IT WAS ramping up to be a huge weekend of racing and Casterton did not disappoint, as a record 230 riders took to the track over two days for rounds seven and eight of the Victorian Off Roads Championship at the weekend.

Arriving in town on Friday, crowd favourite Andy Wilksch had plenty to celebrate as series leader and newly-named in Team Australia for the 2022 International Six Day Enduro Enduro (ISDE), to be held in Puy en Velay, France from 29 August to 4 September, this year.

A visitor to Casterton on a couple of prior occasions – once winning the Boss of Blueberry Hill Climb and hitting the track with the Casterton Sproting Motorcycle Club two weeks ago, for a training and coaching session – Wilksch’s first port-of-call was a visit with Scared Heart and Casterton Primary School students.

“It’s really cool to see how excited people here are in Casterton for riding and racing - I know I was like that growing up,” he said.

“Sometimes you go to places that don’t have that excitement, so it’s really cool to see that excitement around the riding and the racing and have that support of the community.”

Having travelled overseas with junior teams and then spending time on tracks abroad prior to the start of the current Vic series, Wilksch said the international experience had definitely added to his style and ability.

“Going overseas definitely helped – it’s made me a little calmer coming home with that experience - you know what the world’s best do and you know what their strengths,” he said.

“You can’t just come in and be perfect at everything so it does take that consistency to learn from each race you do and then as you get older it sometimes can become easy because you know what to expect.”

He said being named in the senior Team Australia was an honour and he was looking forward to riding alongside the country’s best.

“Now to be in the senior team where we’ve won it two times previously and Australia’s really high up – everyone knows Australian riders are fast now,” he said.

“It’s a big achievement to be in a team with that reputation, it’s exciting and I’m looking forward to trying to give it my best shot … it’s awesome to be named alongside them and try and prove my spot.”

Wilksch placed third in the senior cross country on Saturday, but didn’t take to the track on Sunday, a Facebook post revealing a practice crash the weekend prior had seen him make the tough decision not to ride the second day.

“Results wise was a struggle from a practice crash the weekend before but wanted to do my best to be out there battling for some points,” he wrote.

“Finished up P3 in Round 7’s cross country and decided to rest up the body for Round 8 to try be ready for the @officialhattahdesertrace

“Either way a good time away being around the racing and stoked to see the series running strong with plenty of riders out there!”

The series now heads to Kruzic’s for rounds nine and 10 on 30 and 31 July.