Whangamata's Jason Davis saved his best for last at round two of the New Zealand Enduro Championships in Northland.
After a slow start to Sunday's racing, the Coromandel logging contractor managed to overtake early leader, Hokianga's Damon Nield, and win the day outright.
Nield finished runner-up, with older brother Mitchelltaking third spot and Yamaha's Adrian Smith, of Mokau, claiming fourth while Auckland's Michael Skinner rounded out the top five.
Davis still has a lot of work ahead in the five-round series after a disastrous start to his campaign when snapped handlebars forced him out of the running at the opening round near Kawhia in February.
"It was very hard going," Motorcycle New Zealand Enduro commissioner Shaun Prescott said. "The course was very wet and slippery and a good test of man and machine and it was anyone's race to win really. Even Mike Skinner, who eventually finished fifth today, was in the running. The Nield brothers were in contention too," he said.
"It will not be until after the next round that we'll have a firm indication of where the titles might wind up and that means it will be a very close and exciting contest," Prescott added.
Round one winner Rory Mead, of Wellington, was a notable absentee on Sunday, with overseas racing commitments taking him elsewhere, while the two men who finished joint runners-up at Kawhia, Paeroa's Chris Power and Palmerston North's Adam Reeves, managed only sixth and ninth.
The third round of the series is set for Davis' home turf, at Whangamata on April 14, with rounds to follow at Waimiha, on May 5, and Taupo on July 21.
