Gardiner, who has previously competed in a handful of French Enduro rounds, which was in 2013 and 2014, which saw her winning every race said; “I’m super excited to be heading back to Europe again to race in both series.
It’s a taken a bit of time and a lot of hours to make this whole project fall into place, but finally its official and now I can start focusing on trying to get the best results as possible when both championships get underway.”
Just like in 2016, Gardiner will again race a Yamaha WR250F machine, but as a privateer rider.
The former three times Australian Off-Road Champion will have backing from Yamaha Motor Australia as her major sponsor, while a small part will come from Yamaha Motor Europe and Philip Motos Saint Etienne, as a one year deal to see how things pan out for the 2017 season.
On top of that, 95% of her sponsors have stayed on board with a whole new rang of sponsors coming on board as well.
“I’m really grateful for all the great support from my sponsors who have stayed on aboard and looking forward to working with all my new sponsors throughout the year,” explained Gardiner.
Gardiner, who turns twenty-four on the fourth week of March will also contest the opening round of the Women’s FIM World Enduro Championship, which will be held on 21-23 April at Puerto Lumbreras in Spain.
Gardiner explains; “I’ll do the opening round of the World Championship and see what happens after that in regards to the budget side of things. I would like to be able to do the whole series, but as the championship rounds are a long way from each other, it will be hard to be able to do them all. But we’ll see what happens.”
Gardiner, who will base herself in south of France near Avignon, will also race the International Six Day Enduro (ISDE), which will this be raced in Brive la Gaillarde, France from August 28th through to September 2nd as well as the Australian Four Day Enduro (A4DE).
Gardiner explained that it’s been a goal of hers to be the best that she can be, which is why she is going to try and take on the best business in Europe and France.
“One way to prove that I have what it takes to be the best is to have a crack at this full time. My full time job, JK Williams have been super supportive and they are allowing me the six months off to go to Europe and contest these series and have a full go at trying to win these championships.
I’m very excited for it, and really looking forward to the challenges that lie ahead in the coming months,” Gardiner explains.
Gardiner’s goal is to win the both the FIM European Enduro Championship and the Championnat de France d’enduro, while she is eyeing off a top three championship overall championship position in the FIM World Enduro Championship – if she competes in the full season.
Gardiner fly’s out of Sydney on the 26th of March to head to Europe to begin her quest for supremacy.
2017 European Enduro Championship
Round 1: April 8/9 Gouveia, Portugal
Round 2: July 8/9 Paikuse, Estonia
Round 3: August 5/6 Burg, Germany
Round 4: September 15-17 Gelnica, Slovakia
Championnat de France d’enduro
Round 1: April 15/16, Le Luc
Round 2: 13/14 May, Gacé
Round 3: 29/30 July, Bar-Sur-Seine Round 4: 16/17 September, Requista
