17.07.2022

HIGHS AND LOWS FOR KTM AORC RACERS GRANQUIST AND KARLSSON AT MENDOORAN

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KTM racers Stefan Granquist and Emelie Karlsson experienced both highs and lows in the fifth and sixth rounds of the 2022 Australian Off-Road Championship at Mendooran, NSW, over the weekend.
After finishing on the podium in the EW class yesterday, Karlsson proved consistency is key with another third-place result today.

Karlsson and her KTM 350 EXC-F overcame several crashes on Saturday morning before consolidating in the afternoon to finish in third position. Although today’s faster, rougher sprint circuits proved a challenge for many, Karlsson refused to back down, hanging tough for another hard-fought podium finish.

Meanwhile, Granquist suffered a hard crash while in podium contention, unfortunately resulting in a broken tibia and fibula.

Riding the powerhouse KTM 500 EXC-F in the E3 class, Granquist overcame some minor problems around the sandy sprint circuits on Saturday morning, before upping the ante in the afternoon to finish the day in third place.

Granquist carried that momentum into Sunday’s sixth round and was charging in second position before hitting a tree when he got off-line through some high-speed sandy whoops, breaking his leg and forcing him out for the rest of the day.

Rounds seven and eight of the AORC will be held in Nowra, NSW, on 6-7 August, where riders will again face sprint formats over the two days of racing.

Stefan Granquist: “It was a really up and down weekend. Like a lot of riders, I initially struggled in yesterday’s tighter, sandy loops, but really felt like I was able to put that behind me and put in some good times in the afternoon and finished strong. I came into today feeling good and I was riding really well – I wasn’t taking risks and everything just seemed to be working for me – but got swappy in some fast, sandy whoops and hit a tree really hard. I’m not sure if it was hitting the tree or landing 10m away from my bike, but I broke my tibia and fibula, so I’m currently in hospital getting it checked out. It’s a really disappointing way to finish the weekend, especially as I was right in the zone today and felt like I could’ve pushed for a really good result.”

Emelie Karlsson: “Yesterday I had some really good tests and some proper downers where I had a few crashes, but I was happy to still finish the day on the podium. Today’s courses were really rough and fast, with square edges and roots hiding in sand whoops. It caught a lot of guys out and I just couldn’t get my head around it! I didn’t feel good and was off the pace all day, but I was still able to hold on for another third-place result. When you look at it on paper it was a pretty decent weekend, but I did struggle a lot, especially on today’s stages. I’m looking forward to Nowra in a few weeks time.”

2022 Australian Off-Road Championship – Mendooran, NSW

Round five results:
E1
1. Kyron Bacon (Yamaha)
2. Sam Pretscherer (Husqvarna)
3. Korey McMahon (GASGAS)
4. Cooper Sheidow (KTM)
5. Blake Hollis (Yamaha)

E2
1. Todd Waters (Husqvarna)
2. Joshua Green (Yamaha)
3. Jye Dickson (KTM)
4. Callum Norton (Sherco)
5. Scott Keegan (KTM)

E3
1. Andrew Wilksch (Husqvarna)
2. Jonte Reynders (Sherco)
3. Stefan Granquist (KTM)
4. Hayden Keeley (KTM)
5. Patrick McGillivray (KTM)

EW
1. Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha)
2. Meghan Rutledge (Kawasaki)
3. Emelie Karlsson (KTM)
4. Taylor Thompson (Yamaha)
5. Courtney Rubie (KTM)

Round six results:
E1
1. Kyron Bacon (Yamaha)
2. Korey McMahon (GASGAS)
3. Sam Pretscherer (Husqvarna)
4. Blake Hollis (Yamaha)
5. Cooper Sheidow (KTM)

E2
1. Todd Waters (Husqvarna)
2. Joshua Green (Yamaha)
3. Jye Dickson (KTM)
4. Travis Silk (KTM)
5. Fraser Higlett (Beta)

E3
1. Andrew Wilksch (Husqvarna)
2. Jonte Reynders (Sherco)
3. Luke Bunnik (Sherco)
4. Hayden Keeley (KTM)
5. Patrick McGillivray (KTM)

EW
1. Taylor Thompson (Yamaha)
2. Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha)
3. Emelie Karlsson (KTM)
4. Courtney Rubie (KTM)
5. Julie Denyer (Husqvarna)
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Contact

AUSTRALIA - Rosie Lalonde

 

 

Rosie Lalonde

Marketing Manager

KTM Group
Australia - New Zealand

T + 61 428 181 388 
E rosie.lalonde@ktm.com