Wellington’s Jake Whitaker is a fast learner … and a teacher too.

The 22-year-old seven-time former and current national moto trials champion recently switched his sporting focus to an entirely different form of motorcycle competition, off-road enduro riding, and already he’s coming up trumps, teaching some of the enduro boys a lesson at the weekend.

Consistency gave him the early lead in the popular KTM Extreme Enduro Series this year, the Husaberg rider leading the competition standings after two of five rounds, and he proved that position was thoroughly deserved when he consolidated his lead at the third round in Tokoroa on Saturday.

He also broke through to record a win in the endurocross final race, a separate competition incorporated into the day.

A double point-scoring system was in place – points from three races early in the day counting towards the series and then glory was also acknowledged with prizemoney for winning the stand-alone endurocross final.

Whitaker finished fourth overall in the three-race segment of the day, behind KTM star Chris Birch, of Glen Eden, Tauranga motocross ace Peter Broxholme and Taupo enduro rider Greg DeLautour.

However, both Birch and Broxholme failed to qualify for the stand-alone endurocross final race – Birch suffering a chain derailment and Broxholme crashing out – while Whitaker was simply on fire, qualifying for the final and then romping to a convincing win.

In the endurocross final, Whitaker finished ahead of Auckland’s Michael Skinner (KTM 250XCF) and Whangamata’s Jason Davis (KTM 300XC).

In the wash-up from all of that frenetic action, Whitaker remains the KTM Extreme Enduro Series leader, edging ahead of series rival Sean Clarke (KTM 300EXC), who finished 11th overall in the three-race phase of the day.

Only four of the five rounds count towards the series, with riders to discard their worst result. Because Birch skipped round two of the series due to overseas racing commitments, his series position won’t be clear until after the final round.

The Expert class is shaping up to be a tight battle with Raglan’s Dylan Yearbury (KTM 250EXC) just managing to edge out West Melton’s Hamish McDonald (Gas Gas EC200), with Cambridge’s Taylor Grey (KTM 200XC) taking third spot on the podium.

Tokoroa KTM rider Vince Steiner has stamped his mark on the Clubmans’ class, taking another win, this time beating fellow Tokoroa man Josh Barber.

Three women competed in the endurocross with Thames rider Natasha Carins (KTM 200XC) dominating.

Round four of the KTM Extreme Enduro Series is the Te Puke Endurocross on February 8.

The series is sponsored by KTM New Zealand, Motorex, Kiwi Rider, Dirt Guide, Michelin Tyres, Satco, Forest Trail Events and Maungapapa Angus.

2013 KTM Extreme Enduro Series calendar:

Round 1: September 28 – Nut Buster Hard Enduro

Round 2: November 17 – Riverhead 100

Round 3: December 7 – Tokoroa Enduro X

Round 4: February 8 – Te Puke Enduro X

Round 5: April 20 and 21 – No Way In Hell

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