Team Motul Sherco Hard Enduro riders Anthony Solar and Chris Perry dominated the ‘Mother of Mayhem’ event, tround two of the 2023 Australian Hard Enduro Championship (AHEC) calendar, held in Maffra (Victoria) last weekend with a sensational 1-2 overall finish respectively.
The sun was shining bright on the picturesque loamy circuit for Saturday’s prologue race, as reigning AHEC champion Solar charged off the line aboard his 300 SE Factory, quickly taking the lead, which he would hold till the checkered flag waved. Teammate Perry would run as high as P2 but slipped down to P4 after a series of minor mishaps.
Sunday’s race saw the pair return to their all-conquering form with a commanding lead on the field after the first hour, with Perry just edging out Solar after the first lap but quickly relinquished his small lead by making a quick pit stop, where Solar elected to continue through.
Solar would go on unchallenged to secure his first overall victory of the season, putting on quite a show for the spectators and competition alike, with AHEC founder Greg Peterson nicknaming Solar ‘The Surgeon’ after witnessing the gritty Victorian charging between two stuck gold class riders with absolute poise and precision on one of the more changing hill climbs throughout the race.
After admitting he wasn’t quite himself after the first round of the series, Perry returned to his form, riding the wheels off his 300 SE Factory, attempting to recapture the lead from Solar, but ultimately couldn’t close the deficit by race end, taking a strong second place in the process and a massive boost in confidence as the series heads to Queensland next month for round three.
+ Anthony Solar #1 – P1 overall: “It has been a great weekend for me, going 1-1. I finished second to Chris (Perry) for all but the end of last year, so to win straight up this weekend is a massive confidence booster for me. The track and property were amazing, and the bike (300 SE Factory) was running unreal all weekend. The team and I have put in the hard work, and it was great to see the results we strive for come to fruition”.
+ Chris Perry #76 – P2 overall: “I wasn’t happy with myself after the last round, so I’m super thrilled to have turned that around this weekend with a really good ride; my teammate Anthony was just that little bit too quick today, but I’d like to congratulate him and the Motul Sherco Hard Enduro team for taking the top two steps on the box, it’s great to be back up where we feel we belong. Chad from Chad’s Off-Road Set-Ups came up with a new setting for the Sherco’s KYB suspension, which is astonishingly good. I’m smiling from ear to ear with the package we have. I really like the rocky river tracks we have coming up at the next round in Mount Morgan; hopefully, we can put the #76 on the top step there.”
The third round of the 2023 AHEC, the ‘Ironstone Extreme’ will be held at Mount Morgan (Qld) on June 24-25.
