GO FAST! NEW ZEALAND ::

Well its been a very busy few weeks its been super busy with short weeks at work. Two weekends ago we went to the 3rd and 4th round of the Australian off road champs held in Bateman's two hours south of Sydney. The track was a mixture of nice soft dirt like we have here and hard pack dusty, rocky assize soil. The format for the two days was a two day enduro my favourite.

We had a few problems over there as you do with trying to ride in another country. we thought it would be a great idea to send a box of giddies over like mouse tubes and a riding kit with a few tool. But unfortunate it was held up in customs. so it was down to ballards to buy the the important stuff. We ended up running a pretty stock bike apart from my awesome suspension from Pro Ride and a muffler. So on we went after prepping our bikes at the KTM race shop.

Racing started Saturday morning about ten. The day was filled with two different test done three times each. With just over 150 riders it was well cut up!! so at the end of day one I was running 20th out right and 10th in class the E2 class.

Sunday morning stared earlier but finished around midday. it was the same course as Saturday but allot rougher. racing was allot closer on Sunday and was just off the guy in font of me by only a matter of seconds. Dad was telling me how I was going and said it was close and I can get the guy in font of me. So I had a little talk with the KTM race manger (woody), he sat me down when I came into gas up and told me what I had to do. On the second to last test I was pushing a bit too hard and cart wheeled it down the track and bent the bike and me also losing a good 20 seconds and dropping a few places. At the end of Sunday I was 22nd out right and 11th in class. It was a very good event and with all the top riders from Australia there.

Saturday 7th April.

Round Three NZ Enduro Champs

Waimiha

We went down early to walk the test on Friday afternoon. they were very long and took about an hour each to walk. There were two test done five times. After a very chilly night camping it was up early and getting ready for the start. it was a quick day with the sections where a little tighter than normal. The ground down there is quite similar to a Tokoara but with a lot more tree roots and a bit tighter. Its quite hard to get a good flow at Waimiha with it been so tight and technical. My test feel a little slow but I still manage to catch at least one guy in front of me in a few test.

After riding there was only four test posted out of five and the result showed that I won two and Chris Birch won two and I was up on him buy only one second. When the last test was up Chris won it buy one second. Dead even. That hardly happens in NZ. In the end Chris won three test out of five so they gave the win to him. Its always good keeping him on his toes and I plan on keeping him awake for the rest of the series.

The Enduro champs take a break until August. Next weekend I'm off down to Tairua for a top trail rider enduro then off back to Oz the following weekend.

Karl

karl Power