That was an expensive weekend!

Hard Enduro Australia have somehow managed to capture the absolute essence of Hard Enduro in three short words: Ride Break Fix.

What's wrong with this picture?

It applies as much to the bikes as it does to the bodies and the minds of hard enduro riders. And it was, most certainly, the quintessential philosophy for the Toodyay Terror 2023.

Arntzy's take on the race was not the first thing to come out of his mouth.

I grabbed a quick minute with Eastern States super enduro rider Mark Arntz, who came 6th in Gold Class. After throwing his guts up, the next thing that came out of his mouth was "Well, that was an expensive weekend!". Mark had shipped the bike over, rode the event, broke a number of chunks off it and then chooffed off back home promptly thereafter. I shudder to do the math ($$) on that one.

Bike broken, gastrointestinals broken, spirit...still very much intact!

After two and a half hours of riding and less than 25 m from the finish line, 16-year old Leon Jones struggled up the final shale-littered slope to the top of the dam wall! The KTM bogged out with its front end just cresting the rise. Back down the wall it all went: the bike on its pegs and bars, and Jonesy on his hands and knees.

Did he give up? Not a chance.

With virtually nothing left in the tank he sent the bike back up on its own. Once he was sure it wasn't coming back down slope again, he went on after it, pivot turned the thing 180 degrees and dragged it and himself over the finish line.

When asked if he wanted to know where he finished his response was brief "I don't even care".

For most WHES riders, it is not about where you finish, it is just about finishing.

That look? It says "What the #$@# just happened to me?"

There is little or no doubt after Round 1 of racing, that things have changed for WHES competitors in 2023.

The Yeti (Craig Shaw) and his merry band of misery makers have stepped up the complexity for all classes. That makes sense! The regulars are only getting more and more familiar with the circuits and the eastern states riders, that are regularly making the journey over, are frothing for greater challenges.

And with that, there is certainly no longer any sympathy for the Bronze Class!

Second in Bronze at Toodyay Terror, I asked Alan Herbert for his thoughts.

"Toodyay, this year, was the hardest of the events I've done. They added more technical sections into the course which made it more physical."

Ain't no doubt Alan earned the second step on the podium! Laughing Bulldog..Alan forgives you!

So, clearly it is tougher! But is tougher better?

"The course was longer, which is better as you don't need to deal with a as many lapped riders" Alan said. "The skill and fitness required for Bronze Class this year is quite high. With all due respect to the Gold and Siver riders, technically there is no longer that big of a jump between the categories."

Probably the best example of this was the running of all classes up one of the most brutal rock steps the Terror has to offer! That line wasn't in the brochure for Bronze last year. But it very much was this year! I've done it on a trials bike and, I can tell you, for a novice rider it is a little overwhelming!

Kerli Kivimagi captures the omnipotence of the Terror's most feared rock step.

Riders in the other classes didn't all have it their own way either! But the tenacity of WHES competitors in all categories is something to be reckoned with.

Luke Abbott was recovering from a broken leg in 2022 and only did one race: and that he did not finish. In 2021 he also suffered from injury, only doing Mildwood and Mount Turner. So, you'd think, when entering the Terror, he might consider dialing it back a notch to Silver or Bronze. Errrr...No!

Body hurting, mind smiling: mood captured!

In his words "I have always entered Gold Class and love the challenge against the big boys. The main challenge for me was to get to the finish line with bike and body intact. Also, I am one of the original guys from back when the the races were 'black ops' events out bush. I raced Gold back then so, despite my lack of ride fitness and time on the bike, I thought it would be weird to enter any other class."

To say he pulled up sore and bent (bike and body) after Toodyay is an understatement. But, like Leon and most of the rest of the paddock, he was not particularly phased about where he finished. He was just happy to finish.

Luke, you finished last buddy! But that ain't at all the point, is it?

Ride Break Fix. Sums it up so elegantly and eloquently.