There were few surprises today as Finland emerged top of the standings on the opening day of the International Six-Day Enduro (ISDE) near Taupo.
After more than seven hours of hot, dry and dusty racing through the Kinleith Forest north of Taupo, the six-man Finnish Trophy Team endedthe day 22 seconds ahead of the French contingent, with Spain third and Italy fourth.
New Zealand are seventh in the elite Trophy Team standings.
Though the Finnish riders have, as expected, dominated early, New Zealand's Darryll King is keeping the leaders honest.
The New Zealand 250cc and 500cc motocross champion from Hamilton is racing in the E1 class on a Yamaha WR250 and, in the race-within-a-race stakes, King, 37, is only 31 seconds behind the leader in his class, Finnish star Juha Salminen.
A specialist motocross racer and a virtual novice at this long-distance, endurance code, King showed that he was a quick learner.
"Great start to the six days," he said.
"I'm only 30 seconds behind Salminen, the champion in the United States this year. Now I know where I've got to go left, and where I've got to go right. I'll be much faster from now on," King said.
"The bike was not set up correctly for ducking in and out among the trees but I'll change a few things and it will be better tomorrow."
The New Zealand Trophy Team riders -- King, his younger brother Shayne from New Plymouth, Pahiatua's Paul Whibley, Waimauku's Chris Birch, Queenstown's Lachie Columb and Rotorua's Cam Negus -- are well placed going into the second day tomorrow.
Provisional Trophy Team standings after day one.-
Finland 1, France 22 seconds behind the leader 2. Spain plus 33sec 3, Italy plus 1m 05s 4 Sweden plus 2m 04s 5, Australia plus 4m 05s 6, New Zealand plus 5m 43s 7, Great Britain plus 6m 18s 8, Netherlands plus 7m 24s 9, Poland plus 7m 40s 10.
