Enduro no gentle winelands ride

The region well known for its wine production, played host to a national enduro which would comprise a 40km loop with three timed special tests, of which two would be timed on the first lap and all three on the second, third and fourth. Competitors were given two hours and 15 minutes to complete the first lap while laps two and three were cut down to two hours and the fourth and final ones to one hour and 54 minutes.

The loop included an 8km enduro test, a very demanding and technical 2km extreme test as well as a spectator-friendly 2km MX type test that all had to be completed on top of each other towards the end of each lap.
It was clear that two men would battle it out for the fastest times, Brother Leader Tread KTM’s Wade Young and Travis Teasdale. Both led their classes from start to finish and secured valuable points towards their respective championships.

Comfortably leading the E2 class with four out of four race victories, this is what Young had to say, “I really enjoyed the Ashton Enduro and the organisers put in a lot of effort and changed the route compared to previous years. Especially the extreme special was demanding and times were really close on the MX special. I am happy to have put my Brother Leader Tread KTM on the top step of the podium again and I’m looking forward to a couple of overseas events that are coming up before I return to South African for the next round of the championship.”

Young’s teammate Scott Bouverie was not far off the pace and set the second fastest time in the E2 class for the fourth time this year on his KTM 300 XC-W machine.
In the E1 class Teasdale had a lot of catching up to do after misfortune in the previous round cost him points in the championship. He did, however, not disappoint and dominated the E1 class, taking victory for the third time this year, placing Teasdale second in the E1 championship only one point off first-placed Brett Swanepoel.

Close on everyone’s heels was Brother Leader Tread KTM’s Dwayne Kleynhans who impressed with a third place in the E1 class, now lying third in the E1 championship for the year.
Rider Kirsten Landman posted the fourth fastest times in the silver class, now lying third in the silver class championship for the year. Landman is as determined as ever and will participate in some international events later this year, such as the Red Bull Romaniacs, before she tackles the Roof of Africa event again.

The high school class was once again dominated by KTM Centurion’s Eduan Bester who won his fourth national this year while the seniors class win was taken by KTM Cape Town’s Graham Hedgcock.
With winter approaching the national enduro scene is taking a break until July 4 when competitors will head towards Estcourt, KZN, for the penultimate round.