It always takes a special kind of athlete to win the Husqvarna Hard Adventure Enduro, so it’s just as well that so many special riders have entered again for the ninth annual edition this year.

With 143 riders already entered for this year’s edition of the Husqvarna Hard Adventure Enduro (HHAE), the popularity of this event is obviously still great indeed.

Standard online entries officially closed on October 1, but late entry is still available until October 15, so riders still intending to race should not panic, but they should hurry to get the paperwork done.

The event typically attracts the country’s elite dirt bike riders to the central North Island over Labour weekend each year and the Forestland Motorcycle Club organisers are convinced this year’s adventure will be the best yet.

It is expected to be tough, with plenty of obstacles lined up to sap the spirits, trap, trick and wear down even the most experienced dirt bike racers.

Staged in forestry land around the Central Plateau, it will take place over two and a half days over Labour weekend, starting on Friday evening in Taupo on October 24 and winding up on Sunday afternoon, October 26. When the bike engines are switched off or the riders cry “enough”, the eventual winner will have earned every accolade that could be bestowed.

The event is designed to be difficult but achievable for the grade that a rider has entered, using a similar format to the notorious Red Bull Romaniacs international hard enduro that is held each year in Romania, with competitors opting for either the Gold, Silver, Bronze or Iron grade courses.

Last year’s winner was Taupo’s Wil Yeoman, with Papakura’s Ryan Hayward finishing runner-up and Lower Hutt’s Jake Whitaker claiming third place overall, followed by New Plymouth’s Tony Parker and Amberley’s Archer Pascoe.

The top four finishers last season are not entered this time around, with injuries apparently accounting for some of that, which means a fresh name will be engraved on the trophy in 2025.

“Some of the riders likely to have a chance of winning this year might include South Islanders Pascoe and Luke Doerson-Corson [from Whitecliffs], although riders such as New Plymouth’s Sam Parker, Tokoroa’s Jake Wightman and Reporoa’s Brendon Imlig should also fancy their chances,” said event organiser Sean Clarke, himself a Kiwi international with outstanding racing credentials.

It is expected to be a “last man standing” affair again this year.

“The Husqvarna Hard Adventure Enduro is a mammoth event,” said Clarke.

Each day’s track will be different, up to 150km long and will feature Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron grade sections as well.

“This event will not be a typical New Zealand hard enduro; it will be real Adventure Enduro, and each grade will be set to give riders a real sense of adventure, as well as testing riders’ ability to complete the grade they have entered,” said Clarke.

Clarke explained that riders would follow a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) course that is reset daily and uploaded to their handlebar-mounted GPS device.

It kicks off on Friday with riders signing in and then undergoing motorcycle and equipment scrutineering from 2pm.

Starting at the Digger McEwen Motorcycle Park facility on the outskirts of Taupo about 4pm will be the event’s “prologue”, with riders tackling a manmade course to determine qualification and starting positions for the following day.

The venue for Friday’s crowd-favourite prologue will tie in with the host Taupo Motorcycle Club celebrating its 51st birthday and also the 41st anniversary of the club’s popular MX Fest event over Labour weekend.

Saturday and Sunday’s racing will take the enduro riders into some gnarly forestry land nearby.

“The riders can expect two days of hard riding on Saturday and Sunday that will push them to their limits. This is the ninth time we have run this event since we started in 2016,” said Clarke.

Riders in the Gold and Silver classes will be pushed hard, with two big offroad days planned.

“We have some new and exciting tracks for both grades that will be challenging but also some pretty cool places to ride,” said Clarke.

For riders in the Bronze and Iron grades, there is more emphasis on adventure than hard enduro racing.

Clarke said the Bronze grade features two days of enduro-type trails, with the odd log crossing and steep downhill section thrown in for good measure, but “nothing too silly”.

“The Iron grade is designed to suit trail riders, but individuals who want a bit more than just a normal trail ride.

“One thing to remember about the Husqvarna Hard Adventure Enduro is that you just can’t rock up on the day and plan to ride. To ride this event, it takes a bit of planning and training.”

The event is sponsored by Husqvarna NZ, Forestland Motorcycle Club, Forest Trail Events, Kiwi Rider magazine, Ogio, O’Neal apparel, Arai helmets, Blur, Muc-Off, Forma, USWE, Maxima oils, Maxi Grip, Forbes & Davies, Satco logging attachments and Metzeler tyres.