GOING TO THE EXTREME | Bikesportnz

Watch out for the moto trials boys to strike hard this weekend.

The third round of the popular KTM Extreme Enduro Series heads to Tokoroa on Saturday, where what could be described as a “supercross of enduro” has been set up as part of this weekend’s Tokoroa A&P Show.

The Tokoroa Endurocross, which was an extremely popular event when it was staged at Tokoroa last season, could be expected to produce a third different winner in as many rounds of this 2013 series, Saturday’s event likely to favour the trials riding exponents such as recent enduro converts Jake Whitaker and Liam Draper.

Kiwi international Chris Birch (KTM 350 XCF) won the opening round of the KTM Extreme Enduro Series, The Nut Buster Hard Enduro near Christchurch, in late September, but overseas racing commitments kept him away from round two, the Riverhead 100, in the Riverhead Forest near Auckland, last month.

This allowed former national enduro champion Jason Davis (KTM 300XC) to dominate at Riverhead, although it could easily be a rider such as Whitaker or Draper who takes command this weekend.

Wellington’s Whitaker (Husaberg FE250) is a seven times former and current New Zealand Moto Trials Champion, while Auckland youngster Draper (Husaberg TE 125) is also a deft exponent of the sport of trials riding. Both young men have switched their focus to enduro riding in recent times and have shown plenty of early promise.

Whitaker has not yet won a round of the KTM Extreme Enduro Series but he does share the lead in the Pro Grade points standings, his 2-5 finishes thus far giving him 38 points, level-pegging with Tokoroa’s Sean Clarke (KTM 300 EXC), who finished 3-4 in the first two rounds.

Draper is currently third in the Pro Grade standings, just four points behind Whitaker and Clarke.

However, the smart money still rests with Aucklander Birch to reclaim the podium top step on Saturday, the man from Glen Eden just back from another successful overseas adventure, where he finished a respectable overall runner-up in the Roof of Africa hard enduro in Lesotho last month.

Auckland’s Mike Skinner (KTM 250 XCF) should also threaten in the Pro Grade, while Jacques Bakkenes (Husaberg TE300) will again make the trip up from Christchurch to keep the leaders honest.

In the Expert Grade, Raglan’s Dylan Yearbury is favoured, although Cambridge youngster Taylor Grey could spring a surprise, while South Island brothers Hamish and Angus McDonald, from West Melton, should also be a force on Saturday.

It will also be worth watching out for Tokoroa’s Vince Steiner and Thames rider Natasha Cairns to renew their battle for top honours in the clubman class.

According to series organiser Sean Clarke, the track will be “bigger than last year, with a more flowing look to it”.

“There will be some new obstacles. Each class will get three races in their classes for the KTM extreme series points and then, after this, there will be a knock-out system for the riders to go through to the endurocross final. And that’s where there will be $500 up for grabs for the top three in the final.”

Round four of the series is the Te Puke Endurocross on February 8.

The series is sponsored by KTM New Zealand, Motorex, Kiwi Rider, Dirt Guide, Michelin Tyres, Satco, Forest Trail Events and Maungapapa Angus.

2013 KTM Extreme Enduro Series calendar:

Round 1: September 28 – Nut Buster Hard Enduro

Round 2: November 17 – Riverhead 100

Round 3: December 7 – Tokoroa Enduro X

Round 4: February 8 – Te Puke Enduro X

Round 5: April 20 and 21 – No Way In Hell

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