Daniel Milner on top at the halfway point A4DE
By Kendall Jennings
NSW was in the lead for the Senior Trophy after day 1, followed by Victoria and Tasmania. In the Junior Trophy, NSW was in the lead, followed by Tasmania and Queensland. The Ladies Queensland team is in the lead after day one, followed by NSW and Tasmania.
Day two of A4DE 2015 competition was very eventful, with rain overnight, the special tests could easily catch a rider off guard. Everything was a challenge, trying to brake, or control wayward back ends slipping out on wet tree roots or clay, all the while dodging tree stumps and grass mounds.
Daniel Milner, Matt Phillips and Daniel Sanders started together as the first line of riders. Chris Hollis, Josh Green, Beau Ralston started a minute behind them on the second line. While Toby Price, Glenn Kearney, Lachlan Stanford were on the third line a further minute behind.
The Timberlands test, around the halfway point, featured a nice little section of snotty slippery hill, with tree roots, stumps, grass and moss. Daniel Milner was definitely a stand out through this section, taking a different line to the riders in from of him.Â
“Things went well again today and I had a really good run this morning in the first two tests and was able to build a bit of a gap,” Milner explained. “I had an issue in the final test and I lost some time, but all up it was a good day for me and the bike is going awesome, so I look forward to more of the same tomorrow,” he ends.
The ‘issue’ Milner spoke of is most likely related to an incident where the Yamaha was sent over the bars after dropping the front into a rut.
Milner, won three tests today and extended his lead to 27-seconds over second placed Matt Phillips with two days remaining.
Milner’s CDR Yamaha team mate, Chris Hollis, had a tough day at the office. He fell at crucial times in special tests and as a result, lost important time on the leaders. He lost a minute due to crashes in both the first and third special tests on day two and now has plenty work ahead of him to make up for the lost time. He currently sits fifth Outright and second in E2 behind Milner.
Josh Green (Active8 Yamaha) continues his strong form and holds down fourth outright after another impressive performance on day two. The WR250F mounted Green posted consistent times all day to consolidate is place inside the top four and he also has a strangle hold on the E1 (250cc) division with two days to go.
Active8 Yamaha partner, Beau Ralston, also logged a good day despite not feeling the best on the bike on the slippery surfaces and currently runs in seventh outright and third in the E2 class, keeping Yamaha’s 1-2-3, E2 charge intact.
Tayla Jones went on the attack today in the Women’s class to turn her three second deficit into nearly a 90 second lead at the end of the second day. Jones, who has dominated the Women’s class all year, was back to her best and has again taken control with an impressive ride.
The update on the injury to Kirk Hutton is a broken shoulder and Hutton will now return him for his recovery.
Sherco Cross 7.1 kms
- Daniel Milner
- Josh Green
- Matt Phillips
- Daniel Sanders
- Peter Boyle
KTM Enduro 9.9kms
- Daniel Milner
- Matt Phillips
- Josh Green
- Daniel Sanders
- Tye Simmonds
Powertech Enduro 9kms
- Daniel Milner
- Matt Phillips
- Toby Price
- Mark Grove
- Daniel Sanders
Yamaha Cross 3kms
- Matt Phillips
- Daniel Milner
- Chris Hollis
- Tye Simmonds
- Riley Graham
Timberlands 5kms
- Matt Phillips
- Daniel Milner
- Daniel Sanders
- Lachlan Stanford
- Toby Price
Overall Day 2
- Daniel Milner 51:18.870
- Matt Phillips 51:42.825
- Daniel Sanders 52:55.572
- Josh Green 53:24.776
- Toby Price 53:25.685
Tomorrow (Friday) marks the last day of special tests before the motocross test on Saturday. Seven Special tests with a total of 49.9kms will be conducted and 177km of trail ridden. Daniel Milner is looking to make it four consecutive A4DE wins in a row, a feat which has never been accomplished. Local rider Matt Phillips, back from International duty, is looking to put a stop to Milner’s run of A4DE victories.
In the Senior Trophy, NSW has the lead over Victoria, followed by Tasmania. NSW is also leading the Junior Trophy, ahead of Tasmania and Queensland. Queensland is leading the Ladies, followed by NSW and Tasmania.
