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September 13:Pahiatua’s Paul Whibley will need to watch his back in Taupo on Saturday.
That’s the warning from Suzuki ace Kevin Archer as the two arch rivals prepare for the ninth and final round of the Suzuki-sponsored national motorcycle enduro championships.
Four of the series’ nine classes have already been determined, Whibley clearing away with the expert 250cc two-stroke title and Archer scooping up the expert 400cc four-stroke crown at earlier rounds.
But this weekend’s finale will decide which rider claims the top title, that of overall champion. For that honour, there is little between Honda-mounted Whibley, Archer (Suzuki DRZ400) and the riders close behind them – defending champion Sean Clarke (Tokoroa, Suzuki RMX250) and two-time former champion Steven Bird (Palmerston North, Suzuki RM250).
Whibley, Archer and Bird will also be keen on Saturday to erase memories of last week’s horror run at the Oceania Enduro Championships in Victoria, Australia. Whibley suffered two flat tyres in Australia to finish 11th in his class, Archer was 10th in his class and Bird was force to drop out of the competition on day one.
And, to make things even more interesting at Taupo this weekend, Te Awamutu’s Mark Pollard (Honda XR250) and Aucklander Chris Birch (Kawasaki KDX200) could be championship \"spoilers\" because, although they are out of the running for overall series honours, these two riders are very capable of winning the day at Taupo.
Pollard wrapped up the expert 300cc four-stroke class and Birch sealed the under-200cc two-stroke class at the previous event.
Most eyes will likely focus on 33-year-old Te Kuiti bull farmer Archer as he goes head-to-head with 22-year-old logging contractor Whibley on demanding terrain, 26km south of Taupo on the Napier-Taupo road.
Whether Whibley can claim the series \"double\" -- both his class and the all-capacities overall win -- remains to be seen, with the best seven of nine overall finishes counting towards the premier (best individual overall) crown. The battle goes down to the wire at Taupo.
Whibley has won five rounds overall but his three other overall placings have put a dent in his campaign. Archer has two overall wins and a string of overall runnerup placings to his credit.
Regardless of the result on Saturday, there will be little time to rest for New Zealand’s elite off-road motorcyclists with preparations underway for the Australian Four-Day Enduro championships, being held in New Zealand (Oparau, west of Hamilton), in February.
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LEADING overall standings after rounds seven and eight of the nine-round NZ enduro championships:
Expert 250cc two-stroke: Paul Whibley (Pahiatua, CR250) 148 points; Sean Clarke (Tokoroa, RMX250) 133; Stephen Bird (Palmerston North, RM250) 133.
Expert 200cc two-stroke: Terry Cameron (Tauranga, KDX200) 134 points; Todd Mardon (Hamilton, KDX200) 119; Chris Birch (Auckland, KDX200) 100.
Expert 300cc four-stroke: Mark Pollard (Te Awamutu, XR250) 154 points; Dene Humphrey (Auckland, DR250) 106; Jock McLauchlan (Eketahuna, Honda XR250) 86.
Expert 400cc four-stroke: Kevin Archer (Te Kuiti, DRZ400) 151 points; Tim Woodward (Te Paho, TE410) 107; Ross Bird (Palmerston North, DRZ400) 103.
Intermediate 200cc two-stroke: Paul Davis (Cambridge, KDX200) 99 points; Wendy Buck (Auckland, RM125) 86.
Intermediate 250cc two-stroke: Kyle Daysh (Wellington, KX250) 119 points; Justin Stevenson (Wellington, KTM300EXC) 92.
Intermediate 300cc four-stroke: Gavin Prangley (Cambridge, XR250) 100 points; John Buxton (Helensville, XR250) 64.
Intermediate 400cc four-stroke: Solis Norton (Palmerston North, YZ400F) 110 points; Spence McClintock (Rotorua, Honda XR400) 63; Jason Amey (Palmerston North, YZ400F) 52.
Veterans: Mark DeLautour (Turangi, WR400) 136 points; Shaun Stanbridge (Auckland, KLX300) 135; Mark Haimes (Taupo, KDX200) 132.
