Rawene's Damon Nield got the start he wanted in the opening round of the New Zealand Motorcycle Enduro Championships in the King Country.
Nield was seventh overall in the six-hour endurance race on his Husqvarna CR125 at the weekend, leaving him in top spot in the E1 class.
Nield is well-placed to
build on his success in the three remaining rounds of the series.
The 17-year-old aims to win the class for the first time and is chasing as many podium finishes as possible to ensure success.
Damon's older brother Mitchell (20) finished a place above him in the overall race standings on his more powerful Husqvarna TXC250.
He shares second in the E2 class with Awakino's Adrian Smith.
Auckland's Karl Power leads after the first round.
There was virtually nothing to separate the top two riders on Saturday.
After 160km of racing over some of New Zealand's most rugged terrain near Kawhia, two seconds separated four-time world champion Stefan Merriman and Whitby's Rory Mead when first and second respectively.
Third best rider overall was Power, the KTM rider, with Smith, fourth best, an additional 37 seconds further back.
Two of the big casualties on Saturday were five-time former national champion Chris Birch and defending national champion Cam Smith.
Early problems forced both to withdraw.
The Nields' younger sister, Cassidy, also competed in the four-hour enduro at Kawhia.
The 13-year-old was sixth in the 12-13 year class and looks capable of following in her brothers' footsteps.
The second of four rounds in this year's series is on the Kapiti Coast on February 21.
The weekend's racing at Kawhia doubled as round two of the TTR Yamaha Northern Enduro Series.
