HQVA press release:

After four rounds in the soft surfaces Husqvarna’s off-road racers will switch to hard-pack terrain and the specific demands of enduro competition as the seventh and eighth rounds of the Australian Off-Road Championships take place this weekend at Aratula, in Queensland.

Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team Manager and seven-time ISDE gold medallist Glenn Kearney’s fused right ankle is feeling the strongest it has since his operation over the Christmas break, and the Picton racer is facing the weekend with increased confidence.

The 2014 AORC number three is currently third in the E3 class and seventh in the outright positions, and is sure to have his Husqvarna FE 501 locked and loaded as the series begins its second half.

Lachlan Stanford was quick to admit he couldn’t quite find his mojo last time out in the South Australian sand, but the Queensland Enduro Champion of the last two years will be on much more familiar ground at Aratula, and feeling positive about his chances on the hard pack as he races his Husqvarna FE 350.

In the Junior 4 class (15 years 250cc and 125cc), Brisbane’s Fraser Higlett will be hoping to bring a little extra zing after his first visit to MA’s Elite Performance Academy. The Husqvarna FE 250 rider takes a 16-point championship lead into the weekend’s double-header after five wins from six starts, and will look to extend his advantage.

Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team Manager Glenn Kearney (FE501): “My ankle is feeling stronger and a lot less painful, so I’m feeling a lot more confident on it this time out. I don’t think there’s been a race at this venue before, but Lachy has told us to expect some more hard packed ground and maybe some rocky creek beds and stuff and I believe there are four different tests. Everyone’s in the same boat, and we’re hoping for some good conditions, and not too much dust with the rain that is around. Hopefully we can go back to the results that Lachy had at the first round, when we were in Queensland. He started on a real strong foot but since then we’ve been in the sand. I’m looking forward to the enduro format.”

Lachy Stanford (FE350): “It’s been a long break between races so it will be good just to get back into racing again. I’m looking forward to racing on the hard-packed stuff again, so I’m excited for the weekend. The two-day format is good for me, I like that. I’m real excited for it. I want a top-five this weekend, that’s definitely what I’m going there for. Plus I really want to stand on the podium again, and build my pace up towards the end of the year.”

Fraser Higlett (FE250): “I’ve heard its hard-packed this weekend, unlike the last two rounds of the AORC, and I’m keen to get back onto some hard-pack – I’m over the sand a little bit. I’ve only ever done the Queensland enduro at Mount Perry – it’s hard work going the whole time and not stopping. I’ll just have to take it easy and be nice and consistent until I get to the special tests. And then go hard. The bike is running good as, though the body has been recovering from the Academy at the weekend. I learnt a lot of mental and physical stuff there which I had never really taken much notice of before, so that was good.”

For more information on Husqvarna motorcycles visit www.husqvarna-motorcycles.com.