Motorcycling: Seth's year a roaring success

Wanganui teenager Seth Reardon is the new New Zealand No1 junior in the 15 and 16-year-old off-road Enduro class. Photo/Supplied

Wanganui off-road motorcycle racer Seth Reardon has had a busy year so far finishing first and second respectively in two national championship series on his 2014 Suzuki RMZ250.

From February until last weekend Reardon has been competing in the National Enduro series and the National Cross country series. The 16-year-old Wanganui High School student won the national Enduro series in the junior 15 to 16-year-old class and finished second in the Junior 12 to 16 class in the New Zealand Cross Country Championship.

Enduro and cross country are physically demanding forms of motorcycle sport, Enduro's are usually quite technical riding through tight bush trails, through creeks and sometimes rivers, up and down steep muddy hills and over rocks and logs. The duration of enduros are usually about five hours and cover about 120km.

Cross country events are usually over fast open tracks and the duration is 1.5 hours for juniors and three hours for seniors.

In both types of events It's a case of rider and bike versus the elements. The national enduro series consisted of six rounds all around the country and began in February at Whangamata followed by rounds in Wellington, Riverhead Forest (above Auckland), Christchurch, Oparau (near Kawhia) and concluded on May 10 at Waimiha (southern Waikato).

The cross country series consisted of four rounds, two in the North Island and two in the south.

The final round was on Saturday in Blenheim where Reardon was up against some stiff competition. He managed to claim second in class on the day, which gave him enough points to finish second in the Junior 12 to 16 NZ championship.

Reardon said that he could not achieve these top results without the support of local businesses.

His sponsors include Denis Woods, Boss Engineering, Berdeck Village (Elf Oils), Signs and Engraving, Whitelock Suzuki, Suzuki NZ and last but not least mum (Aroha) and dad (Brian).

"Fitness plays a big part in these endurance events," Brian Reardon said.

"Paul from Inspire Gym sets out a tough fitness training program for Seth."

The teenager will continue to race as a junior until March next year when he will move up into the senior grades. He also enjoys racing Motocross at the Wanganui Motorcycle club track where there is a lot of young riders with good potential coming through the ranks.

Reardon's long term goal is to compete overseas in extreme Enduro events.