Wright looks to regain top stop at Gravity Enduro

DOWNHILL: Rotorua's Keegan Wright will be looking to bounce back to winning ways in the last round of the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro today. PHOTO/FILE

Tomorrow sees the third - and traditionally biggest - round of the Giant 2W Gravity Enduro.

Rotorua rider Keegan Wright has so far scored a first and a second in the premier six stage men's category in the first two rounds in October and December - having to accept second best behind professional Joseph Nation.

But the winning margin was narrow, just 14s, with New Zealand professional rider Wynn Masters third and Rotorua riders Samuel Shaw and Carl Jones fourth and fifth respectively.

Being pipped by the Christchurch rider was tempered for Wright by the receipt of a $25,000 scholarship.

"The main [competition] is usually Wyn Masters, he's always one to look out for, but there is also Justin Leov and with Joe Nation winning the last one - he'll be looking for another big one," said Wright.

"It's going to be a wicked weekend and it's looking like it's going to be a good one."

Wright said it was always the goal to win.

"But something can always happen - last time a couple of small things happened but I will try to do it this time."

He said crashes were more likely to derail riders than mechanical problems.

"Or maybe a flat tyre - although that's unusual in Rotorua, or a broken chain - but normally you've just got to be careful not to go too hard and crash out."

There are several international riders in today's field, using the event as a shakedown for the Giant Toa Enduro World Series Race held as part of Crankworx Rotorua next month.

Among them is Enduro World Series rider Ben Forbes and Paul Van der Ploeg from Australia.

After winning the first and second rounds of the women's event, Rotorua's Annika Smail will miss the third round which could open up the way for Tauranga's former world downhill champion Vanessa Quin to climb up one step after finishing runnerup both times to Smail.

Another rider to watch out for in the women's event is Katy Winton from Scotland, a Trek factory wider competing in the Enduro World Series.

Local hopes are this time likely to rest with Katie O'Neill, Cati Pearson and Janine Kavanagh.

Race organiser Neil Gellatly said the round would be run over the same format as before with riders choosing from four or six stage options.

Each race stage is timed with the combined times of the four or six stages determining final positions.

Riders can either make their own way between stages on the untimed transitions, or take a shuttle. Starting at 10m, riders will roll out in groups of four.

The four stage event will comprise trails of a difficulty grade between 3-4 and the six stage event trails of a difficulty grade between 3-5+.

Prizegiving is set for 5pm.