Riders battered by a brutal opening round of racing in this season’s New Zealand Enduro Championships at Kawhia just over a fortnight ago will now be bracing themselves for another beating at round two on the Coromandel Peninsular this weekend.

Returning Kiwi international ace Chris Birch, of Auckland, won the Kawhia event outright, edging out Mokau’s defending national champion Adrian Smith, but he will take nothing for granted as he steels himself for a backlash from Smith, and the many other contenders, near Whangamata this weekend.

The eight-round Yamaha-sponsored series heads into the Taungatara Forest for round two on Saturday with plenty at stake.

The Taungatara Forest is about 10 minutes’ drive north of Whangamata on State Highway 25 and could be regarded as home turf for Whangamata’s former national enduro champion Jason Davis, certainly a venue where Davis will be both comfortable and fast.

Auckland’s Mike Skinner makes a comeback from injury this weekend and he’ll be determined to make up lost ground, while typical frontrunners such as Auckland pair Chris Power and Freddie Milford-Cottam, Tuakau’s Jonathan Hill and Tokoroa’s Sean Clarke could be expected to consolidate their positions near the top.

The course is 138 kilometres long and there will be six special tests on the day and, because of recent dry conditions, competitors will be expected to carry fire extinguishers on their bikes.

“It is very dry in the forest at the moment,” said Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Shaun Prescott, of Hikuai.

“The course sends the riders through a lot of forest, with plenty of creek crossings thrown in. There will be logs, but no bogs.”

After this weekend, the series continues with round three at Riverhead Forest on March 24 and wraps up near Tokoroa on September 21.

2013 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships calendar:

Round 1, Feb 2, Oparau

Round 2, Feb 23, Whangamata

Round 3, March 24, Riverhead

Round 4 April 27, Wellington

Round 5, May 11, Waimiha

Round 6, June 1, Maramarua

Round 7, July 20, Taupo

Round 8, Sept 21, Tokoroa

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