26 Mar. 2023

PODIUM DELIGHT AT MENDOORAN FOR HUSQVARNA MOTORCYCLES BACKED RIDERS AS AORC OPENS

Husqvarna Motorcycles-backed off-road duo Stefan Granquist and Emelie Karlsson have started the 2023 Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) strongly with a haul of podium results at the opening two rounds of the series in Mendooran, NSW.

In the E3 category, Granquist and his powerful Husqvarna FE 501 were near the pointy-end of the standings throughout the weekend, as he finished both days in a consistent second-place result.

Two runner-up results were a satisfying finish for Granquist in his return to national competition, after badly breaking his leg at the same venue last year, then only returning to racing six weeks ago after injuring his wrist in November.

Making it a Husqvarna 1-2 in the class, Simford Racing’s Sam Pretscherer charged to a three-and-a-half minute victory on the opening day, then again held the rest of the E3 field at bay on Sunday to start the year with an impressive perfect results tally.

In the EW class, Karlsson stayed fast and steady around the rough, sandy, whooped-out sprint tests to claim well-earned third positions on both days.

It was a convincing start to the racing season for Karlsson and her FE 350 and the results will set her up well for a push for more podiums and potential round wins over the remainder of the season.

In the EJ class, talented teenager Billy Hargy and his Husqvarna FE 350 enjoyed some epic battles across both days of sprint tests, finishing with a P3 result on Saturday, then going a step better for a hard-fought second-place result on Sunday.

Rounds three and four of the AORC season are scheduled to be held on 22-23 April at Queensland Moto Park.

Stefan Granquist: “After nine months since my last race it was good to be back racing again and to be back amongst it. Finishing with two runner-up results was alright, but I’m a bit off the pace for the outright wins that I’m aiming for. I’ve only been back on the bike for about five or six weeks, as I broke my wrist soon after I’d recovered from last year’s broken leg. It’s been a bit of a slog, but I felt good on the FE 501 this weekend! I didn’t have the pace to contest for wins, but I feel that will come in time and I'm looking forward to the upcoming rounds now.”

Emelie Karlsson: “It was a positive weekend even though two third-place finishes are definitely not what I wanted, but we know what we need to work on now, and with another four weeks between now and Queensland, we’ll hopefully be in a much better position to contest for wins, which is always the goal. It’s great to be back racing again and to come away from Mendooran with some good points!”