Power Sets Sights On Enduro Crown
FEBRUARY 20, 2014: Auckland’s Chris Power is a man on a mission.
The 32-year-old from the North Shore, a multi-time former class champion, wants to go one step better and win the New
Zealand Enduro Championships outright and he believes he has the bike and the ability to do just that.
He will line up with his Yamaha WR450F at the first round of six in this season’s championships near Whangamata on
Saturday determined to challenge fellow Aucklander and defending champion Chris Birch in the over-300cc four-stroke
class, as well as push for outright honours.
And that means he’ll also have to battle Yamaha’s former national enduro champion and current national cross-country
champion Adrian Smith, of Mokau, along with a slew of very fast individuals armed with bikes from across the spectrum,
ranging from the nimble 200cc two-strokes to the extremely powerful 450cc motocross four-stroke machines.
“I went well last season but a hand injury slowed me down and forced me to skip two rounds. I ended up finishing the
2013 series eighth overall and third in my (over-300cc four-stroke) class (behind Birch and Tauranga’s Reece Burgess).
“It wasn’t a great year for me but not a total disaster either.
“I’ll be trying to pout things right this year, my second season riding the Yamaha WR450F. The bike is a really good
package and I recently won the Maramarua three-day enduro on this bike.
“I’m feeling pretty confident. I just need to be consistent.”
Following Saturday’s racing at Whangamata, the series continues with round two near Wellington on March 8.
Round three is in the Riverhead Forest, near Auckland, on March 23, followed by round four near Christchurch on April 5,
with round five at Oparau on April 19 and the sixth and final round at Waimiha on May 10.
ENDS