The Australian Four-Day Enduro’s return to Cessnock has been deemed a great success.
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The event brought plenty of excitement to Cessnock this week, with 350 riders taking part and hundreds more supporters visiting the town.
The A4DE was founded in Cessnock in 1978, and was held in its hometown on two more occasions in the early years.
It paved the way for Cessnock to host the International Six-Day Enduro in 1992.
Cessnock Motorcycle Club vice-president Malcolm Hall (whose late father John was the driving force behind the inaugural event), said all of the hard work paid off.
“We’ve had nothing but good comments – people from England, New Zealand, America, and the old boys coming up and saying they really appreciated it,” he said.
Hall said the event provided a number of Cessnock riders with their chance to compete in their first four-day enduro, and the local contingent all performed well, finishing in the top 100.
“It has been a very successful event for the town, the riders and the supporters,” he said.
“The town had a real buzz about it.”
Racing took place on bush tracks around the Cessnock LGA and at Cessnock Showground each afternoon from Wednesday to Friday.
Millfield Public School was the centre of the action on Wednesday and Friday when it hosted control points for the event.
School principal Benjamin Durie said it has been a great opportunity for the school to be part of the event.
“It was really amazing, the kids and our community had a really great time,” Mr Durie said.
“All the kids are now experts on everything motorbikes and everything enduro.”
The racing culminated with the final moto at Cessnock Racecourse on Saturday, which drew a crowd of about 3000.
Daniel Milner, from KTM Enduro Racing Team, took out the E3 class to win his fifth A4DE title.
Daniel Sanders (Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team) won the E2 class and former motocross rider Luke Styke (Active8 Yamaha Yamalube Off-Road Team) continued his successful transition to enduro, winning the E1 title.
Jessica Gardiner (Yamaha MX Store Ballard’s Off-Road Team) won the women’s division, with Ben Grabham taking out the veterans’ class and Brad Williscroft winning the masters.
NSW claimed the senior and ladies’ team trophies, and Victoria took out the junior trophy.
The event concluded with the trophy presentation at Peden’s Hotel on Saturday night, with more than 600 people in attendance.
Cessnock Motorcycle Club will now turn its focus to organising the fifth annual Australian Postie Bike Grand Prix, which will take place on Sunday, October 28.
EARLIER REPORTS
APRIL 6 2018 - 7:16PM
The Australian Four-Day Enduro has brought plenty of excitement to Cessnock this week, with 350 riders taking part and hundreds more supporters visiting the town.
Millfield Public School was the centre of the action on Wednesday and Friday when it hosted control points for the event.
School principal Benjamin Durie said it has been a great opportunity for the school to be part of the event.
“It was really amazing, the kids and our community had a really great time,” Mr Durie said.
“All the kids are now experts on everything motorbikes and everything enduro.”
The enduro wraps up with the final moto at Cessnock Racecourse on Saturday, with gates opening at 9am for a day of fun for the whole family.
Tickets are $15, free for kids under-12.
Follow the results here at speedhive.mylaps.com.
APRIL 5 2018 - 9:50AM
An Australian Four-Day Enduro competitor was flown to hospital on Wednesday afternoon after crashing his bike near Millfield.
The 35-year-old rider sustained serious back injuries when he came off his bike in bushland.
Read more here.
APRIL 4 2018 - 4:05PM
The Australian Four-Day Enduro is underway in Cessnock.
The 350 riders will take to bush tracks around the Cessnock local government area each morning from Wednesday to Friday, returning to Cessnock Showground each afternoon for special test races.
The public is welcome to come along to the showground and view the racing from around 2pm to 5pm Wednesday to Friday.
Some of Australia’s best off-road riders will be in action each day.
The event, hosted by Cessnock Motorcycle Club, has brought more than 2000 visitors to Cessnock.
Follow Australian 4-Day Enduro - A4DE on Facebook for video updates throughout the event, and keep track of the results at MyLaps Speedhive.
