Spoke issue 3 cover boy and all round good guy Chris Birch, together with Red Bull’s Ivan Mennim, came up with this sweet concept for bringing enduro motocross to the people and it went off with a bang in Auckland. Read the full story and check out Spoke/RedBull photographer Graeme Murray’s cool photos.
Local Yamaha rider Rory Mead takes the title and wins a trip to the Erzberg Rodeo in Austria.
A huge crowd of over 10, 000 fans witnessed Rory Mead ride to victory over an international field in a new and unique event for New Zealand. An entire city block was transformed over the weekend into a technical and challenging enduro track that pushed man and machine to the limits.
Mead stayed in front of the pack and dominated the final from the start. As other competitors tangled at the first and second obstacles Mead got a good break from the pack and never looked back. Crowd favourite and KTM rider Chris Birch (NZ) rode hard to gain back time on Meads early lead but had to settle for second. The German BMW rider Andreas Lettenbichler was just behind Birch taking third.
So it looks as if Im off to Erzberg. I only rode this event in Auckland for a bit of fun. I didnt expect this, said stunned Mead afterwards, the enormity of his win slowly sinking in. Mead will accompany Red Bull athlete Chris Birch as a wild card entry in the Erzberg Rodeo next week, which is known as the toughest enduro race in the world.
Birch is back to compete at Erzberg after an impressive 8th place last year from a field of 1500 riders with only 27 who reached the finish line.
Birch was philosophical in defeat. I achieved what I set out to do, bringing my sport to mainstream New Zealand. I didnt win but, in a way, I still did. Enduro racing is typically carried out a long way from any population base. Today was very different. I was just too tired to make a race of it with Rory. In the end I pushed hard to catch up but ran out of energy.
With riders from New Zealand, Germany and Mexico this year, the challenge to take the title next year will draw many more international riders all keen to take on the field at the next Red Bull City Scramble.
wow that place looks liike fun/pain/challenging im looking for some ideas somewha of challenge for obstacles for a public track to build. im wanting to add some difficult but able to do things at some trails i dont want anyone getting seriously injured but to have fun email me some ideas for obsacles thanx!!!!
wow that place looks liike fun/pain/challenging im looking for some ideas somewha of challenge for obstacles for a public track to build. im wanting to add some difficult but able to do things at some trails i dont want anyone getting seriously injured but to have fun email me some ideas for obsacles thanx!!!!