Posted: Wednesday, 22nd February, 2006 : 8:50 PM - - 5,056 Reads

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	Tauranga Club Vice-President Bill McLeod presenting a very happily smiling Stefan with the key to Maddix Park

Offroad riders had the opportunity to chat to and see in action multiple World Enduro Champion and local boy Stefan Merriman. Stefan blitzed around the track on the YZ250 loaned for the holiday break by Yamaha NZ and demonstrated the ultra smooth yet aggressive riding style that has won him 4 world titles. Younger riders were, in a word reflecting their youth ‘stoked’ when he accompanied them around the 2km trail loop.

Stefan’s advice to the kids "appreciate the great facilities for offroad riding that we have here in Tauranga in particular and in NZ in general and practice, practice, practice, especially in the mud !"

In recognition of his outstanding Enduro achievements, the Tauranga Motorcycle Club presented Stefan with a Certificate of Life Membership and gave him the key to Maddix Park.

Stefan has since returned to Europe but he will be back in November for the Yamaha sponsored FIM International Six Days Enduro to be held in the lush surroundings of Taupo on the middle of the North Island. New Zealand is hosting the gruelling international enduro event for the first time between 14 and 19 November 2006. The Lake Taupo venue is an internationally acclaimed tourism destination known for its landscape of forests, rolling hills, volcanoes, lakes and rivers. For more info view: www.isde06.com/

Stefan had a taste of what's to come when he was guest 'sweep' at the opening round of the National Enduro Championship event on 21 January. Held in the area planned for days 3 and 5 of the Six Day it featured a star field including New Zealanders Darryll King, Shayne King, Damien King, Paul Whibley, and Chris Birch and Australians Geoff Ballard, Josh Ballard and Geoff Braico. Whilst the field of 216 riders did two laps Stefan completed three !!!

Through the power of the internet Stefan's mother Anita sent me a copy of that presentation which she said was "a proud moment for Stefan."

I quizzed Anita about his childhood ?

"Stef got his first bike, a Fantic trials bike, when he was 11. He couldn’t touch the ground, it was too heavy for him to lift and he had trouble starting it. A deal was made. If he balanced on his bike for 20 minutes then the bike would be started for him.

It took Stef just one week with nail boxes on each side to master the technique. The balance and control he achieved then has formed the basis of his superior riding skills. However, it may not be a good idea to spread the word about his homework arrangements !! I did it while he practised. Actually I remember once when he came home - 3rd Form I think and he told me he had only got a B - told me I was slipping and needed to pull my sox's up !!!! "

On the 8th of February the UFO Corse Yamaha team announced they had signed a new agreement with Stefan and his first race appearance will be during the Assoluti d'Italia, 4 - 5 March at Acireale, riding the WR450F in the 450 class. The partnership with the UFO Corse team goes back many years, in which they have achieved many goals: four world championship titles, both rider and manufacturer, four national (Italian) titles and two Six Days events.

"So where is Stefan now ?" I asked Anita.

"Stef is away practicing in the snow this week with his mechanic, Guilliano, ready for the World round in Sweden. It will be a new experience for Stefan riding with spikes. I actually think he is looking forward to it !!! All a bit nerve racking for his old Mum though !!! He had to travel 6 hours to find snow which I find hard to believe with all the snow they are having in Torino" she said.

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