In the rugged terrain of Australia's off-road racing circuit, where dust clouds billow and engines roar like the outback's untamed echoes, Mackay's own James Mogford blazed through the wild tracks like a modern-day bushranger.
In an adrenaline-fueled adventure across untamed terrains, Mogford finished in second place in his maiden season of the Polaris Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship series.
It was an outstanding 2023 season for the Moggy’s Racing team, finishing in 2nd place in the SXS Championship as well as 2nd in Class 6 for Australia.
The team, which includes Mogford’s brother Michael Mogford as navigator and Perry Hunn as navigator/pit crew, also defended its Class 6 QLD Enduro title to be named Qld Long Course Class 6 Champions at the AORRA QLD Presentation Dinner last month.
Mogford, who is the director of the Paget-based Moggy’s Group, had one of the more memorable Australian offroad racing campaigns in recent history. The team competed in nine events in 2023—including Australia’s premiere offroad event, the Finke Desert Race—and finished on the podium in seven of those events. They were in fourth place entering into the year’s final event, the Kalgoorlie Desert Race, in October.
Despite an early set-back due to an electrical issue at Kalgoorlie, Mogford surged forward to finish in 17th place outright and 2nd place in the SXS contingent. This gave the team enough points to secure 2nd place for the series.
Mogford said he could not be happier with the result and looked forward to competing in the Australian series again in 2024.
“Defending the Class 6 QLD Enduro title was a big goal of ours but to also finish second in the Australian SXS championship was amazing. It is our highest honour so far,” he said.
“I am extremely proud of the team. It was a huge commitment with more than 500 hours of prep work and 32,000km of driving. It was a great year.”
James Mogford. Photo credit: Rebecca Galton
Racing in Kalgoorlie. Photo credit: Dakar press team
Photo credit: Terry Hill Photography
