Manawatu’s Adam Reeves and Paeroa’s Chris Power will go head-to-head in the hunt for national enduro glory this weekend.

Wellington’s Rory Mead took his Yamaha YZ450F to win the opening round of the Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships near Kawhia at the start of February, but he is now racing in the United States and will be a notable no-show in for round two in Northland on Sunday, leaving the way clear for the Kawhia event runner-up, Power, and third-placed Reeves (pictured above) to take advantage.

Auckland’s Sam Greenslade (Husqvarna) and Hokianga’s Damon Nield (Husqvarna) rounded out the top five at Kawhia and they, too, will be expected to feature this Sunday.

Both Power (Honda) and Reeves (Yamaha) know they are capable of winning on Sunday, although they are equally well aware they have some fearsome opponents, men with international credentials and equally capable of mastering the rugged terrain.

In a system similar to rally cars, riders race against the clock and are set off in groups of three, at one-minute intervals, so it’s virtually impossible for individuals to know how they are performing in respect of their rivals.

It is generally not until the end of the day’s action that the outright winner, or class winners, can be revealed.

Other riders likely to shine include Nield’s elder brother Mitchell Nield (Gas Gas), Napier’s John O’Dea (Husqvarna), Marton’s Cam Smith (Yamaha), Tauranga’s Reece Burgess (Husaberg) and back-from-retirement Kevin Archer (KTM), of Te Awamutu.

The 44-year-old Archer, back in the sport after a five-year hiatus, showed he still had the pace to win. The bull and dairy farmer finished seventh overall at Kawhia, good enough to see him in the No.1 spot in the veterans’ (over-40) division.

Sunday’s race venue is “The Farm”, Whangaruru-Russell Highway – about 45 minutes’ drive north of Whangarei.

Round three of the enduro nationals is scheduled for Whangamata on April 14, Waimiha on May 5 and, finally, Taupo on July 21.

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