Gravity Check
The first two Enduro World Series (EWS) rounds are in the books, there may have been many unanswered questions coming into the event, not least of which was who’s had a productive off season, or who hasn’t, or who wasn’t there racing at all.
Regardless of what everyone wanted to know coming into the event, there was one statement that was made loud and clear, through both events in New Zealand and Tasmania, that drowned out all other noises and it was coming from the man from Belgium. Martin Maes was unstoppable and was riding at a pace that was above everyone else, even above the man who has been crowned World Series winner for the previous two years, (and those are the only two years he’s competed in the World Series). Sam Hill it seemed wasn’t himself the last two weekends, whether it was a cold, or possibly even a hangover from dominating the Enduro World Series so much.
The motivation from these giants of our sport are very different, a junior in the scheme of things, Maes’ hunger for title glory can be seen in every pedal stroke, in every turn of the wheel, a force that at present may seem impossible to stop. Racing is balancing risk on a knife’s edge, Maes appears to have all the necessary things to do more than just balance, he’s dancing on the edge with ease, but it only takes one slip of the foot for it all to stop. He’s learnt that lesson from previous years, and making the same mistake twice is something that champion riders rarely, if ever do. You only have to look at the man he is trying to unseat to understand that, and I’m sure he has been watching and learning these past two years.
From the other side of the ring, Sam has come from two big title fights victorious, further adding to his already alien like status where he can do things on a bike that others can’t. It would be wrong however to think that these titles have come easily to him, as much as people might think they have. The switch from what he knew how to do, racing downhill, to a new format of enduro is a much bigger step than armchair racers realise. Behind the scenes a step into the unknown would have been fresh and exciting, but also nerve racking and uncertain. The energy, physically and mentally to at first win the title, and then to back it up can’t be underestimated. Coming into year three the motivation after such a feat might leave a gap in what would have been considered an impenetrable defence. A force as strong as the challenge by Maes might open up that gap, or as we’ve seen in the past, fire up Sam that last little bit to slam the door shut. Whichever way it works out, as both are equally good people as they are riders, it will great for our sport and great to watch play out.