The 32nd annual Yamaha Australian Four-Day Enduro Championships will again have a distinctly Kiwi flavour with a strong contingent of  New Zealanders crossing the Tasman to take on some of the best off-road bike racers in the world this weekend (April 8-11).

What’s more, expatriate New Zealander Stefan Merriman (Yamaha) – who was born and bred in the Bay of Plenty but who now calls Nelson’s Bay, New South Wales, his home — has been tipped as one of the favourites for the outright crown.

It will be a treat for fans this year to see four-time World Enduro Champion Merriman (pictured above) go head-to-head with last year’s outright winner, Jarrod Bewley (KTM), and four-time Australian Enduro Champion Kirk Hutton (Yamaha).

Merriman was a non-starter last year because of injury.

The entry is limited to 350 riders and they will line up to race at Portland (near Lithgow), NSW, starting tomorrow, for what promises to be another gruelling endurance test of man and machine against the elements.

Several international riders have also entered this year, including eight-time American enduro champion Mike Lafferty.

Merriman has not been able to compete in an A4DE since 2007 and he is excited about racing this weekend.

“I enjoy the enduro events and with Rick Braico organising the track, I’m sure it will be a good one.

“Competition-wise it’s going to be a very tough four-day and season … tougher than last year.

“The younger guys are getting faster … I’ve been riding with Ben Burrell lately and he’s very fast. A lot of the top guys have also changed bikes, and there’s a lot of new motivation for everyone … it’s going to be a good race.”

Other top Kiwis expected to shine include Yamaha heroes Rory Mead (Whitby), Adrian Smith (Mokau), Wayne Neilson (Wanganui) and Sean Clarke (Tokoroa), while Auckland’s Karl Power (KTM) and his cousin Chris Power (Suzuki), from Waihi Beach, and Whangamata’s Jason Davis (KTM) should also feature near the front.

Completing the Kiwi contingent are Taranaki’s Larry Blair (KTM), South Waikato’s Mark Newton (Suzuki), Atiamuri’s Duncan McLaren (Yamaha) and Te Puke’s Murray Jensen (Honda).

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