Press Release

Force Accessories Honda race team 2011 mid year season update

ocscottie
8/3/2011 10:01pm

As we hit the midway mark of the 2011 Australian Off Road Championship, the Force Accessories Thor Honda Racing Team is in a positive frame of mind.

Round one saw E2 rider AJ Roberts riding
with a serious hand injury sustained while finalising his bike setup. 
Even with this injury, AJ dug deep through the rocky cross country track
and pushed through the pain to score some much needed championship
points.  After surgery on the broken ligament in his thumb, AJ’s focus
turned towards the Australian 4-Day Enduro (A4DE) which saw him change
to the E1 class and ride a CRF250R.  This event has to date been the
highlight of his year.

“I was very happy that I stayed pretty consistent over the four days to finish 3rdin the E1 class.” 

“I
had only had a couple of weeks on the CRF250R before the event and on
Day 3 I actually made a shock change which really helped and made the
bike more comfortable,” said AJ.

The second half of the championships sees AJ making a permanent change from E2 to the E1 class.

“It
started with the A4DE where I decided to ride the CRF250R. I thought
the A4DE would have really nasty rocky tests and I’d feel more
comfortable in those conditions on the smaller capacity. If I had of
known that the A4DE was going to be as fast as it was, I don’t think I
would have changed classes for that event, however  I’m glad I did as I
really enjoyed the event and the CRF250R.

“Since I haven't earned
many points at the first four rounds in the E2 class because of my hand
injury and a DNF I have decided to keep riding the CRF250R in the E1
Class. I feel fresh on the bike and I’m enjoying a new style of riding,”
he said.
In preparation for the next round in South Australia on
August 27/28, AJ has been doing a lot of sand riding to prepare for what
will be a very rough and sandy track.

In between the AORC
events, AJ is planning to race the QLD Enduro championship and another
couple of smaller events, and is particularly looking forward to the Force Accessories WILD WOOD Rock Extreme race to be held in Victoria on the 20thNovember.
  
Teammate Nick Beattie had
a much better start to the season and although getting up close and
personal with a tree during the early stages of the race it was a podium
finish for Nick who said was the toughest race to date.  Nick is
currently placed 2ndin the E3 class of the AORC championship with all his hard work and training paying off.

The highlight of the year to date for Nick was also the first A4DE round which saw him with a 3rdin his class and 9thoutright.

”The
A4DE went really well for me all my tests were great I had a few small
crashes in trail time but no crashes in any of my tests. I felt right at
home in the fast flowing tracks I could really open the big CRF480R up
on those fast straights!  Overall the 4 day was my best result at a
National event and I’m really happy with my result,” he said.

Nick
is currently doing some sand training and testing with AJ in
preparation for South Australia and is also planning to compete in the
QLD Enduro Championship in September.  Some local QLD Enduro and
Motocross races will also be a part of Nick’s ongoing training and
preparation for the remainder of the AORC season. 

In addition to
both riders finishing on the podium in their respective classes, Nick
and AJ formed a Trade Team with young  E1 rider Dylan Rose for the A4DE finishing and impressive 3rd against a selection of more heavily backed Enduro teams.   



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