BIRCH UNBEATABLE? | Bikesportnz

Auckland’s Chris Birch and his KTM 350 XC-F seem unbeatable at the moment.

The 35-year-old from Glen Eden made it three consecutive event wins when he again dominated at the third round of seven in this year’s KTM-sponsored New Zealand Enduro Championships near Wellington on Saturday, finishing the day ahead of Wellington’s Jake Whitaker, Howick’s Liam Draper, North Shore’s Chris Power and Whangamata’s Jason Davis.

The 34-year-old Kiwi dirt bike international and defending national champion won the first round of the series in the Riverhead Forest, west of Auckland, in February and repeated the dose at round two near Whangamata just a couple of weeks later.

Whitaker, riding a Husqvarna FE250, pushed Birch all the way on Saturday and he crossed the finish line just 75 seconds behind Birch after a brutal day of racing in the Akatarawa Forest, near Porirua.

“The course was pretty close to perfect today,” said Birch.

“We rode in reverse to a lot of the trails we’d raced in the past, so it was quite unfamiliar. It had rained a bit in the week leading up to the event and neither dust or mud was a problem. I won all but one of the five special tests, with Jake (Whitaker) winning the other one.

“It was quite tough in places today, but I like it when it’s like that,” said Birch. “The series has definitely been going well for me and so I have no complaints. It’s a shame other dirt bike series have date clashes with this one because there should be more competition for me here than there is.

“But I still have to ride very well to beat these guys.

“I took a couple of wrong turns in the forest today and this cost me a bit of time.”

It was Whitaker’s best result of the series thus far.

“I may have had a slight home turf advantage, but I was still surprised to find myself close behind Birch on the results sheet. I’m pleased with how I did today,” said Whitaker.

Following racing in the Akatarawa Forest course close to Pauatahanui, near Porirua, on Saturday, the series continues with round four near Christchurch on Saturday, April 4, with round five just two days later, near Mosgiel on Monday, April 6. Round six is at Waimiha on Saturday, May 9, with the seventh and final round set for Tokoroa on Sunday, May 10.

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