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Consistency sees Empire Motorsport's Will Price awarded with top-five results at Kyogle
Empire Motorsports off-road racer Will Price put in two consistent top-five results at the ninth and 10th rounds of the 2023 Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) in Kyogle, NSW, over the weekend.
Racing in the E1 class, Price and his 2023 Kawasaki KX250X finished the two rounds of racing with a pair of fourth-place finishes, despite being confronted with hot and demanding conditions.
Saturday’s special tests featured plenty of technical, dusty, one-lined trails with a myriad of off-camber corners. Still, the 22-year-old Victorian was able to post some of the most consistent times of the day and keep the pressure on the leaders as he finished the day in fourth.
More open special tests awaited Price on Sunday and aside from some errors that cost him time, he was able to again comfortably finish in fourth place, more than 30 seconds ahead of his nearest challenger.
“Last weekend I was riding in the snow at Bright, so to be riding in 30 degrees and sweating hard just a few days later was certainly different," Price said. "I really enjoyed the tracks on Saturday – they were undulating, tight and technical, and the KX250X just loved it. My times in the middle three sprint tests were really consistent, nearly identical, and we were right in the hunt.
"Sunday’s tests were so dry and marbly, and I washed the front-end out in corners a few times, just because there was no grip. It was frustrating to make so many mistakes and be a bit off the pace, but we still had the same P4 result for the class.
“We’re getting to the end of the championship now, so I’m going to keep working over the next few weeks and make sure we come out swinging at Dungog next month.”
The final two rounds of the 2023 AORC season will be held at Dungog, NSW on October 14-15.
2023 Australian Off-Road Championship (Kyogle, NSW)
E1 round nine results:
1. Kyron Bacon 2. Korey McMahon 3. Cooper Sheidow 4. Will Price (Empire Motorsports)
E1 round 10 results:
1. Kyron Bacon 2. Korey McMahon 3. Cooper Sheidow 4. Will Price (Empire Motorsports)