For so many of the competitors, the chance of winning the 2015 New Zealand Enduro Championships outright is perhaps already starting to slip away.

Auckland’s Chris Birch has won both rounds thus far in the seven-round KTM-sponsored series and, unless his rivals step up and give Birch more of a challenge, starting with round three near Wellington this Saturday, the 2015 series could be all wrapped up long before the final round in Tokoroa in May.

Birch, from Glen Eden, won the series outright last year, beaten just once in six rounds, and he’s looking likely to repeat, or even improve upon, that feat in 2015.

The 35-year-old Kiwi dirt bike international and defending national champion has previously won seven New Zealand Enduro Championships outright – his runaway performance last season now something sports fans are coming to expect from the man – but that’s not to say there aren’t some very talented individuals who could deny him.

Riders such as Whangamata’s Jason Davis, who was runner-up to Birch at round two near Whangamata last month, or Howick’s Liam Draper, who has thus far finished third and fifth overall, are among those riders expected to keep Birch honest this weekend.

It’s too early for championship hopefuls to be waving the white flag of surrender, with four rounds to follow after this weekend, and, besides that, there are battles-within-battles for individual class honours being contested also.

Birch leads the way in the over-300cc four-stroke class; Davis leads the over-200cc two-stroke class and Draper heads the fight for under-200cc two-stroke class honours.

Other class leaders after two rounds are Coatesville’s Sam Greenslade (under-300cc four-stroke class) and Tokoroa’s Sean Clarke (veterans’ over-40 years).

In the intermediate division, class leaders are Cambridge’s Ashton Grey (under-200cc two-stroke); Taumarunui’s Brody Taylor (under-300cc four-stroke); Auckland’s Ryan Armitage (over-200cc two-stroke); Cambridge’s Andrew Findlay (over-300cc four-stroke); Thames rider Natasha Cairns (women); Pukekohe’s Chris Hilton (veteran 40-49 years); Helensville’s John Buxton (veteran 50-54 years) and Tairua’s Mark Scott (veterans over-55 years).

The series continues with round four near Christchurch on Saturday, April 4, with round five just two days later, near Mosgiel on Monday, April 6. Round six is at Waimiha on Saturday, May 9, with the seventh and final round set for Tokoroa on Sunday, May 10.

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

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