CAPTION: Wainuiomata’s Jake Whitaker (KTM 300 EXC) is the latest rider to win a weekend outright. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
This season’s ultimate off-road motorcycling competition could be the toughest yet, with so many different riders featuring at the top and each of them in contention for ultimate glory.
Three rounds into the seven-round 2025 Yamaha New Zealand Hard Enduro Nationals and there have now been three different outright winners.
Taranaki pair Luke Thompson and Sam Parker battled to an incredibly close first and second overall respectively in the premier Gold Grade over the two days at round one of the series in Taranaki back in March, with round two in Central Otago last month featuring several fresh faces at the top.
Whitecliffs rider Luke Corson, Whangarei’s Owen Broughton, Tokoroa’s Jake Wightman, Owaka’s Blake Affleck and Auckland’s Mitchell Gallagher, among others, were the stand-out Gold Grade individuals at round two in the South Island over that Easter Weekend.
Then the competition shifted north to Canterbury at the weekend just gone, and it was another handful of talented stars disputing the top positions, Wainuiomata’s Jake Whitaker the Gold Grade stand-out, with Gallagher and Corson again featuring among the leading riders, while Amberley’s Archer Pascoe and Omihi’s Ethan McBreen also staked their claim.
Whitaker was thrilled with his overall win at the weekend.
“It was a cool couple of days racing down south,” he said. “Took a bit to get comfortable on the enduro cross track Saturday with a third-place finish for the day. Was happy to get out in the South Island high country Sunday morning and get into the main race.
“I Had some good fun battles with the boys earlier in the day, but managed to pull away in the afternoon. The track was set to a really good level and the organisers put on a great event once again.”
Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Justin Stevenson confirmed the racing was close and exciting over both days of the weekend.
“It was again pleasing to see so many riders showing up from as far afield as Invercargill in the south and Whangarei in the north, with riders from everywhere in between,” said Stevenson.
“The host Christchurch Off-Road Motorcycle Club did a great job and both days of racing were as challenging as they were enjoyable.”
Round four is set for Northland on the weekend of July 19-20. Only six of the seven rounds will be counted, with riders expected to discard points from their worst result.
The weekend was sponsored by Yamaha Motor New Zealand, Motorcycling New Zealand, Kiwi Rider magazine, Silver-Bullet and Mitas tyres.
2025 Yamaha New Zealand Hard Enduro Nationals calendar:
Round 1: Taranaki, March 29-30;
Round 2: Central Otago, April 19-21;
Round 3: Canterbury, May 10-11;
Round 4: Northland, July 19-20;
Round 5: Wellington, September 27-28;
Round 6: Canterbury, November 15-16;
Round 7: Wellington, November 30.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
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