Connor Hogan and Jenna Lupo claimed the major spoils in a brilliant 2024 GASGAS Australian Trial Championship in Ravenswood (Vic) on October 5-6.
Hogan, 24, was an all-the-way winner in Trial1 as he snapped the spectacular run of championship success for Kyle Middleton, while Lupo prevailed in a cliff-hanger women’s class after coming from behind on day one to defeat a gritty Michelle Coleman (GASGAS) by just 1pt.
After class-leading scores of 30 and 21 across both days, Hogan’s final winning margin in Trial1 on his GASGAS was 25pts (51 to 76) over Middleton (TRS), while another multiple Aussie champion, Colin Zarczynski (GASGAS), was third on 118pts.
“It’s taken a long time and a lot of hard work, but I finally managed to take the win,” said Hogan.
“Congratulations to all the other riders in the field, in particular Kyle Middleton who I have idolised for many years and whose level has always been a goal to strive towards.
“Biggest thanks need to go the Turners; without Paul and Harry Turner it would have been extremely difficult to do what I did overseas this year, not to mention all the guidance Harry provided on the bike. This one means a lot!”
Hogan returned to Australia after competing overseas this year, with a major focus on the extremely competitive trial2 world title.
Emerging British trials star Harry Turner (Sherco) was one of Hogan’s competitors in the world title, and the teenager also rode at the Trials Club of Victoria-promoted ‘Ravenswood Run’ championship in a ‘holiday’ guise and only gave up 15pts during the two days – including a near-flawless Sunday.
2024 GASGAS AUSTRALIAN TRIAL CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
The women’s event went down to the wire. Coleman led after day one, followed by Lupo and defending champion Kaitlyn Cummins (TRS) in equal second.
The pendulum swung on the first lap of day two when Lupo moved into the lead – and that’s how it remained for the balance of the day as the ice-cool Lupo held her nerve.
Lupo finished on 29pts, ahead of Coleman (30), Cummins (35), Lucinda Cowan (Beta, 165), Rosie Enniss (Beta, 228) and Ashley Barwick (GASGAS, 232).
“What a feeling to come away with the No. 1 after such a mentally challenging weekend – one that I’ll never forget,” said the 28-year-old Lupo.
“It was really down to the wire with Michelle Coleman and Kaitlyn Cummins, and it’s always a pleasure to ride with these girls as we keep pushing each other every year.
“I bought a really nice bottle of port in South Australia at my first ever Australian Championship in 2017, and I told myself that I could only open it when I win my first Aussie title. I also thought that that bottle of port would never make it back out of the wine rack, but I am so excited to go home and crack it.”
Fourteen classes were contested over the weekend, with Jacob Whittle (Classic), Hector Pinto (Junior 7-U11yrs) and Asha Nuttall (Junior Girls 7-U13yrs) successfully defending their titles, and the other winners were:
• Dylan Rees (Trial2)
• Kurt Pickering (Trial3)
• Jake Farnham (Trial4)
• Nate Feehely (Youth)
• Dean Nuttall (Masters)
• Harrison Laun (Junior)
• Andrew Atkinson (Veterans 40-55yrs)
• Steve Johnson (Veterans 55-plus)
• Jacob Whittle (Classic)
• Jack Walling (Junior 7-U13yrs)
There were also teams’ titles decided at Ravenswood Run, won by:
• Trade: Global Racing Oil (Hogan, Lupo, Whittle and Kogan Lock)
• Club: Trials Club of Victoria 1 (Simon van Baalen, Whittle, Johnson, Nuttall)
• State: Victoria (Whittle, Nuttall, van Baalen, Johnson)