The 2025 New Zealand Enduro Championships series will again kick off in the South Island this coming weekend and once more it’s expected to be a torrid affair.
The three-round series will offer plenty of value for riders and spectators alike, because each of them will be two-day affairs.
The first round of the Yamaha-sponsored championships are in the South Island and the following two in the North Island.
The series kicks off this tomorrow (Friday, April 25) at 725 Dovedale Road, while day two on Saturday, April 26, is off the Moutere Highway, 3.8 kilometres west of the Redwood Valley Hall.
Both days of racing are sure to really sort the men from the boys and the women from the girls.
The next two rounds are at separate venues – near Whanganui and Martinborough respectively – with the series set to wrap up on Sunday, June 8.
“A big crew of the combined Kapi-Mana and Nelson Motorcycle Club have been beavering away bridging streams and making new tracks for the Friday and Saturday courses in the two different locations,” said Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Justin Stevenson.
“Friday features hilly and fast farm tracks and Saturday is a mixture of tight forest trails and fast forest roads, with a lot of ups and downs. Both tracks are looking awesome and a lot of fun.”
Several leading riders from previous years, men such as Omihi’s former New Zealand enduro champion Ethan McBreen and Wainuiomata’s extreme enduro expert Jake Whitaker, for example, are likely to be contenders again this season.
Whitecliffs rider Luke Corson, Whangarei’s Owen Broughton, Tokoroa’s Jake Wightman, Owaka’s Blake Affleck and Auckland’s Mitchell Gallagher might also be expected to feature.
Other riders to watch out for this weekend may include Taupo’s Brad Groombridge, New Plymouth father and son pair Tony and Sam Parker, New Plymouth’s Josh Houghton, Nelson’s Bailey Basalaj, Whitianga’s James Kerr, Stoke’s Kurtis Bandy and Havelock North’s Tom Hislop, among others.
“The venue this weekend is a mix of steep and flat farmland, so it will be fast in some places and quite tricky in others, fun but also challenging,” said Stevenson.
In addition to Yamaha-Motor New Zealand, the 2024 NZ Enduro Championships are supported by Motorcycling New Zealand, Macaulay Metals, Best Build Construction, Silver-bullet and Kiwi Rider magazine.
2025 NZ Enduro Champs calendar:
Round 1: April 25-26, Nelson. Day 1, 725 Dovedale Road, Day 2 Moutere Highway, 3.8km west of the Redwood Valley Hall.
Round 2: June 1-2, near Whanganui.
Round 3: June 7-8, Ruakokoputuna Hall, Martinborough District, South Wairarapa.
© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
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