A new era of sorts in the Australian Off-Road Championship will commence this weekend at Bulahdelah in New South Wales when rounds one and two of the series take place.

The contenders will remain the same for the most part, however the major difference is the incoming of CDR Yamaha and the departure of former team manager Geoff Ballard, plus World Enduro-bound Matthew Phillips.

We have since learnt that Ballard will actually be involved with Jessica Gardiner’s Sherco program in the new-look Ballard’s Motorex Offroad Team, but Phillips has already departed Australia in preparation for his WEC campaign with Husqvarna.

Favourite for the title once again has to be three-time champion Toby Price, the Motorex KTM Off-Road Racing actually in transit back to Australia from the San Filipe 250 in Mexico over the weekend, where he finished fifth overall with Mike Brown.

Price will again ride the 500 EXC in E3 as part of Brad Williscroft’s revamped off-road program, alongside former dual AORC champion Chris Hollis and Ben Burrell. Hollis will ride E2 on a 450 EXC, stepping up from the 350 EXC-F, while Burrell is the team’s E1 pilot. Plus, Ben Grabham will be part of the team again this season.

Yamaha’s anticipated factory team now run by Craig Dack Racing will have Stefan Merriman in E2 on the WR450F and Daniel Milner on the YZ250F in E1. Fresh from the A4DE Outright win last year, Milner would have to be the favourite to challenge Price for the title.

The second Yamaha team, Activ8 Yamaha Yamalube Racing, will again see team owner AJ Roberts in the mix, riding a big-bore YZ250 two-stroke in E3. Josh Green will step up to E2 on the WR450F and should shine in that role, as Tom McCormack joins the squad at the YZ250F rider in E1.

Husqvarna’s team will be led by the ever experienced Glenn Kearney, joined by team newcomer Lachlan Stanford, and Phillips will also be back in Australia at select events during the season.

As for Husaberg it’s been pretty quiet, however former Activ8 Yamaha rider Jarrod Bewley will run his own deal, and Scott Keegan will be back in blue and yellow after a positive season last year. Geoff Braico is also said to be back on a Husaberg after a year in the US, which will make for an interesting battle of the ‘Bergs throughout the series.

As you can see, there is a lot of talent in the mix within the AORC ranks for 2013 (plus many more that we haven’t noted here) and this weekend will mark the first real indication of who is ranked where at this point. Things are about to heat up!