Wilksch Leaves The Competition In The Mackay Dust
Round 3 of the 2022 Yamaha Australian Off-Road Championship presented by MXstore (AORC) raised the bar higher [if that was even possible] than the action from Rounds 1 & 2. Our world-class competitors screamed across highly technical test tracks here in Mackay, Queensland, for Sprints.
The field set a cracking pace immediately from test 1, with surprises throughout the day as each test called for more and more speed, which caused tighter and tighter competition. After seven back-to-back Sprint tests for our Seniors, and 11 rounds of one test for our Juniors, the top speed demons for Round 3 was Andrew Wilksch (Simford Racing, Husqvarna).

E1
Even with a target on his back after Rounds 1 & 2 in Cherrabah, Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) seemed totally unfazed as he pushed his Yamaha YZ to the limit in E1. Coming out on top with a total time of 1:49:05.461, Bacon has maintained top dog position in his class.
Taking second today was fellow Yamaha teammate Blake Hollis, with a total time of 1:52:29.974. Over seven laps across the Offroad Advantage and WR450F tracks, Hollis’ times continued to improve as he fought to secure his spot on the podium.
Rounding out E1’s Round 3 podium was Jeremy Carpentier (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team), who finished today with a total time of 1:52:43.999. Carpentier seemed to be breathing down Hollis’ neck over the course of the day but had to concede for bronze after seven laps.
Reflecting on his success today, Bacon explained that “I had a really good day today. Tracks were pretty technical which was good. It got a bit fast and sketchy out there, but I kept consistent and came away with a win!
“Tomorrow I need to keep consistent and stay on the bike. If the conditions are the same as today, I just want to stay clean and have fun!”
2022 AORC Round 3 E1 Top 5 Provisional Results:
- Kyron Bacon (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 1:49:05.461
- Blake Hollis (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 1:52:29.974
- Jeremy Carpentier (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) 1:52:43.999
- Cooper Sheidow (Kessner Motorcycles, KTM Australia) 1:53:17.562
- Korey McMahon (GasGas Australia, Suttos Powersports) 1:53:20.461

E2
This year is shaping up to be really positive for Joshua Green (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team), who has taken out his third consecutive class win for the 2022 season! Aboard his Yamaha WRF, Green continued slicing valuable seconds off his test times, even with the classic Queensland humidity and a lofty near two-hour stint across the two test tracks. Green claimed first place in E2 with a total time of 1:49:05.256.
The final two podium positions were hard fought and won by Husqvarna’s Todd Waters, and Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team’s Michael Driscoll. Each finished today’s Sprints with respective times of 1:51:29.060 and 1:52:12.574. Beta’s Fraser Higlett was just behind with a total time of 1:53:48.587.
“My day was really good. It was a survival day because the tracks were tough, with a really good combination of everything on the tests, from high speeds to tight technical spots,” confirmed Green.
“Tomorrow, I’m planning to keep rolling and come away with another class win.”
2022 AORC Round 3 E2 Top 5 Provisional Results:
- Joshua Green (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 1:49:05.256
- Todd Waters (Husqvarna Offroad Racing Team) 1:51:29.060
- Michael Driscoll (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) 1:52:12.574
- Fraser Higlett (Beta) 1:53:48.587
- Caleb Ward (Portas Bikes and Power) 1:55:12.948
E3
Round 3 was well and truly Wilksch’s day! This absolute demon tore up Mackay, smoking the competition in both his class and the overall field, by nearly one minute. Wilksch finished Round 3 with a total time of 1:48:12.207. Even with some challenges through the day, including bike issues and some bingles, Wilksch seemed totally at home and unfazed.
E3’s podium was completed today by KTM’s Stefan Granquist in second with a total time of 1:52:03.699, and third place won by Sherco’s Jonte Reynders, with a total time of 1:52:32.763.
The man of the hour, Wilksch gushed that “Today was a really exciting day! I put myself in the lead early on and I just tried to keep it upright for the rest of the day.”
“It was a good, challenging day of racing and I learnt a lot. The conditions played into my hand with the big 501.”
2022 AORC Round 3 E3 Top 5 Provisional Results:
- Andrew Wilksch (Simford Racing, Husqvarna) 1:48:12.207
- Stefan Granquist (KTM Offroad Racing Team) 1:52:03.699
- Jonte Reynders (Motul Pirelli Sherco Team) 1:52:32.763
- Ashley Norman 1:56:36.241
- Thomas McCormackv (MXstore, Ballards) 1:56:56.493

EJ
There was big upset in EJ today with current class leader, Billy Hargy (Husqvarna Offroad Racing Team) dropping down to fifth place for Round 3. Suffering a wrist injury, the Husqvarna boarded gun had a tough day out in the sugar canes, with consistent times that just couldn’t compete with the Round 3 victor, Riley McGillivray (Shepparton Motorcycles, KTM).
McGillivray took out a hard-fought win today with a total time of 1:56:39.308, after seven gruelling laps on the bike. Behind him in second and third place was Kobi Wolff and William Dennett (Yamaha Australia), who clocked in a total time of 1:57:38.312 and 1:58:30.927 respectively.
“Today wasn’t too bad at all. I slowly found my flow and we brought it home,” explained McGillivray.
“The competition was pretty strong. Kobi was right up there with me, so I had to work hard to keep the lead. The class is pretty heated this year, which makes for a lot of good racing.”
2022 AORC Round 3 EJ Top 5 Provisional Results:
- Riley McGillivray (Shepparton Motorcycles, KTM) 1:56:39.308
- Kobi Wolff 1:57:38.312
- William Dennett (Yamaha Australia) 1:58:30.927
- Campbell Hall (Halls Transport Repairs) 1:58:59.623
- Billy Hargy (Husqvarna Offroad Racing Team) 1:59:31.091

EW
True to form, Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Off Road Team) blazed an absolute trail in EW, as she tackled the Offroad Advantage and WR450F tests. Hard on bike and body, Gardiner finished today’s racing with a total time of 2:09:29.387.
KTM’s Emelie Karlsson rode comfortably into second place today, with a total time of 2:15:50.689. This weekend has thrown Karlsson many challenges but even after over two hours on the bike, Karlsson pushed on!
Bronze was won by Ebony Nielsen, with a total time of 2:18:10.141.
“Today was very interesting! Tracks were pretty different to what we’re used to. Parts of the track asked me to dig deep and send it hard, so the stress on my body was tough,” confirmed Gardiner.
“Tomorrow we’re definitely going to regroup and recover. The long tests were hard on t