Whangamata’s Jason Davis saved his best for last at round two of the New Zealand Enduro Championships in Northland on Sunday afternoon.

After a slow start to the day, the logging contractor from the Coromandel turned up the pace to overtake early leader Damon Nield (Husqvarna CR125), of Hokianga, and win the day outright at the Yamaha-sponsored event.

But KTM’s Davis still has a lot of work ahead in the five-round series after a disastrous start to his campaign when snapped handlebars forced him out of the running at the opening round near Kawhia in February.

Third best on Sunday was Nield elder brother, Mitchell Nield (Gas Gas EC 300), with Waitomo’s Adrian Smith (Yamaha YZ250F) and Auckland’s Michael Skinner (KTM 300 XC) rounding out the top five.

“It was very hard going,” said Motorcycle New Zealand enduro commissioner Shaun Prescott, of Thames.

“The course was very wet and slippery and a good test of man and machine.

“It was anyone’s race to win really. Even Mike Skinner, who eventually finished fifth today, was in the running. The Nield brothers were in contention too.

“The results were a real shake-up. It won’t really be until after the next round that we’ll have a firm indication of where the titles might wind up and that means it will be a very close and exciting contest.”

Round one winner Rory Mead (Yamaha YZ450F), of Wellington, was a notable absentee on Sunday, with overseas racing commitments taking him elsewhere, while the two men who finished joint runners-up at Kawhia, Paeroa’s Chris Power (Honda CRF450) and Palmerston North’s Adam Reeves (Yamaha YZ450F), managed only sixth and ninth overall on Sunday.

Davis, who was the outright national enduro champion in 2010, finished more than 20 seconds ahead of Damon Nield at the end of the day’s 10 special stages.

“Yes I started slowly but soon worked my way into it,” said the 23-year-old Davis (KTM 350 XC-F).

“I pulled about 20 seconds back on Damon, so that was a good thing. The bike was perfect too. I couldn’t have asked for more.”

Meanwhile, in the veterans’ (over 40 years) class, Te Awamutu’s Kevin Archer, was also on the charge.

The 44-year-old Archer (KTM 530 EXC), back in the sport after a five-year hiatus, has been something of a revelation this season.

The bull and dairy farmer won the veterans’ class at the series opener near Kawhia in February, as well as topping the class on Sunday, and he leads the series comfortably in this class from former champion Sean Clark (Yamaha), of Tokoroa.

The third round of the series is set for Davis’ home turf, at Whangamata on April 14, with rounds to follow at Waimiha, on May 5, and Taupo on July 21.

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