Sherco Australia will field a four rider lineup in 2016, including the addition of NSW young gun Wil Ruprecht.
By Hayden Gregory
The Motul Pirelli Sherco Factory Team will be headed by Justin Carafa who joined the team late last season. Jumping aboard the new Sherco 450SEF-R, Carafa will compete in the E2 class, lining up for the Australian Off-Road Championship (AORC), Australian Four-Day Enduro (A4DE), Victorian Off-Road Championship and the Hattah Desert Race.
Carafa will be joined in the factory squad by team new comer Wil Ruprecht. The Taree youngster will contest the AORC in the under 19’s class before joining Carafa in the E2 division for the A4DE.
The newly formed Motul Pirelli Sherco Academy team will follow the efforts of the factory team with emerging talents Jai Wedlock and Baylee Davis.
Wedlock will race the Sherco 300SEF-R in the under 19’s AORC and E2 for the A4DE. Three-time off road champion Davies will compete in the E1 class on the Sherco 250SEF-R.
Sherco Australia brand manager Stephen Tuff, has full confidence in his 2016 rider lineup and is hopeful of a few championship titles.
“We have a very strong rider line-up this year and we’re confident of being right in the thick of the action and in contention for Championships across every class we enter,” said Tuff. “We’ve completed some early season testing and all four riders have made improvements to their setup and their speed.
“Chad’s Off-Road Setups and our team operations manager, Dave Suter, works extremely well with the riders and have the bikes in good shape. We’re all excited for a big year.”
The Sherco Australia teams will kick off their 2016 campaigns as the Australian Off-Road Championship commences on 19 March at Kilkivan, Queensland.
