When Tokoroa’s Sean Clarke says the racing is going to be difficult in new ways this year, you must understand it’ll stretch all competitors, even those with the most insane dirt bike racing skills.
The racing in this year’s Husqvarna Hard Adventure Enduro (HHAE), in and around Taupo this coming Labour Weekend, will be the ultimate test.
New Zealand motorcycling Hall of Fame inductee Clarke (pictured here) has been organising events and setting courses for many years now and riders flock to his events in great numbers, a testimony to the excitement and challenge they provide, but he says this year’s annual HHAE in the Central Plateau region will be particularly taxing.
“We have more than 150 riders signed up to race this year and, as long as they enter the correct class for their skills – gold, silver, bronze or iron – they should all be able to cope with the racing, although it could be a lot more physically challenging this time around,” Clarke warns.
“I don’t think the terrain will be any harder than before, but it will be more physically demanding and certainly it will be more tiring. It is an endurance event after all,” he laughed.
“The course will be more off-road than on gravel roads but should still appeal to medium-level riders as much as it will to the elite competitors. Perhaps only the sport’s heroes should apply, but we do try to cater to riders of all abilities too.”
None of the individuals who have won in previous seasons are entered again this weekend, so there will certainly be a fresh name etched upon the winner’s trophy.
“Judging on their recent form, I expect the silverware will go to either Whangaparoa’s Jacob Refoy, Amberley’s Archer Pascoe or New Plymouth’s Sam Parker, although anything can happen in this sport and so we really won’t know until it wraps up at about 2.30pm on Sunday.”
Another rider likely to have a chance of winning this year might include South Islander Luke Doerson-Corson (from Whitecliffs) and other riders such as Tokoroa’s Jake Wightman and Reporoa’s Brendon Imlig could also feature.
“There will be less ‘rest time’ for riders this year and so overall fitness will play a key part,” said Clarke.
It’s a gruelling three-day event, with a spectator-favourite “prologue” set for Taupo’s Digger McEwen Motorcycle Park from 4pm on Friday, something to sort the men and women from the boys and girls, and also to determine starting positions for the nearby forestry course the next day. Clake says it has been pretty damp in the forest in recent days, but he suggests it’s still really hard to say what the riders will face in there.
Clarke explained that riders would follow a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) course that is re-set daily and uploaded to their handlebar-mounted GPS device.
It kicks off on Friday with riders signing in and then undergoing motorcycle and equipment scrutineering from 2pm.
“The Husqvarna importers have been sponsors of this event since day one and we are grateful they’re behind us again this year,” said Clarke.
In addition to Husqvarna NZ, the event sponsored by Forestland Motorcycle Club, Forest Trail Events, Kiwi Rider magazine, Ogio, O’Neal apparel, Arai helmets, Blur, Muc-Off, Forma, USWE, Maxima oils, Maxi Grip, Forbes & Davies, SATCO logging attachments and Metzeler tyres.
© Words and photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ
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