By Hayley Wildes
Local endurance motocross rider Daniel Milner has taken on the world, and won.
Milner, who grew up in Yannathan, had already achieved greatness over many years – winning events all over the world – and over the weekend, he accomplished perhaps the greatest feat of his career.
In Chile, Milner – who rides a KTM – helped Australia claim the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE) Championship, while also claiming victory in the overall individual category.
It was a win for the ages as Milner streaked ahead on day two and was able to maintain his lead the rest of the way. The gruelling six-day event is one of the toughest endurance motocross races in the world and the Australian team was victorious ahead of the USA and Italy, while Milner claimed the overall win ahead of Taylor Robert (USA) and fellow Aussie Daniel Sanders.
Milner started racing with the Kooweerup Motorcycle club many years ago and president of the club, Terry Corkery, couldn’t be prouder of what Milner has achieved.
“He’s still involved and it’s extremely exciting for the club – it’s not very often that you get a rider like that,” Corkery said.
“He gets in and helps the young ones still. He’s very busy these days and can be hard to track down, but at any opportunity he gets down here and helps out.”
Corkery remembers the first time Milner turned up to the club and it’s fair to say he has come quite a long way since then.
“He first turned up riding basically a farm bike in a pair of gum boots and now he’s progressed to this – he’s at the top of the world right now.”
“He’s always been very talented right from when he was very young.”
Asked what sets Milner a part, Corkery highlights one trait in particular.
“He’s extremely dedicated. His dad was a great sportsman too, very dedicated, and you can just see it in both of them.”
Milner’s world class win comes off the back of winning the Australian Off-Road Championships in October and adds to an incredible year of racing for the local.
