Sherco, Ballards Motorex off-road rider, Jess Gardiner extended her championship lead at the Australian Off-Road Championships (AORC) in Kyogle, NSW on the weekend, winning both rounds and locking in valuable points.

Gardiner fought hard to take the win in round nine holding off fellow ISDE team member, Tayla Jones to cross the finish line a mere 4 seconds in front. Gardiner said the open grass track suited both hers and Jones’s riding styles and was happy to just sneak in the win.

“I was really determined this weekend going into it, no one likes to finish second place which is good motivation, especially going into the next round on the Sunday.” She said.

Round 10 on Sunday saw Gardiner glide home to a more comfortable victory over Jones finishing 40 seconds in front with a total time of 44:31.180 and increasing her championship lead to 22 points heading into the final two rounds.

“It was my first time racing at Kyogle. The tracks were great and the two day enduro format was a really good training for the up and coming Australian four day enduro (A4DE).” Gardiner said.

After the A4DE in Dungog NSW, Gardiner then heads to the final two rounds of the AORC in Victoria on 5-6 September. Gardiner says she will keep doing what she’s been doing all year and is hesitant to make any title claims before the last race.

“The race is never over until it’s over. I do have a 22 point lead at the moment but anything can happen and I am just hoping to finish the championship on a strong note. It would be great to claim an Australian championship with Sherco for the first time .” Gardiner says.

Just hours after the final round of the Australian Off-Road Championships in Victoria, Gardiner will jet out of the country to compete in the final rounds of the Enduro World Championships (EWC) where she currently sits in third place.

Gardiner will then begin training for an Aussie assault at the ISDE in Argentina in November where herself, Tayla Jones and Jemma Wilson will defend their world championship title.