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After 16 years in the sport of motorcycle enduro racing, b>Sean Clarke or Tokoroa has won his first overall championship.
Clarke clinched the title with outright victory in the penultimate round at Wimiha, north of Taumaranui, on Saturday. He did not need to compete at the final round in Rotorua today but raced his Castrol Honda XR400 anyway and, with the edge taken off his motivation and concentration, finished third behind Aucklander Chris Birch (Kawasaki KDX200) and Pahiatua rider Steven Bird (Suzuki RMX250)
The championship actually represents Clarke\'s 10th national title in this branch of motorcycle sport, which combines cross-country riding with motocross-like \"timed sections\" similar to special stages in car rallies. The first nine were all class championships but now at last Clarke, 31, has won the big one.
Clarke has handicapped himself to some extent by concentrating on riding four-stokes, when the lighter, more powerful two-strokes are usually considered to be faster. \"It\'s just my personal preference (to ride four strokes),\" Clarke said today. \"They\'re more enjoyable, more reliable, and easier on the body because the power delivery\'s not as sharp.\"
Although enduro riding is a physically demanding sport, Clarke said he does not do any special training \"When you cut punga logs for a living you don\'t need to go to a gym,\" he said.
In yesterdays round, held in fine conditions through a pine forest, Clarke rode his big four stroke to overall victory by 35 seconds from Bird, with Pahiatua\'s Paul Whibley (Honda CR250) third.
Carke said he celebrated quietly last night but, with the elusive title finally secured, he found it harder to concentrate today as the riders shivered in fine but frosty conditions near Rotorua - \"The ice never really thawed all day,\" he said. He blew his chances by bending his gear lever when he hit a tree stump at the side of the track and later crashing, but carried on to finish third.
As well as the outright championship, Clarke also won the Expert 250cc class - he had entered this category, which is mainly for two strokes, \"to give the others a chance in the four stroke class.\"
Birch won the expert 200cc class, Elliot Kent of Te Pahu took the Expert 300cc four-stroke class on his Honda XR250, and Tim Woodward, also from Te Pahu, claimed the Expert 400cc four-stroke class on his Husqvana 410. Bird was second overall and Whibley third.
Final Placings, New Zealand Motocycle Enduro Championships-
Expert 200 class:Chris Birch (Aucklan) Kawasaki KDX200,1; Mark Pollard (Te Awamutu) Kawasaki KX125, 2; Todd Mardon (Hamilton) Kawasaki KX125, 3.
Expert 250: Clarke (Tokoroa) Hona XR400, 1; Steven Bird (Pahiatua) Suzuki RMX250, 2;Paul Whibley (Pahiatua) Honda CR250, 3.
Expert 300 Four-Stroke: Elliott Kent (Te Pahu) Honda XR250, 1; Dene Humphrey (Auckland) Suzuki DR250, 2; Robert Howe (Thames) Honda XR250, 3.
Expert 400 Four-Stroke: Tim Woodward (Te Pahu) Husqvana 410, 1; Ross Bird (Pahiatua) Honda XR400, 2; Darryl August (Dannevirke) Yamaha YZ400, 3.
Overall: Clarke 1, Steven Bird 2, Whibley 3.
Please contact Bernard Carpinter, 025-528-744; or Motorcycling New Zealand national office, 07 828-7852, for further information.
