Loceday 400 2025: Travis Robinson Takes Control on a Wild Saturday at the Loveday 400
Title Leader Capitalizes on Rival’s Error in Drama-Packed Day of Racing
West Australian Travis Robinson emerged as the one to beat at the Loveday 400 after a dramatic Saturday of racing shook up the leaderboard in Round 3 of the BFGoodrich Motorsport Australia Off Road Championship (AORC).
The action unfolded over five intense laps split into two sessions on the 40km Loveday course, with fans witnessing a wild sequence of events—most notably an unfortunate misstep by young New Zealander Boston Morgan-Horan, who had been dominating early in the day.
Morgan-Horan had set the fastest time in the morning’s Section One, and looked unstoppable as he opened up a strong lead during the second session. But just after crossing the start-finish line for his final lap, he misjudged a turn and overshot a berm, ending up beached between his front and rear axles.
Spectators looked on as recovery crews scrambled to free his Trophy Truck and get him back on track. The costly error handed Robinson a golden opportunity—one he didn’t waste. The championship leader closed out the day with a 28-second lead overall.
Despite the mishap, Morgan-Horan still held onto second place, while Beau Robinson rounded out the top three, though nearly seven minutes behind the leader.
“I came in a bit too hot and overshot the corner,” Morgan-Horan admitted. “I was frustrated—I just kept thinking, ‘they should’ve taken that berm out.’ Other than that, the final lap was solid. I probably pushed the truck a bit too hard, but we didn’t lose as much time as I feared. Still second overall... let’s hope for a little luck tomorrow.”
The rest of Saturday’s top six featured Brenton Forsyth, Brent Smoothy, and Roydn Bailey, while South Aussie Wes Cowie impressed with a seventh-place finish after four years away from racing.
Loveday’s brutal terrain and hard edges led to a high attrition rate, with several drivers, including James Cook and Thomas Swinglehurst, forced to retire due to mechanical issues or damage.
Last year’s winner, Morgan-Horan, remains focused on clawing back time in Sunday’s final stages.
“You’ve got to stay smooth out here. It’s like riding train tracks—push too hard, and you’ll jump out and make a mistake.”
SXS Class: Bailey Outduels Ackroyd
In the SXS category, Lachlan Bailey came out on top after a tight battle with Glen Ackroyd. The pair traded blows throughout the five laps, finishing eighth and ninth overall, separated by just three seconds after 200km of racing.
Bailey, a South Australian local with a strong track record at Loveday, wasn’t tempted to take unnecessary risks.
“Glen was pushing hard in that second session, but I didn’t want to wreck the car before Sunday,” he said. “The smooth stuff is the straights. Anywhere it gets narrow or tight, it gets real rough. The goal now is to preserve the car and play it smart tomorrow.”
What’s Next:
The final day of racing kicks off Sunday at 8:30 a.m. local time, with drivers set to complete three laps in the morning, followed by a final two-lap sprint in the afternoon. With gaps this tight, the battle for the podium is far from over.
For full results and live updates, visit motorsport.org.au.
Source: AORC / Motorsport Australia
