Issue link: http://trailridermagazine.uberflip.com/i/1544609
May 2026 13 you know her, le the chat. I avoid banging my head against the bars un l I am rendered unconscious. But I don't remember riding the transfer. I don't remember much of the second enduro test either. My dad and Kiwi later told me I blew the first eight corners. All eight of them. They couldn't see the rest, but it doesn't take much imagina on to picture what was happen- ing up on that hillside. I exit it, teeth bared like a feral dog, gasping for breath and s ll en rely out of my mind. I have narrowly won the test, but it doesn't ma er. I'm in seventh and only have three tests le to make it up. I'm ge ng demolished in the cross, I'm gonna lose me there. The extreme test is two minutes long. Extreme is also a strong word for something I think I could probably navigate on a mountain bike. I'll gain five at best there, even if I ride well. It'll come down to the final enduro test. All of this is running through my brain, ren- dered into molten slag, while I a empt to smile for photos with fans, as I wait on my minute to come up at the next checkpoint. Blessedly, some me passes, and I suddenly remem- ber I'm riding an enduro in paradise. As I line up for the final enduro test, something strange happens. I crack a smile and feel a rush of fierce joy and an ci- pa on. Time to rock and roll, it's show me baby. Now show them why you. are. the. CHAMPION! That test was hands-down the best I've ever ridden a motorcycle. I hit every mark, riding with incredible speed and precision. This me, I exit the test grinning rather than snarling. I wait. And wait. And wait some more. Finally, the next rider comes in. I won the test by a wide margin. Fi een seconds over second place. More than that over the rest of the field. Enough to narrowly put me back on the podium in third. We celebrated like I'd won a world championship…. And here's the funny thing about that. Championships are some mes decided by a single point, and champions are made on the bad days. So though I leave Italy only second in points, I leave with my head held high. Ready to sound test this bike un l I see the decibel numbers in my sleep and have handled more maps than Christopher Columbus… and while I'm at it, does anyone have some math flashcards I can prac ce with?