KIWI RIDER 05 2018 VOL.1 | Page 82

Rachael Archer Jake Whitaker 82 KIWI RIDER one staged near Whangamata on April 21 and round two held near Tokoroa the following day. He won the day at Whangamata on the Saturday by just three seconds from 2016 national enduro champion Brad Groombridge (Suzuki RM- Z250), of Taupo, and he then followed that up by winning day two at Tokoroa by 21 seconds, on this occasion finishing ahead of fellow KTM rider Sam Greenslade, from Coatesville. “Winning round one surprised me a bit and then winning round two as well was even more of a surprise to me,” said Buxton. “I’m riding the same bike I rode last year, a KTM 350 EXC-F, but a 2018 model, and I feel very comfortable on it. My aim at the weekend was simply to ride without making mistakes. “It was very slippery at Whangamata on Saturday and so I couldn’t be aggressive. It was different on Sunday, quite a fast course, but again I was being cautious. “I stalled the bike at one point today, but, other than that minor thing, it was a trouble-free run.” Unfortunately, this may be Buxton’s only two appearances in the domestic series this season as he now heads off next month