Former Australian Off-Road Champion Daniel Sanders will return home from Europe in 2018 with the Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team.

Sanders, 23, confirmed last week that he was departing KTM, transferring to Husqvarna in his homecoming 12 months after dominating the 2016 season.

“It’s a big change for me, after eight years on KTMs,” Sanders said. “I’m looking forward to it with some renewed motivation. I’m going to be riding a ‘white knight’, but I don’t know which one yet. I’m having some fun at the moment on an FE 450, visiting some motocross and enduro tracks and getting a feel for it.

“Stock-standard they’re a magnificent bike and real reliable and enjoyable to ride. Every bike requires a different riding style and you learn something different off each one. I’ve had a bit of time on the 500s in the desert races, and now I’m just waiting for the new TPI bikes to roll into the country to test out too.

“It’ll be good jumping back into the AORC. I think next year will be a much stronger field and there’s already a lot of hype about it. Daniel [Milner’s] always been a strong rider, but as long as we each have a consistent year, I think it’s going to be pretty close.”

Sanders will contest the AORC season swept by Milner – who filled the KTM Enduro Racing Team seat of Sanders when he headed overseas – in 2016, as well as the Australian 4-Day Enduro (A4DE) and Hattah Desert Race.