Double the Trouble in Kapiti

Double the Trouble in Kapiti

MARCH 8, 2007: Two events rolled into one can only mean two things; it's double the action and twice the excitement.

The Wellington region will this weekend host round two of the Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships and round two of the Top Trail Rider (TTR) Central Series at the same time and at the same Kapiti Coast venue. The Yamaha-sponsored TTR series differs only in that it offers riders a slightly shorter course, with about 17 kilometres trimmed from the end of the day, to make it a little less daunting for the less experienced riders.

The TTR series is aimed at appealing to the novice or first-time enduro riders or perhaps to older riders wanting to rekindle their careers or just enjoy a day of dirt bike action.

Saturday’s event will be on steep and rocky farmland on Moonshine Road, near Pauatahanui, on the Haywards Hill, and organiser Justin Stevenson said the course would provide plenty of challenge with “a bit of everything”, including a motocross to end the 130 kilometres of gruelling off-road endurance riding.

To add another twist to the national championship series, the first round winner, Aucklander Chris Birch, is not able to attend this weekend. He's instead getting married on Saturday, to long-time girlfriend Monica. With Birch away, the door has therefore been thrown wide open for his rivals to take advantage.

However, KTM rider Birch could still be in the running with riders to count scores from only five of the six rounds and will ditch their worst result. This weekend's race will obviously be Birch's sacrificial event.

Riders to watch for include national cross-country champion Adrian Smith (Awakino, Honda), Hokianga's Mitchell Nield (Husqvarna), Tokoroa's Sean Clarke, Auckland's Karl Power (Husaberg), Ngaruawahia’s Heath Howlett (Yamaha) and Whangamata’s Jason Davis (KTM).

Racing begins at 10am with riders waved away in groups of three at one-minute intervals and timed against the clock.

A parallel TTR series for the Northern Region, to run over five rounds, kicks off at Riverhead, Auckland, on March 24.

All three contests are sponsored by Yamaha, Kiwi Rider magazine, Acerbis, HJC Helmets, Mitas and supported by Motorcycling New Zealand.

The remaining rounds of the six-round New Zealand Enduro Championships schedule are:

Round three, Waimiha, Te Kuiti, April 7.
Round four, Santoft, Palmerston North, August 5.
Round five, Gwavas, Hawke’s Bay, September 16.
Round six, Woodhill, Auckland, September 29.

The series is coordinated by Auckland’s Shaun Stanbridge, phone 09-479-1490.

The remaining rounds of the six-round Yamaha TTR Central Series are:

Round three, Pahiatua, April 22.
Round four, Martinborough, June 10.
Round five, Santoft Forest, August 5.
Round six, Gwavas Forest, September 16.

This series is co-ordinated by Steven Bird, phone 021-215-9647.

The five-round Yamaha TTR Northern Series:

Round one, Riverhead Forest, March 24, 2007.
Round two, Tairua, April 14.
Round three, Hukerenui, May 5.
Round four, Taupo, June 3.
Round five, Ngaroma, October 13.

ENDS

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