{"id":162430,"date":"2016-11-04T20:53:11","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T10:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=162430"},"modified":"2020-10-02T09:06:39","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T23:06:39","slug":"neils-aiming-for-success-in-victoria","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2016\/11\/04\/neils-aiming-for-success-in-victoria\/","title":{"rendered":"Neil’s Aiming For Success In Victoria"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Neil Collard with his 450cc Yamaha … heading to Victoria to compete<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

November 4, 2016<\/strong><\/p>\n

It’s been a big year for Murgon sportsman Neil Collard, but he’s hoping there could be even bigger highlights still to come.<\/p>\n

Neil, 18, began the year with major surgery on his knee – he’s now fully recovered – and then secured his first job after high school: a 1st year automotive apprenticeship with Huston Motors.<\/p>\n

He is hoping to top off his year with a strong performance at Mansfield in Victoria at the Australian 4-Day Enduro, the\u00a0premier off-road endurance event for dirt bike riders.<\/p>\n

Scrutineering will take place on Monday followed by time trials on Tuesday. Then there’ll be three days of racing – during which Neil could cover 300km a day – and finally a MotoX event.<\/p>\n

This is only the third year Neil has been racing enduro bikes.<\/p>\n

During his first season, he worked his way to 2nd spot in Queensland in the junior class and in 2015\u00a0came 6th in Australia in the Under 19 Class.<\/p>\n

He has now switched to the more powerful\u00a0Yamaha YZ 450F which he will be racing in Victoria.<\/p>\n

Neil’s had a quiet 2016 on the circuit, working to ensure his knee was 100 per cent.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Australian 4-Day Enduro will be his first “proper” race after the surgery but he’s feeling confident.<\/p>\n

He’s been practising regularly alongside other enduro riders, giving himself and his bike a good workout.<\/p>\n

“This is the first time I have been to a 4-Day and I’m looking for a good result,” he said.<\/p>\n

“For the sponsorship, I have to get a good position.”<\/p>\n