KIWIS ON THE CHARGE | Bikesportnz

New Zealand’s Wellard Yamaha Team riders are on the charge at the big annual International Six Days Enduro in Mexico.

As the event reached the halfway point for the Kiwi riders yesterday, the trio – Mokau’s Adrian Smith (pictured above), Paeroa’s Chris Power and Auckland’s Karl Power – continued to press for individual glory in their respective club team classes and for team honours in the battle for the Club Team world championship.

Karl Power, the New Zealand under-300cc four-stroke enduro champion, remains in second place overall in the C2 division.

He rode his Yamaha YZ450F aggressively for nearly eight hours yesterday and posted impressive times in all the special tests. Although he is still in second position in the class, he is just over a minute behind the class leader, Spain’s Aaron Bernardez (KTM).

Adrian Smith (Yamaha YZ250F) is still third place outright in the C1 division, the New Zealand under-200cc two-stroke enduro champion putting his motocross skills to good use in the special tests. Smith is less than two minutes behind Italy’s Maurizio Micheluz and six minutes behind the class leader, Spain’s Cristobal Guerrero.

Meanwhile, unhappy about slipping back one position on day two, Chris Power (Yamaha YZ250F) found fresh tenacity to fight back. The New Zealand over-300cc four-stroke champion regained his fourth overall position in the C1 class and is now less than three minutes behind his team-mate.

Combined, the three Wellard Yamaha Team riders have managed to consolidate their second outright podium position in the chase for Club Team world championship honours and are just over 11 minutes behind the powerful Spanish team trio.

Spain does not have a senior trophy team in this year’s event and that gives added punch to their Club Team aspiration. But the Kiwi amateurs have so far proven to be right on the pace with the world class Spaniards.

The Wellard Yamaha Team bikes and support crew have been extremely dependable, making the difficult job of racing for six days more bearable for the riders.

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