With three rounds completed and three different riders celebrating wins, the 2016 New Zealand Enduro Championships are bubbling with excitement and intrigue, the likes of which hasn’t been seen in the sport for many years.

Christchurch’s Hamish Macdonald won round one in the Greta Valley, near Christchurch, over the Easter Weekend, while Taupo’s Brad Groombridge won round two at Mosgiel a couple of days later, but now we have a third first-time winner in the competition, with Howick’s Liam Draper (pictured above) winning the third round of five in the series at Moonshine, near Upper Hutt, on Saturday.

The finishing order on Saturday was Draper, Macdonald and Groombridge and so just four points now separate these three riders at the top of the championship standings in the expert grade, so anything can still happen.

Draper’s win on Saturday meant it was also a third different bike brand that had ended up on the top – Macdonald rides a Sherco, Groombridge pilots a Suzuki and Draper is a Husqvarna man – meaning honours have been shared around by some of the manufacturers as well.

“This is the first time I’ve won a national enduro championship event,” said Draper, a 19-year-old apprentice plumber. “I’m glad I was on a four-stroke bike and not a two-stroke like the last time I rode here. It was so important to get the power to the ground, to find traction on the loose rocks, and I certainly felt better on this course today.

“I’ll be hoping I can carry on this winning momentum.”

Saturday’s runner-up, 17-year-old Macdonald, was naturally thrilled to end the weekend alone at the top of the series standings after three rounds, albeit just two points clear of Groombridge, with Draper just another two points further back.

“I got a flat tyre in the first section today, but fixed it at the first pit stop and, luckily, it didn’t cost me any time,” said Macdonald.

“It’s the first time I’ve ever been in this position, leading the nationals, and I’m certainly feeling the pressure. Dad (Mark Macdonald) was a national enduro champion back in the early 1980s, so I’m guess I’m trying to fill his boots.”

And the shake-ups didn’t end there, with Te Awamutu’s Rachael Archer taking over the lead from Amberley’s Hamish Foster in the junior grade.

“I fell off a couple of times at round one and, at round two, I overshot a corner, and those things cost me. But my junior title defence is back on track now. I’ve just got to try and stay upright,” said the 14-year-old Archer.

“I outgrew the 85cc bike and started riding this 125cc bike in March. I needed more power and bigger wheels and I’m loving this new bike.”

Macdonald leads Titirangi’s Callan May in the battle-within-a-battle for expert over-200cc two-stroke class honours, while Groombridge leads Draper in the battle for domination in the expert under-300cc four-stroke class. May finished fourth overall on Saturday.

Helensville’s Tom Buxton continues to lead the expert under-200cc class; Hamilton’s Chris Power is still on top in the expert over-300cc class and Tokoroa’s Sean Clarke rules the roost in the expert veterans’ (over-40 years) class.

Meanwhile, Loburn’s Josh Dando finished fourth overall in the intermediate grade at Moonshine, but, with his wins at rounds one and two, he continues to lead the grade overall, eight points clear of Thames rider Natasha Cairns, who is also the leading female in the series.

Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Phil Skinner, of Putaruru, said the sport was in a healthy state.

“It’s so good to see the young blood coming through. With three different winners over three rounds, we have a fantastic competition on our hands.”

The national series continues with round four at Waimiha on June 4 and, finally, it all wraps up near Tokoroa on June 5.

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

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