BIRCH
The riders should enjoy the
variety. The courses have
been challenging this year
and riders are loving it
ven with four rounds still remaining,
the 2019 enduro championships have
already been one of the most fiercely-
fought affairs in years.
Round four of the series is set for
Martinborough on Sunday, June 9, but it
could even be argued that the Yamaha
and Mitas Tyres-sponsored competition is
already at the halfway stage, with points
from only six of the seven rounds to be
counted and riders to discard their one
worst result.
“The first half of the season has been
predominantly forest riding, but the
series is now moving into the big block
farm courses as we go into winter,” said
Motorcycling New Zealand (MNZ) enduro
commissioner Justin Stevenson.
“The riders should enjoy the variety. The
courses have been challenging this year
and riders are loving it.”
30 KIWI RIDER
With three different winners in as
many events so far, it is still anyone’s
championship to win.
Helensville’s Tom Buxton (KTM) won
round one near Whangamata in March,
Cambridge rider Dylan Yearbury
(Husqvarna) clinched the win at round two
near Porirua in April and Thames rider
Chris Birch (KTM) topped the podium at
round three near Tokoroa two weeks later.
And nipping at their heels throughout
have been a gaggle of very fast individuals,
any of whom are capable and currently
well-positioned to move up and take the
series lead – riders such as Whanganui’s
Seth Reardon (Yamaha), Whangamata’s
Jason Davis (Husqvarna), Wainuiomata’s
Jake Whitaker (KTM), Tokoroa’s Jake
Wightman (KTM) or Cambridge’s Beau
Taylor (Husqvarna).