Motul Pirelli Sherco Team rider Jonte Reynders has continued his history-making form by piloting his 300 SEF Factory 4-stroke to victory at the prestigious 2023 Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE), held at Hervey in Western Australia.
Despite being an AORC regular, this year’s A4DE would be the first for the 25-year-old Tasmanian. However, Reynders was determined not to let his ‘Rookie’ status hinder his performance, riding with speed, consistency, and composure throughout the gruelling four days of racing to capture the Outright and E2-class victories by just 0.563 seconds over rival Josh Green, with a total time of 10:27.495.
Reynders’ victory is also Sherco’s first A4DE title, just weeks after capturing the first-ever AORC outright victory for the French marquee.
Jonte Reynders – P1 Outright & E2: “To be truthful, I was a bit anxious coming into the event, just with all the unknowns, but after we got the first day out of the way, I knew what we were in for, and it was full steam ahead,” said Reynders.
“Day two was really sandy, which I knew would slightly disadvantage us being on the 300 4-stroke against the bigger 450s however, I rode really well and made-up time, which put us in a good position for the remaining two days.
“The third day, I felt I needed to make things happen and pushed hard to win the day by over 5 seconds.
“For the final moto, again, I knew we needed to get off the line and be in it from the start, I got a great jump which is a testament to the standard Sherco 300 engine. Yes, my engine and the rest of my bike, for the most part, are completely standard! We got the jump we needed, and I just charged as hard as I could to the finish.
“What can I say, it’s an unbelievable feeling to come away with the outright victory, I’m over the moon; we’re a small team that’s perhaps a bit of the underdog at times, but we have all put in the work, and to come away with the ultimate reward is very satisfying for all involved,” concluded Reynders.
Derek Grundy – Motul Pirelli Sherco Team Manager: “I couldn’t be prouder of Jonte and his achievements this year so far. He came in well-prepared; the pressure was like water off a duck’s back. He just got on with it and did what he had to do and got the job done.
“This goes down as one of the greatest achievements of my time managing the team. It’s a credit to Jonte for all the hard work he puts in year after year and the rest of the Motul Pirelli Sherco team and sponsors, who all greatly contribute to our little program behind the scenes.
“Sherco has had a lot of success recently, with wins in the Australian Off-Road Championship, Australian Hard Enduro Championship, and now the A4DE, which really proves how strong the range is across different disciplines”, concluded Grundy.
Reynders will return to the track at rounds five and six of the 2023 AORC, held in Edenhope, Victoria, on 22-23 July.
Photos: True Spirit Photos.
