T he 26-year-old builder from Cambridge took his distinctive white Husqvarna to finish overall runner-up in the Yamaha-sponsored 2020 New Zealand Enduro Championships and this year he ’ s tipped to go even better , especially after his charge to the top of the standings in the early stages of the 2021 series . Yearbury ( Husqvarna FE350 ) finished in second position at the first of five rounds in the 2021 series near Tokoroa in early April , completing the forestry course just 25 seconds behind the overall winner that day , Helensville ’ s Tommy Buxton ( KTM 350EXC-F ). And so the battle lines were drawn between these two close friends and even closer rivals .
But the double-header round two in Marlborough two weeks later was time for Yearbury to provide an answer and his response was extremely positive , Yearbury winning the first of two days in Marlborough , 20 seconds ahead of Buxton , and then claiming second place overall on day two , returning to base at the end of racing just 54 seconds behind Oparau ’ s James Scott ( Honda CRF450X ). These results were good enough for Yearbury to take over the series lead , a solid seven points clear of Buxton in second , with Scott third overall , just three points further back . “ It was not like a standard enduro in Marlborough ,” said Yearbury . “ For a start , it had an odd scoring system , with double points up for grabs once the
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