DIRT NEWS
KIWI MACDONALD DEBUTS AT ITALIAN ENDURO CHAMPIONSHIP
T hree weeks ago I landed in Milan , Italy and it ’ s been all go . The first week was spent getting all my paperwork done , the FIM medical and fitness testing , sorting out riding gear from Kenny , boots from Gaerne and a new Airoh helmet - looking pretty sharp ! Week two and we got straight into testing the new Sherco 300SEF around the local tracks and offroad areas . My mechanic Thomas has been dialling my bike in , and I ’ m really happy with the way it ’ s feeling and my continued improvement with fitness after the break in New Zealand . Last week we headed off to Bergamo for the first round of the Italian Enduro Championship . On Thursday , Friday and Saturday my team mates , Brit Danny McCanny and Belgian Antoine Magain and I walked the tests - five tests , totalling 33km each day . Two cross tests , one in a stubble paddock and the other in a cultivated paddock . Both were
3km and in perfect condition . Then two enduro tests - one 1.5km and the other 3km . Then there was one 4km extreme test . I had a strong race and managed to pull third place overall over the 18 special tests . I had a bit of a scare during the middle of the day when my chain derailed , costing me precious time , but in the end didn ’ t affect my result . I could feel my fitness fading in the later stages , but that ’ s something which will improve and I couldn ’ t have wished for a better start in my first season against the big boys ! Two years ago I never could have imagined that one day I would be competitive against these top guys . There ’ s still lots to work on and refine , but I ’ m stoked to be heading into the season in this form . Thank you Fab , Thomas , all the Sherco Team , my sponsors and supporters . The next race is in Sicily . Hamish Macdonald # 76
KIWI RIDER 21