Milner strikes back, dominating AusEnduro round four

Published On: April 6, 2025Categories: News

The weather gods blessed the Victorian high country for the 2025 Yamaha Australian Enduro Championships presented by MXstore (AusEnduro) round four in Rawson on Sunday, April 7. Riders were greeted to prime conditions as they anticipated some intense and challenging sprint racing.

Pro Enduro
At the close of Saturday’s racing some interesting data started to appear in Pro Enduro. Although our usual suspects were once again quickest on track, we got to see just how quick an E1 category bike could be piloted in the challenging, slippery conditions, by matching, even beating, the lap times set by riders from E2 and E3.

The opening test set the stage, with Saturday cross-country victor Wil Ruprecht (Shop Yamaha Off-Road Racing Team) leading them out but Daniel Milner (DM31 KTM Racing Team) was on a mission, closing down the spacing off the start and almost on to the back wheel of the Yamaha by the end of the test.

Milner was flying, winning the first six of seven tests, the last stolen away by teammate Jonte Reynders on the 250 by 0.097sec. Jye Dickson (Beta Australia Enduro Team) was also on the move in round four, starting strong and collecting second in tests two, three and four.

Meanwhile, Ruprecht unable to find form, battling at the lower end of the top five along with Korey McMahon (DM31 KTM Racing Team). In the end it was Milner’s day, clearly winning from Reynders and Dickson.

PRO ENDURO STANDINGS AFTER FOUR OF 12 ROUNDS

Milner was in imperious form

E1
Reynders came out fired up in the Sprint racing, dominating the opening tests. Fraser Higlett (Blu Cru Yamaha) and Eli Tripcony (Husqvarna) ramped things up in the second test, serving notice they too were contenders. Ryan Hayward (KTM) was another who impressed in test three setting the third fastest time. After an impressive cross-country podium on Saturday, Cooper Sheidow (Blu Cru Yamaha) took a bit to work into his pace, improving test by test.

Tripcony continued to impress, second fastest in the sixth test. But no-one could touch Reynders, winner in E1 and becoming a major player in Pro Enduro. Higlett held strong to finish out the day in second and Sheidow home in third.

E1 STANDINGS AFTER FOUR OF 12 ROUNDS

Jonte Reynders tipping in. Image – Troy Pears

E2
As the day opened Ruprecht led them out, 15-second splits between each rider, but at the close of the first test Milner climbed to the top over Ruprecht and the rest of the field. McMahon, Andrew Wilksch (Beta Australia Enduro Team), Dickson and Reynders all starting strong, only seven seconds separating these five riders after the first test.

Tom Buxton (GasGas Australia), fifth fastest in the second test, also remained in the fight. Wilksch rode confidentially on track, securing third in five of the tests. Will Dennett (Shop Yamaha Offroad Racing Team) was just back from Wilksch but unable to climb on to the podium. Milner collects maximum points with an impressive performance, taking overall in E2. Ruprecht just couldn’t get rolling like we saw on previous day but still clinched second, keeping this class tied up. Wilksch would round out the top three.

E2 STANDINGS AFTER FOUR OF 12 ROUNDS

Milner flying. Image – Troy Pears

E3
McMahon again was quick out of the blocks but the shorter sprint races has shown that Jye Dickson (Beta Australia Enduro Team) was ready to battle for the top step, only three seconds the difference in first test. Dickson’s strength continued, stealing away wins in tests two, three and four before McMahon would climb back on top in the fifth and sixth.

But Dickson was rolling in Rawson, the early test wins would be enough to hold on for the overall today, with McMahon second, while Riley McGillivray (Husqvarna Australia) continued with his incredible consistency in third.

E3 STANDINGS AFTER FOUR OF 12 ROUNDS

Jye Dickson. Image – Troy Pears

EW
After struggling in round three, Madi Simpson (Monster Energy WBR Yamaha) was determined to redeem herself. Stating she was struggling with grip on Saturday, she went into the sprints with a new approach and earned six wins from the seven tests and the overall on the day. The minor placing was fought all the way to the final test between Jessica Gardiner (JGR Yamaha Off-Road Racing) and Madi Healey (KTM). Gardiner was 21 seconds back from Healey after the first two tests and would need to dig deep to claw her way back to grab second overall at the close of the day, 14 seconds ahead of Healey in third.

EW STANDINGS AFTER FOUR OF 12 ROUNDS

Madi Simpson on top in EW. Image – Troy Pears

EJ
Kogan Lock (GASGAS) quickly returned to the form that saw him earn a win the previous day, collecting five of the seven test wins, grabbing the overall and extending his lead in the championship. Ryan Jordan (Sherco) never found himself outside the top four throughout the day, steadily improving his results until clinching a win in the final test. Will McInnes (KTM) was consistent and enjoyed a win in test six, securing himself second overall ahead of Jordan.

EJ STANDINGS AFTER FOUR OF 12 ROUNDS