A career change to the Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) for Luke Styke has ultimately been rewarded with a national championship in just his first year contesting the series.

Styke, who has spent majority of his career racing supercross and motocross, earning a SX2 and MX2 title in the process, was crowned champion of the E1 category at the weekend’s AORC finale in Omeo following a dominant run with the Yamalube Yamaha Active8 outfit.

“Racing off-road has been a great change in my career and one that has been rewarding for me,” Styke commented. “I have made a heap of new friends and I have enjoyed the challenge of racing a dirt bike in completely foreign surroundings.

“I set my sights high for the first year in off-road and I have met those goals so I’m proud of what I have been able to achieve in the last 12 months. The Yamalube Yamaha Active8 Team has been amazing in their support of me and the advice and help everyone on the team has provided me, including my teammates, has been amazing.

“Thank you to everyone on the team and at Yamaha for giving me the opportunity to prove myself in off road and having the belief in me. It’s been an awesome year and with a great group of people.”

The New South Welshman rounded out the year with a stellar 31-point advantage over youthful talent Fraser Higlett (Husqvarna Enduro Racing).