DIRTBIKE

E2: PREMIER CLASS
This class is stacked so it’s going
to be awesome. Yamaha has three
gun ridersinthisfield, withChris
Hollis and Tom McCormack
frontingfor CDR and Josh Green
forActiv8.
As we went to print, KTM Team
Manager Ben Grabham confirmed
Tye Simmonds will race E2 on a
450, and, with a year of enduro
under his belt,he will be more
accustomed to the bush. There
are a few other riders who could
do reallywell like Broc Grabham
(Husky), JustinCarafa(Sherco)
andpossiblyPeter Boyle. Every
oneoftheseridershas their

strengths on different tracks, so

it’ll be great to see who comes

out on top.

PREDICTION: 1HOLLISHis

form at the end of last season

was awesome and hisability to

post super-quick times in the

sprints won him a few outrights,

which is a big plus.

2 GREENYHe will be right on

Hollis’ heels and will wina

number of rounds, especially if

we go back to Hedley, Vic.

3 SIMMONDSHe will be rightin

the thick of it but I think the

other two riders’ experience will

be enough to see him nudged.

E3, BIG BOYS' TOYS

It’s funnyhow onlya fewyears

ago there was talk of an E3

boycott. Thankfullythat never

happened, and thisyear the class

has a few, reallyfastguys who are

more than capable of not only

winningthe class, but the overall.

Husqvarna will be represented

byLachyStanford, who is into his

thirdyear on the factoryteam.

Activ8 Yamaha is lookingtoput

Beau Ralston on a big-bore

WR480F and tryhis luck at

gettinghis second AORC title.

Another name to look outforis

current E3 ISDE champion Daniel

Sanders. I’ve heard Chuckyw

change to E2, but considerin

record on the KTM 300EXC,

think hewouldbemoreincli

to sticktowhatheknowshe

ridefast.

I’ve also heard that current

Under-19 champTom Mason

be ridingE3 as well and heh

posted some reallygood resu

thepast.

PREDICTIONS: 1CHUCKYH

was super strongat the endo

lastyear andhe seems to rea

gel with the 300.

2 BEAUZOHe will be right th

fightingfor the title every

weekend. He is very strong,v

fit and will be wantingto ad

E3 title.

3 LACHYHe is verygood on

hardpack stuff and has really

improved his cross-country

results.

He has struggled in rough,

sandyrounds but I think heh

been working real hard in the

off-season to improve. It will

real closefightfor the title.

8

It

,

s funny how only a few years

was talk of an E3 boycott

3. Dry dusty tracks were on the
   menu in 2015


4. Tye Simmonds will swing off
   a 450 in 2016


5. Josh Green will also be 450
   mounted in 2016


6. Daniel Sanders will swap
   two-strokes for four in 2016


7. Lachy Stanford in his third
   year on the Factory Husky


8. Beau Ralston will have a
   tough battle to keep his title

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http://www.adbmag.com.au APRIL 2016| 101