NATIONAL ENDURO – ROUND 2
South Africa’s leading riders are making their way to the Western Cape for the second round of the National Enduro Championship. Set against the backdrop of majestic mountains and verdant valleys, the highly anticipated event will take place at Roodeberg Enduro Farm near Worcester.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Brett Swanepoel will line-up with everything to win this weekend. Having pulled out of the opening round due to severe dehydration, the rider has taken a different approach to the rest of the season. He explained: “My chances of winning the E2 Championship have obviously become slim after the first round, but anything is possible. I’m going into each round with the goal to win – I’m fit and healthy, so I plan to give this championship everything that I’ve got.”
Route director Graham Hedgcock has revealed that riders are in for a technical route interspersed with river crossings, flowy sections and epic mountain climbs. In preparation, Swanepoel mentions spending extra time in Natal riding in lose, rocky terrain. In terms of bike setup, the rider has chosen to go with a softer suspension for this event.
He explained: “I’m running a softer suspension in general, which is important for this event specifically. The terrain there is so harsh that you don’t want to tire yourself out too much by running a hard setup, but you also need to be able to push the pace. I’ve obviously been spending a lot of time on my Husqvarna TE 300i to make sure I’m 100% dialled in on the bike.”
Joining him this weekend is Rockstar Energy Husqvarna teammate Heinrich Aust. The youngster was off to a blistering start this season with a second place in his class and fourth overall. As a rider especially fond of technical trails, Aust is undaunted by the Western Cape’s unforgiving terrain. He said: “I’ve raced here quite a few times – we’re in for a dry, rocky route. I always try and ride on top of the rocks at the fastest pace that the route allows. This year the route will be slightly more technical from what I hear – so I’ll be using soft mousse Michelin tyres, which will definitely do the job!”
“Something I look forward to most about any races in the Cape is the scenery. I know the route will take to the top of some of the mountains there and the view is always something I enjoy,” added Aust.
Aust will represent the team in the highly competitive E1 Class, where he hopes to consistently finish on the podium this season. Having tested out a slight change in suspension in preparation for the event, Aust feels fully confident in what his TE 150i is capable of.
Published by: Fred Fensham