A quick chat with three 2016 Yamaha A4DE favourites
Motorcycling Australia spoke to three 2016 Yamaha Australian Four Day Enduro hopefuls just days before the main event in Mansfield next week, November 14-19th.
Riley Graham, Daniel Sanders and Lachlan Stanford have all come off contesting in the 2016 Australia Off-Road Championship, and with all three contestents walking away with some great personal goals, their plan is to extend their list of results again next week.
South Australian privateer Yamaha rider, Riley Graham, was walking the track in Merrijig at the time of our interview and quickly shared with us his thoughts on next week’s Enduro.
“I am excited for the four day and I am feeling good about it. There’s not as many tests this time so it should be a fun event,” said Graham.
“The Yamaha is also feeling really good, as is my fitness going into the event.”
When asked about his personal highlights for 2016, Graham said that “Coming third in the Off-Road in my class and ninth outright was definitely up there, but I am already looking towards 2017, competing in the Australian Series, hopefully it will be a very busy and successful year for me,” he concluded.
Yarra Valley (VIC) local larrikin, KTM Enduro Racing Team’s Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders took time out of his busy schedule to talk to MA about his preparation heading into the 2016 Yamaha Australia Four Days Enduro.
“We’ve only had three weeks back at home after the International Six Day Enduro in Spain, and the four day for me is a local event, being only 2 hours away from my home,” he started.
“We’ve already been up to the track at Merrijig and done a bit of walking around and checking it out, so I’m feeling pretty good going into it. It’s been great with the KTM Team and the 300, it is an awesome bike.”
With the competition hotting up, Sanders is clearly fired up for next week, adding; “I am looking forward to the competition of the event and I’ll be trying to knock Daniel Milner off his winning streak!” Sanders also said he is looking forward to a successful and jam-packed 2017/18 in Europe, racing the Endro Grand Prix.
Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team rider Lachaln Stanford, literally on the bike as we chatted, shared that he is feeling realy good for this years’ Yamaha A4DE coming off the back of a hotly contested ISDE.
Panting to catch his breath to talk to us on the phone, we asked how he was going in the lead up to the 2016 four day. “I am feeling really good coming off the back of the six day in Spain, I was on the 250 which isn’t my usual bike, I usually ride the FE 501,” he started.
“When I got back from Spain I jumped straight on a brand new 2017 501, which I was really excited about.
“Since then I’ve been riding a lot, just to jump on and get the feel of the bigger bike again. It doesn’t take too long for me to change and adjust between the bikes, but there are small differences to get used to.”
“I definitely have a good chance at winning the 2016 Yamaha Aussie four day, as my pace is up there. I want to come in with the best outright and see how I come out at the end. I am otherwise really looking forward to 2017. My calendar is filling up which I’m excited about,” Satnford concluded.
All three competitiors, already at Merrijig near Mansfield in Victoria walking tests and tracks will be ready to go come Wendensday morning of November 16 for the commencement of the 2016 Yamaha Australian Four Days Enduro.
Keep up to date with the latest information on the 2016 Yamaha A4DE by heading to the Motorcycling Australia website, liking the AORC Facebook page and following @aorc_ on Instagram.
Image – John Hamilton/Mad Dog Images
