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March 30: Time heals all wounds, or so the saying goes, but the nation\'s top off-road motorcycle endurance riders may be asking if one month\'s quite long enough.
It was tough going at the opening two rounds of the Suzuki-sponsored national motorcycle enduro championships at Urenui, just north of New Plymouth, in February and it\'s not expected to be any easier at rounds three and four, near Auckland, this weekend.
Pahiatua logger Paul Whibley (Honda CR250), Te Kuiti bull farmer Kevin Archer (Suzuki DRZ400), Palmerston North motorcycle mechanic Stephen Bird (Suzuki RM250) and Hamilton digger driver Elliot Kent (Honda XR400) coped best at Urenui and this same foursome could be expected to shine again at this weekend\'s double-header in the Riverhead Forest.
Despite battling for more than four hours over the stunning, steep, clay terrain at Urenui, only five seconds separated Whibley, 21, from two-time former champion \"Superman\" Kent after day one.
Fifth in the expert 400cc class after day one, Archer, 32, stormed to the front on day two. He finished 58 seconds clear of Bird in the day\'s overall standings and, with it, settled into second in his class, just behind the 33-year-old Kent.
However, a third on day one, followed by a class win on day two, meant two-time former champion Bird, 27, moved up to share a joint overall series and expert 250cc class lead with Whibley.
Defending champion Sean Clarke (Tokoroa, Suzuki RMX250) is just one point behind Whibley and Bird in the class.
While this weekend\'s venue is of an entirely different character, even the hardened off-road specialists will again find it a challenge.
Auckland\'s Tjebbe Bruin, co-ordinator of this weekend\'s Riverhead Forest event and himself a many-times former national enduro champion, said the circuit will, for the first time, be \"incredibly dusty\".
\"It\'s probably the closest we\'ve ever come to Australian conditions. It hasn\'t rained here for several months and, unlike in years past when Riverhead has been notorious for its mud, riders\' visibility will likely be challenged instead by dust. It\'s quite uncharacteristic for Riverhead,\" he said.
One thing is for certain, poor visibility and bikes weaving at high speed through the pine tree plantations, will certainly keep competitors on their toes.
Courtesy of Andy McGechan, ph 06 758 5182
Email: teamtoad@clear.net.nz
