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Some observations and ruminations from the MNZ Enduro commissioner - Sean Clarke:
The first time I ever rode at Riverhead I said I would never go back.
I got to the first check on time but it went down hill from there, the check crew told me that John Nicholson
had broken his kick start off. I said to myself just a matter of time before I\'ll pass him on the trail somewhere.
I only just made the next check. Still hadn\'t seen John Nic. with only three people still on time I thought I`ve got this enduro won!
Any way I finished third and lost 45 mins. John Nic zeroed the day with a busted kickstarter on a YZ250 and won!
I think Bruce Lupton was 2nd, the year was 1986.
The year before the three day national enduro champs were held in Riverhead/Woodhill. Day 1 was in Riverhead. 130 riders started the event and only two finished day 1! The rest houred out!
Anyway I went back and it wasn\'t until the mid nineties that I actually started to enjoy the place.
I reckon to enjoy Riverhead a bike must have, soft suspenion, soft compound tyres, smooth power and good flywheel weight.
If you have ever read a bike test by John Nic these are all the things he likes in a bike.
The best event I have ever ridden in Riverhead was in 97. Stefan Merriman turned up and showed us all how to ride in the wet. Unfortunately for him he had forgotten to turn his ears on and when Alan Chant told him to refuel he ignored him and carried on
to run out of fuel 1 km before the next check.
Any way on this weekend I won the Virgin Swamps enduro and Steven Bird won the
championship.
Last weekend at the Riverhead Enduro was the first time I have completed the whole event without falling off once all day.
Some old enduro riders would say ahh, you can\'t have been trying hard enough!!
Cheers Junior
