Sherco riders Chris Perry, Ben Grabham and Anthony Solar produced huge amounts of fighting spirit in round two of the 2021 Australian Hard Enduro Championship in Towong Upper (Vic) on April 18.
The round, called the ‘Kosciuszko Killer’ in defence to Australia’s highest peak just up the road from the event epicentre, again proved to be the ultimate test of rider and machine.
After finishing ninth in Saturday’s prologue, Perry (300 SE Factory, #76) further warmed to the task on Sunday as he completed the blue-chip Gold class – reserved for the finest extreme enduro exponents – on the final podium position after a consistent effort across all three laps of the brutal 6km course.
After around five hours of intense, unrelenting racing, Perry completed proceedings 10 minutes ahead of Grabham (#38), with the Aussie road-legend riding for the official Pirelli Motul Sherco Racing Team on a Sherco 250 SE Factory.
2021 SHERCO ENDURO RANGE ‘Grabbo’ was well outside the top five after the opening lap on Sunday, but like a true champion he composed himself – as much as you can in the intensity of extreme enduro competition – and used all his guile to rocket back up the leaderboard.
The Kosciuszko Killer was won by Wade Ibrahim ahead of Ruben Chadwick, while Rob Nowak was fifth – the leading quintet the only ones to complete three laps of the Towong Upper circuit.
Meanwhile, Solar (#5) was also in top form and made it three Shercos in the top 10 with a sixth-place finish – his chances of a better result scuppered by a broken chain 20 minutes before the finish line.
All up, 30 riders made the finish line out of 35 starters – a great display of athleticism, skill and determination in a discipline where the attrition rate is perennially high.
Other Sherco finishers included Sam Rogers (in 11th), Sam Preece (15th, #35), Ryan Peterson (16th), Callum Ceglinski (21st) and Lachy Andrews (22nd).
RESULTS HERE The Sherco-backed 2021 Australian Hard Enduro Championship, to be held over six rounds, continues with the ‘Insane Ride’ in Poatina (Tas) on June 5-6. Entries are open, and for more information click here.
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
Images courtesy of Donat O'Kelly from OK PHOTO