KEY POINTS:
The clock is ticking loudly for the nation's top off-road motorcycle racers - the New Zealand Enduro Championships are set to blast into life in just over a fortnight.
This season's tough six-round series kicks off at Tutamoe, near Dargaville, on Saturday, February 3.
Riders will have to contend with six of the most difficult and demanding terrains on the planet in the national series this season. That's just what the riders want and should expect - a true test of strength and character; man and machine against the elements.
Organiser of Dargaville's series opener, Hokianga's Kiri Nield, said she expected good numbers to again show for the popular event.
"I expect there will be more than 120 of the country's best riders coming," she said. The course is rugged, rocky and steep, with some bush sections and rocky river crossings something to really sort the men from the boys.
The series is the domestic answer to the International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), staged in New Zealand for the first time last November.
And the driving force behind the ISDE, Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Sean Clarke, will swap pen and paper for helmet and boots as he reverts to competitor for the national series.
A many-times New Zealand enduro champion and ISDE medal winner, Clarke will compete this year in the under-300cc 4-stroke class. Clarke, 39, finished fourth in the expert over-200cc 2-stroke class last season.
He'll have his work cut out too, with so much talent in the New Zealand off-road scene and many riders keen to put into practice some of the things they learned while racing the ISDE near Taupo.
ISDE gold medal winner Chris Birch (Waimauku) will be back to defend his expert over-200cc 2-stroke title.
ISDE silver medallist Karl Power (Auckland) will again go head-to-head with cross-country ace Cam Smith (Marton) as he attempts to defend his title in the expert over-300cc 4-stroke class and Hokianga's Mitchell Nield will be battling to retain his expert under-300cc four-stroke crown.
Pauanui's Dene Humphrey (Yamaha) won the expert under-200cc 2-stroke division last season but an injured Humphrey will struggle to defend his title.
"I'll be there for the latter rounds," he confirmed. "I won't be out of plaster until the end of February and may need another operation on my injured knee. It all takes time. I hope to be back in action by May," said Humphrey, who works as a test rider for Kiwi Rider magazine.
This leaves the way clear for Whangamata's Jason Davis (KTM) to win this class, although he'll have fellow ISDE experts Dhugal McLaren (Thames Valley) and Damon Nield (Hokianga) to contend with.
The series is coordinated by Shaun Stanbridge, phone (09) 479 1490. The opening round is organised by Steve and Kiri Nield of Hokianga, phone (09) 405 7675.
New Zealand Enduro Champs schedule:
* Round one, Tutamoe, Dargaville, February 3.
* Round two, Kapi Mana, Wellington, March 10.
* Round three, Waimiha, Te Kuiti, April 7.
* Round four, Santoft, Palmerston North, August 5.
* Round five, Gwavas, Hawkes Bay, September 16.
* Round six, Woodhill, Auckland, September 29.
