Gisborne’s Thomas out to win third enduro race in a row

Gisborne enduro racers Norm Thomas and his son Angus, who is aiming for a third consecutive victory in his grade of the National Club Enduro Series in the Waikato this weekend.

Gisborne’s Angus Thomas will be out to win his third successive event in the National Club Enduro Series on Saturday.

Thomas won the intermediate grade in rounds one and two and will be favourite to take the honours in the third round of the off-road motorcycle competition.

He can expect fierce challenges from Nathan Refoy of Whangaparāoa and Max De Malmanche of Ōtorohanga.

More than 150 riders are expected to take part in Saturday’s racing, being run by the Forestland Motorcycle Club.

The first round of the National Club Enduro Series (NCES) was held at Ōpārau, near Kāwhia, at the end of January. Round two was at Tar Hill, just south of Tokoroa, on April 11.

Saturday’s racing will be at a new venue, just south of Tar Hill, at Ātiamuri, South Waikato.

The event has been organised and will be run by Sean Clarke, of Tokoroa.

He is a former New Zealand champion and a four-time medallist at the “Olympic Games of enduro racing”, the International Six Days Enduro.

“The club-based enduro series proved popular last year with its rideable courses and easy times for the sections,” Clarke said.

“The terrain is mostly forest tracks, with plenty there to excite and challenge the riders.”

The fourth and final round of the series is set for similar forestry land at Ohakuri, near Ātiamuri, on June 20.