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The opening round of the 2006 Suzuki Central Enduro series held on Terawhiti station on Wellington’s south coast saw 77 riders embark on a rocky and dusty day.
Paul Whibley and Chris Birch went head to head but Birch was two seconds slower in the opening test. Whibley upped the anti on each test, while Birch, not comfortable with the conditions, said, “I rode as quickly as I wanted, not as fast as I could.” The difference was 23 by the end with Whibley the victor.
One unlucky was Husaberg’s Karl Power who matched Whibley in the first test and was only five seconds off in the second. However, nearing the end of the third Power had a big spill that saw him go over the bars.
This trio were also one through three in the Expert Enduro 2 class – 250 to Open two stroke and 300 to Open four stroke.
Mason Slako, a newcomer to Enduro but proven Cross Country rider, proved very quick in the dry and at times tricky conditions by taking fourth outright and winning the Enduro 1 class – 0-200 two stroke and 0-300 four stroke. Slako on his CRF250 held a 38 second lead over Scott Newton in second. Mathew Caseley grabbed third, just behind Newton.
In the Intermediate Enduro 1 class Nick Longstaff managed to hold the hard charging Rory Mead to second by just eight seconds. Mead held out Jeremy Whata.
In the bigger Intermediate Enduro 2 class Hugh Lintott took first ahead of Blair Emmett. Third went to Morgan Dransfield.
Murray Searle on his 300 KTM went head to head with Robert Vandenberg. Searle finished with a margin of 20 seconds. Dave Sullivan took third.
The next round of the Central Series is combined with the National Enduro championship round to be held at Kapi Mana on 11 March. For more information you can contact Justin Stevenson on 0274 587 846.
