Triple D Team Riders take on the mighty Erzberg Rodeo
It was a weekend of adrenaline, carnage, and perseverance at the iconic Erzbergrodeo hard enduro as the Triple D Motorsport race team flew the flag through grit and gravel.
Team riders Dan Peace and Burts Crayston tackled one of the world’s most punishing enduro challenges, and while it wasn’t the result they had hoped for, the experience delivered everything the mighty Erzberg 'Iron Giant' is known for.
Both riders had impressive qualifying rounds ahead of the main race, bagging coveted front-row starting positions, which let's be honest, is the first objective for anyone riding here given the mad dash through the infamous quarry climb right off the start.
As the flag dropped, the duo had an early scare rounding the first corner as they both opted for outside lines. With their front wheels clipping slightly, thankfully there was no major drama, but next time lads, it might be worth a quick confab before hitting the gas?
None-the-less, it was reminder of the chaos and unpredictability of the event, especially with mid-race weather swings that drastically changed the conditions of the course.
Burts’ campaign this year was unfortunately cut short after a series of mechanicals early on. He was wrapped by a rolling boulder as he tailed Moretti up a climb, smashing his front pipe.
As if that wasn't enough bad luck, the infamous "Karls Diner" rock section saw Burts' clutch give up the ghost, forcing an early retirement from the race.
Not what we wanted, but such is the fury of Erzberg, drama is never too far away.
Dan Peace quietly fought his way through the field and at one point was threatening a top 12 finish. But then more mechanicals halted progress as he lost his front brake, which if you've seen Erzberg, you'll know is pretty much curtains.
Dan limped on through multiple crashes to bring the bike home in an extremely respectable 16th place overall. There's no giving up that easily here!
Dan had also dabbled in the Erzberg "Fun Trails" qualifying race earlier in the week, which guarantees a front-row start for the winner. Given his focus on the main race, he eventually dropped out, but the mixed events all add to the overall Erzberg experience.
Burts is back on the road with a new front pipe and clutch and will be in action this weekend at the ACU British Enduro Championship in Hafren, Wales.
Following that, both Dan and Burts have an amazing opportunity and head to Ecuador a couple of weeks later following a special invite to compete in a high-altitude extreme enduro event. WOW! These guys are smashing the trails and the South American terrain and high altitude promises a whole new kind of challenge.
While Erzbergrodeo didn’t deliver the perfect result, it shows the spirit of these young lads as their race experience and confidence grows.
The chaps walk away with a few bruises and lessons learnt but will be back to give it another shot next year.
