Like any good championship event that incorporates a multitude of separate categories, it is often the “battles within” which can spark the most interest.

The third round of six in this season’s KTM-sponsored New Zealand Enduro Championships are set for the Riverhead Forest, near Auckland, this weekend and it is expected to be another massive skirmish.

While Kiwi international Chris Birch (KTM) leads the way to clinching the overall honours again this season, many eyes will also be watching on Sunday to see what happens a little further back in the field.

As well as leading overall, Birch also leads the battle-within-a-battle to win the over-300cc four-stroke class, with fellow Aucklander Chris Power (Yamaha) and Marton’s Cam Smith (Kawasaki) giving chase, but there are also four other bike categories to keep an eye on.

Kaikohe’s Mitchell Nield (Yamaha) and Auckland’s Liam Draper (Husqvarna) are locked together at the top of the under-200cc two-stroke class, the two riders sharing wins at the two rounds thus far and both have also finished runners-up, so that fight will be particularly intense at Riverhead on Sunday.

Mokau’s Adrian Smith (Yamaha), the national champion on the parallel cross-country racing scene, has a battle on his hands in the over-200cc two-stroke class as he is challenged by Hokianga’s Damon Nield (Husqvarna) and Taupo’s Greg De Lautour (Beta).

Wainuiomata’s Jake Whitaker (Husqvarna) and Feilding’s Freddie Milford-Cottam (KTM) share the front-running in the under-300cc four-stroke class. Milford-Cottam won the class at round one at Whangamata last month, but Whitaker hit back at round two near Porirua two weeks ago and so there is nothing to separate these two talented riders.

Meanwhile, Tokoroa’s Sean Clarke (pictured above) has been putting his vast international experience to good use in dominating the veterans’ (over-40 years) division.

Clarke (KTM) led the veterans’ class at both Whangamata and Porirua and few would be against him in the Riverhead Forest on Sunday, although riders such as Taranaki’s Dougy Herbert (Husaberg), Taupo’s Mark de Lautour (KTM), Wellington’s Hugh Lintott (Yamaha) and Napier’s Warren Laugesen (Beta) might have something to say about that on Sunday.

Following this weekend’s event at Riverhead, the series heads down south for round four near Christchurch on April 5, followed by round five at Oparau on April 19 and, finally, it all wraps up at Waimiha, in the King Country, on May 10.

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

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