Canterbury's Hamish MacDonald has become the first New Zealand rider to win a world enduro championship.
Originally from West Melton, MacDonald (20) was crowned the FIM 125cc youth enduro world champion after the final round, of seven, in Ambert, France at the weekend.
The round was held in the Forez mountains, testing competitors over several demanding hours riding over difficult terrain.
The victory was the sweeter given the Sherco rider broke both the scapula bone in his shoulder and his clavicle during the third round in Spain in May.
"The season was very tricky when I broke my collarbone, and my rivals have pushed...
MacDonald joined the Enduro GP last year. The last Kiwi to race in this series was Pahiatua's Paul Whibley in 2003. The discipline is run on extended cross-country and off-road courses, featuring different obstacles and challenges.
Whibley(41), a two-time former grand national cross-country champion in the United States and a six-time former US off-road motorcycle and ATV series champion, said it was a massive achievement by MacDonald.
"The level of racing is a huge step up in itself. The terrain is different to New Zealand and has a huge variety - let alone being on the other side of the world...
"Some of his mechanics are the same guys that I had while I raced there many years ago, so the team has some huge experience,'' Whibley said.
