The fledgling 2021 Australian Hard Enduro Championship continues in Victoria this weekend (April 17-18), with a crack band of Sherco riders again expected to be battling at the pointy end as they compete in the aggressively titled ‘Kosciuszko Killer’.
The event, to be held close to Australia’s highest peak, will see desert racing icon and multiple Aussie enduro champion Ben Grabham join the official Pirelli Motul Sherco Racing Team in a deputisation role for Tim Coleman, who continues to recover after falling ill at the opening round in Tenterfield on March 6-7.
Grabham will ride the 300 SE Factory two-stroke, and other hardened enduro warriors riders expected to be pushing for outright honours include Callum Ceglinski, Chris Perry, Lachy Andrews, Sam Preece, Ryan Peterson and Sam Rogers.
SHERCO ENDURO RANGEColeman, Ceglinski and Grabham dominated the 2020 Wildwood Rock Extreme Enduro in Victoria – acknowledged as Australia’s hardest hard enduro event – as they made it an all-Sherco podium.
The Sherco riders will all compete in the top-tier Gold class in the Kosciuszko Killer, which is the domain of those with past hard enduro experience – and ambitious pilots from the Silver (expert) ranks who want to really challenge themselves.
All up, a healthy list of 35 riders will compete in the Gold Class, which begins with a prologue on Saturday before the pack is let loose on the 6km course on Sunday – which will feature the standard mix of natural and organiser-made obstacles.
The four-hour Kosciuszko Killer also features a Bronze class for clubman riders, as well as dedicated women’s and junior events. And it’s all spectator friendly where people can get up close to all the action.
According to event organiser Greg Peterson, “all levels at the Kosciuszko Killer are going to be pushed”.
“Bronze will break a lot of riders but the majority should get through,” Peterson said. They certainly won’t go home broken and busted.
“Silver is very difficult, and Gold is designed for the blokes who have ridden the likes of Romaniacs and Erzberg previously. It’s going to be a great spectacle.”
Jack Field will also add some flair to the occasion with a stunt show on Saturday afternoon – before backing up for Gold class duties on Sunday!
The event will be held at Toowong Upper, 16km from Corryong and 20km from Khancoban which is just over the border in NSW. Look for signage at Toowong Upper.
For more information on the Sherco-backed Australian Hard Enduro Championship, click
here and/or follow the
Facebook page.
2021 Hard Enduro Championship calendar:Rd1: March 6-7, Tenterfield Terror, Tenterfield NSW
Rd2: April 17-18, Kosciuszko Killer, Towong Upper, Vic
Rd3: June 5-6, Insane Ride, Poatina, Tas
Rd4: July 3-4, Capricorn Extreme, Mount Morgan, Qld
Rd5: August 28-29, Murrumbidgee Rumble, Hillston, NSW
Rd6: November 7 Wildwood Rock Extreme, Wildwood, Vic