The Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Offroad Team headed to Mendooran NSW over the

weekend for round 1 and 2 of the Australian Offroad Championships (AORC).

After a long off season, the team is back to fight for their respective titles!

Mendooran produced very sandy and physical race conditions to put all the riders to

the test. There was a record number of competitors (377) ready to tackle the

weekend and baSle for the top 3 spots on the podium!

The Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Offroad Team are continuing to build strong results

together with Jessica Gardiner, Danielle McDonald, and Jeremy Carpentier back on

board the 2023 race season.

Unfortunately, Jeremy sustained a hard training crash resulting in a broken arm that

required surgery a couple of weeks prior. Jeremy commented, ‘It’s devastating to not

be able to race the first round- sand is one of my favourites, although this is a part of

the risk, we take to compete at the highest level in Australian motorcycle racing.

Thank you to all our sponsors for being so understanding- I’ll be back before we

know it!”

On a better note, Danielle McDonald 2022 Junior Girls champion stepped up onto the

WR250F for the 2023 race season to defend her title! Danielle kicked off the season

exactly where she lead off at the end of last season! Danielle confirmed she is a future

star in the making- taking the Win in the Junior Girls class at both rounds 1 and 2 of

racing over the weekend. Danielle said, “I’m really enjoying the new bike and

continuing to challenge the girls and boys out on track. I had a few silly crashes in the

sand over the weekend but still managed to stay in front of my fellow competitors”.

Jess Gardiner is back in the Enduro Women’s (EW) class to defend her 2022 title!

Although this weekend proven to be very challenging, managing to come down with

a severe head cold 2 days prior to the event meant it was survival mode for Jess.

Jess managers to show her true grit and strength by going 2nd at both rounds over

the weekend. Credit due to young Taylor Thompson who took the win both days and

was sand surfing out there for the win!

Jess mentioned, “The weekend was tough for me, this is one of the most physical

rounds on the calendar and to not be 100% healthy was frustrating, although

championships are not won in one weekend! I’m really looking forward to the next

rounds to fight back for the top spot! Defeats are what drive us to continue fighting,

kudos to Tay! I will now be full steam focus as I head to World Enduro

Championships to compete against the World’s best women next weekend in San

Remo, Italy”.

All in all, a great weekend of racing for the JGR girls!

The next race for the whole Yamaha JGR Ballard’s Offroad Team will be for Round

3/4 of AORC on the April, at Queensland Moto Park.

Keep up to date with the team’s adventures and training via their social media

channels.

@jgroffroad

@missjessgardiner

@jeremycarpenNer44

Check out the Vlog covering AORC rnd 1/2 behind the scenes this week Jess’

her you tube channel @JessGardiner.

Also make sure to follow her World Campaign for the opening rounds in Italy this

weekend coming!

Photos: Foremost Media