Wade wins – twice in one weekend
Rounds 1 and 2 of the 2015 Liquorland SA National Enduro Motorcycle Championship were held in Creighton last weekend.
THERE’S a silver lining for every cloud, so the saying goes.
That was the case for enduro champion Wade Young of Paddock, who was supposed to compete in the ‘Tough One Extreme Enduro’ overseas but unfortunately he could not secure his UK visa in time.
So instead, he decided to race in the opening round double-header of the Liquorland Nationa Enduro Motorcycle Championship in Creighton, much to the delight of local riders and organisers.
Brother Leader Tread KTM’s Travis Teasdale (E1/200cc) and Young (E2/Open) were the respective winners of these classes after both races.
In E1, Kyle Flanagan (Ihobe International KTM) of Oribi finished fourth on the Saturday and third on the Sunday. Chayse Orsmond of Shelly Beach claimed 11th place.
The top six standings in the E2 Class Championship looked the same over the two days.
Wade Young ruled this class (he won the E1/200cc championship in 2013 and 2014) and was followed by his teammate, Scott Bouverie of Harding, who made a welcome comeback after being injured since the middle of the 2014 season.
Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Bronson Louw of Umzumbe was fifth.
Competitors in E1 and E2 had to complete three laps on both days and posted times for nine special stages. All the other classes did two loops (a total of six specials).
This meant that Master Class riders (older than 46 years), who normally complete a shorter distance than the Senior Class competitors (riders older than 38 years), had to do the same distance while riders in the High School Class (14 to 16 years) and Silver Class Challenge also did two loops.
In the Senior Class championship chase, the same three riders finished on the podium – they just swapped places after two days of close racing.
Jody Engelbrecht (Yamaha) celebrated his return to the national series with a victory on the first day and a second place on the second day.
The Silver Class Challenge podium looked the same after both days with the Matatiele youngster, Lloyd Kirk (Pa Ma Racing Yamaha) claiming two victories.
The next round takes place in East London on April 18 followed by a race in the Western Cape on May 2.
