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Mark Penny on his Suzuki RM250
Suzuki National Enduro Series
Rounds one and two, Urenui, Feb 5 & 6
Few could match Paul Whibley, Kevin Archer and Stephen Bird at the opening two rounds of the Suzuki-sponsored national motorcycle enduro championships at Urenui, 35km north of New Plymouth, on February 5 and 6.
Pahiatua\'s Whibley (Honda CR250) won the series opener on the Saturday and Waikato\'s Archer (Suzuki DRZ400) asserted his presence on the Sunday but, when the dust finally cleared, it was Palmerston North\'s Bird (Suzuki RM250) who was perhaps doing most of the celebrating.
Consistency over the two days from two-time former champion Bird (27), gave him both the overall series and expert 250cc class leads.
He is four seconds ahead of Archer in the overall standings and 47 seconds clear of defending champion Sean Clarke (Cambridge, Suzuki RMX250) in his class.
Rounds three and four of the nine-round series are set for Riverhead Forest, north of Auckland, on April 1 and 2.
NATIONAL ENDURO CHAMPS
LEADING overall standings after the first two of nine rounds in the national motorcycle enduro championships at Urenui on February 5 and 6 (points are a time penalty, so least points wins):
Expert 200cc two-stroke: Chris Birch (Auckland, KDX200) 1584 points; Terry Cameron (Tokoroa) 1597; Steve Curin (Cambridge) 1721.
Expert 250cc two-stroke: Stephen Bird (Palmerston North, RM250) 1409; Sean Clarke (Cambridge, RMX250) 1448; Paul Whibley (Pahiatua, CR250) 1530.
Expert 300cc four-stroke: Dene Humphrey (Auckland, DR250) 1583; Mark Pollard (Te Awamutu, XR250) 1690; Jock McLauchlan (Eketahuna) 1766.
Expert 400cc four-stroke: Kevin Archer (Hamilton, DRZ400) 1413; Elliot Kent (Te Awamutu, XR400) 1450; John McKee (Waipukurau, DRZ400) 1591.
Intermediate 200cc two-stroke: Paul Davis (Cambridge) 1474; Wendy Buck (Auckland) 2576.
Intermediate 250cc two-stroke: Pete Hewer (New Plymouth) 1341; Justin Stevenson (Wellington) 1452; Dean Gorrie (Mokau) 1475.
Intermediate 300cc four-stroke: Gavin Prangley 1454; John Buxton 1500; Murray Jensen 1515.
Intermediate 400cc four-stroke: Solis Norton (Palmerston North, YZ400)1357; Jason Amey (Palmerston North, YZ400) 1577; Duncan Bradbury (Pahiatua, XR400) 1764.
Veterans: Shaun Stanbridge (Auckland, KDX200) 1348; Mark DeLautour (Turangi) 1353; Mark Haimes (Taupo) 1378.
