Fresh from competing in the Grand National Cross Country (GNCC) Series, multiple Australian champion Daniel Milner has returned home to defend his Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE) title that he has held since 2012.

Milner, 24, is excited to be home after a challenging rookie year in the United States, rejoining his former CDR Yamaha team alongside Chris Hollis for next week’s event in Wynyard, Tasmania.

“It was definitely a learning year,” Milner explained. “Everything started to fall into place towards the end of the season where we got some stronger results, but with the tracks being so rough it was tough getting used to. It’s definitely been a good experience though and hopefully we can go over there next year a lot more positive and a lot more set-up to get some good results.”

On defending his A4DE crown, Milner was realistic about his chances: “It’s going to be hard knowing that it is in Matthew Phillips’ backyard. You’ve also got Chris Hollis and Toby Price, so it’s definitely going to be a tough race but all I can do is try my best.

“I did an eight-hour in Tasmania a couple of years ago. It’s definitely cool terrain and, from what I’ve been told so far, there’ll be no rain so it’ll be pretty dry and dusty. Hopefully we get a bit of rain and it all falls into place nicely.”

Milner also recently competed in the International Six Day Enduro in Slovakia in September, where he finished in a very impressive second place in the E2 class, which also included a second overall finish in the World Trophy behind controversial winner France.

“I’ve won the A4DE for the last three years, so I’m expecting to finish in the top three,” Milner added. “I’ll be disappointed if I can’t win it again, but it’s going to be hard with everyone being so fast this year. My main goal is to get on that top step.”

Milner’s attendance at the 2015 A4DE reduces his American campaign for this season, with the penultimate round of the GNCC series scheduled for Powerline Park in St Clairsville, Ohio, this weekend.