Milner Dominates AORC Season Opener As Buxton Podiums
It was the perfect return to the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC) for KTM DM31 Racing rider Daniel Milner as he dominated rounds one and two of the 2024 season in Roma, Queensland, to take the E2 class wins and rank as fastest outright.
It didn’t take long to show that multiple-time national champion Milner’s time in Europe had only made him faster, as the KTM DM31 Racing team owner/rider crushed the rest of the E2 class aboard his 2024 KTM 450 EXC-F.
Milner destroyed the dusty, technical tests to finish more than a minute ahead of his nearest rival in the overall standings on Saturday, then again put on a clinic on Sunday as he strode to another comfortable victory, bettering the rest of the E2 field by one and a half minutes after four laps of a rocky, technical test.
Meanwhile, New Zealand talent Buxton charged to a credible 4-3 result in his first-ever Australian off-road appearance. Aboard his 2024 KTM 250 EXC-F in the E1 class, the KTM DM31 Racing newcomer put aside his nerves and put in an impressive debut ride in hot conditions to finish P4 on Saturday. The 25-year-old quickly settled into a rhythm on Sunday, holding on to score a memorable first podium.
Rounds three and four of the AORC series will be held in Mount Misery, Victoria, from April 20-21.
Daniel Milner: “It feels good to be back on the KTM and to be racing in Australia again. I didn’t really enjoy my time racing with different teams in Europe, but now I feel comfortable and strong again, and can push where I need to push. The weekend went really well with two outright and E2 wins in two days. I had a lay-down in the last test yesterday, then had another one today that shook me up a bit, but apart from that, it was exciting to be back out there and picking up where I left off a few years ago. Hopefully this year I can give the boys someone to chase and get the speed of Australian racers up.”
Tom Buxton: “I’m really happy with how my weekend went. I struggled a bit yesterday with nerves, arm-pump, and getting into the flow of things, then today I was more relaxed. Even though I’m not used to the hot and dusty conditions, today’s test had a technical creek section that I could make up some good time through. The pace in Australia is definitely a big step up from New Zealand and I now know some areas I can build on. I’ll head back home this week for the last round of the Sprint series there, then I’ll try and set myself up with a base in Australia for the rest of the season.”
Imagery: Foremost Media
Press Release: KTM Australia
