National club enduro series: Yeoman shines at Tar Hill, Dudson on top

Taupo’s Wil Yeoman (KTM), top individual at round two of the National Club Enduro Series near Tokoroa on Saturday. Photo by Madison Clarke Taupo’s Wil Yeoman (KTM) was crowned top individual at round two of the National Club Enduro Series near Tokoroa on Saturday. Photo / Madison Clarke

New Zealand’s elite off-road motorcycle racers managed to escape the worst of the weather bomb on the weekend, but the action was stormy nonetheless, in the tricky forestland course at Tar Hill, just south of Tokoroa.

Round two of the popular National Club Enduro Series drew riders from throughout the North Island to race.

Run by the Forestland Motorcycle Club, Saturday’s racing marked the second round of four, with more than 120 riders arriving with their fans and support crews.

The opening round took place at Ōpārau, near Kāwhia, at the end of January.

Taupo’s Wil Yeoman, a no-show at the series opener, was the standout rider on Saturday, winning the day in the premier Expert Grade.

He finished just a handful of seconds ahead of New Plymouth’s Sam Parker, with round one winner Callum Dudson, from Rotorua, clinching the third podium spot.

New Plymouth’s Blake Lusk and Thames rider Chris Birch – a former international champion, also with numerous New Zealand titles to his credit – rounded out the top five.

However, overall, Dudson continues to lead the grade, just three points ahead of Parker, with Lusk, fourth overall after round one, now up to third spot overall, just six points adrift of fellow Taranaki man Parker.

After winning the Intermediate Grade at round one, Gisborne’s Angus Thomas was favoured to feature again on Saturday, making it two round wins in a row and cementing his position atop the grade.

Runner-up to Thomas was Whangaparāoa’s Nathan Refoy, with Ōtorohanga’s Max De Malmanche completing the Intermediate Grade podium.

Top rider in the Youth Grade on Saturday was Rotorua’s Dominic Spanbroek, with Raglan’s Riley Shaw and Rotorua’s Lukas Bjarnason completing the podium.

Spanboek now leads the series in the Youth Grade after the round one winner in the grade, Rotorua’s Hadlee Fowler, didn’t show.

Saturday’s event was again organised by Tokoroa enduro champ, Sean Clarke.

Round three of the series is set for forestry land at Ohakuri, near Ātiamuri, on May 16, followed by round four on June 20 at the same location.

- BikesportNZ.com