Whangamata’s Jason Davis is in the driver’s seat after a scintillating performance at the second of five rounds in this year’s national enduro championships on Saturday.

Auckland’s Chris Birch (KTM) won the opening round of the 2010 Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships at Kawhia a fortnight ago, but both he and the defending national champion, Whitby’s Rory Mead (Yamaha), were absent for Saturday’s second round at Whangamata because of international commitments.

This played right into the hands of home-town favourite Davis.

The 21-year-old Davis (KTM) finished runner-up to Birch at the series opener and now, with his commanding one win on Saturday, it puts him firmly in control of the championship.

Davis finished one minute and 28 seconds ahead of Aucklander Karl Power (Honda), with Marton’s Cam Smith (Suzuki) the third best rider over the seven tightly-timed “special tests”.

“I’m used to riding in mud … I’m used to these conditions,” said Davis matter-of-factly.

“This enduro had everything that makes a good event … lots of rocks, tree roots and logs, everything challenging.”

Motorcycle New Zealand enduro commissioner Gary Powell was thrilled with how smoothly the event ran and with the number of riders who showed up to race on the forestry land just north of Whangamata.

“I guess it’s a tribute to the Thames Valley club and recognition of what great events they run,” he said.

“The course was challenging but not impossible. There were lots of smiling faces at the end and a lot of tired bodies too.”

Round three of the national series is set for the Riverhead Forest, near Auckland, on March 7.

Leading overall results from the second round of five in the Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships at Whangamata on Saturday:

Expert class:

1. Jason Davis (Whangamata, KTM); 2. Karl Power (Auckland, Honda); 3. Cam Smith (Marton, Suzuki).

Intermediates class:

1. Freddie Mildord-Cottam (Auckland, KTM); 2. Phil Skinner (Putaruru, KTM); 3. Kian Scherer (Putaruru, KTM).

Expert 0-200cc two-stroke:

1. Adrian Smith (Mokau, Yamaha); 2. Lance O’Dea (Napier, Suzuki); 3. Damon Nield (Hokianga, Husqvarna).

Expert 201-open class two-stroke:

1. Jason Davis (Whangamata, KTM); 2. Scott Keegan (Australia, KTM); 3. Mitchell Nield (Hokianga, Husqvarna).

Expert 0-300cc four-stroke:

1. Karl Power (Auckland, Honda); 2. Phil Singleton (Te Puke, Honda); 3. Mark Fleming (Waipukurau, Suzuki).

Expert 301-open class four-stroke:

1. Cam Smith (Marton, Suzuki); 2. Chris Power (Waihi Beach, Honda); 3. John O’Dea (Napier, Suzuki).

Expert veterans (over-40):

1. Dougy Herbert (New Plymouth, Honda); 2. Sean Clarke (Tokoroa, Yamaha); 3. Mark De Lautour (Turangi, KTM).

Intermediate 0-200cc two-stroke:

1. Freddie Milford-Cottam (Auckland, KTM); 2. Kian Scherer (Putaruru, KTM); 3. Brandon Given (Raglan, Honda).

Intermediate 201-open class two-stroke:

1. Robert Fisher (Thames, KTM); 2. Adrian Revel (Hamilton, KTM); 3. Adrian Broughton (Whangarei, KTM).

Intermediate 0-300cc four-stroke:

1. Kane Stow (Rotorua, Yamaha); 2. Brad Stoddart (Waipukurau, Suzuki); 3. Glenn Woodmass (Taupo, Yamaha).

Intermediate 301-open class four-stroke:

1. Tim Thorburn (Cambridge, Honda); 2. Darron Griffiths (Kaiwaka, KTM); 3. Ben Gordon (Mangakino, Suzuki).

Intermediate veterans (40-49 years):

1. Phil Skinner (Putaruru, KTM); 2. Craig Evans (Hamilton, KTM); 3. Mike Bennett (Whangarei, Husqvarna).

Intermediate veterans (over-50):

1. Bruce Clark (Thames, KTM); 2. Gordon Brooker (Feilding, Honda); 3. Tony Lingard (Whitianga, KTM).

Intermediate women:

1. Natasha Cairns (Warkworth, KTM).

Intermediate trail riders:

1. Peter Yardley (Auckland, Gas Gas); 2. Rhys Peden (Waihi, Yamaha); 3. Kierran White (Tauranga, Honda).

Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com