio 54:15.654
  4. Travis Selwyn 54:35.276
  5. Jade Gartlan 55:03.002

Masters

The 2018 Masters champion, Ballard put his stamp on the title with another race win here at Omeo today. Ballard crossed the line with a time of 53:33.371 to back up his win in yesterday’s cross country.

Crossing the line in second position was Michael Widdison, as he ended the day with a time of 54:11.445. Widdison makes it a pair of second place finishes here at Omeo, a great way to end his 2018 season.

Peter Schaper crossed the line with a time of 54:17.685 to snare the last spot on the podium and end his season with a podium finish.

AORC Round 11 Masters Provisional Results

  1. Geoffrey Ballard 53:33.371
  2. Michael Widdison 54:11.445
  3. Peter Schaper 54:17.685
  4. Craig Treasure 54:29.499
  5. Ian McGillivray 55:30.052