Styke moves to AORC with Yamaha

After a long period in motocross and supercross that included the MX2 and SX Lites championships in 2013, Luke Styke will take on a new challenge this year when he switches to enduro competition in the Australian Off Road Championship (AORC).
“I came to the end of the [2017] MX Nationals and just felt I needed a change,” Styke explained. “I had raced motocross for so long and things were becoming a bit stale. But I didn’t want to stop racing so I looked at other options and off road really appealed to me.”
Styke joins the experienced Active8 Yamalube Yamaha team managed by AJ Roberts, but isn’t a complete novice to off road racing. 
“I did a few off-road events a while ago and I enjoyed them, so I began talking with AJ and Yamaha about it and they were really receptive to the idea so we started to look at things a little more seriously.”
The addition of the 26-year-old means Active8 Yamalube Yamaha will feature five riders for the 2018 AORC season; Styke joining Josh Green, Damon Stokie, Wil Ruprecht and Beau Ralston.
Team manager AJ Roberts said the inclusion of Styke has really energised the Active8 team: “He is a strong and positive personality that has really rubbed off well on his team mates and he brings another level of rider experience to our team.
“No question he is green but I think he has the skills and desire to make it to the top of off road and there is no doubt in his mind that he is capable of winning rounds and championships.”
Styke’s first competitive hitout with Active8 will be at Rounds 1 & 2 of the 2018 AORC, which takes place at Gympie, Queensland this coming 10-11 March.