Ngaroma’s Rachael Archer has risen to number two in the world in women’s enduro racing.
The Kiwis who rode at this year’s International Six Days Enduro in Spain did their country proud during the week-long competition. The riders were (from left) Taylar Rampton, Kylie Dorr, Chris Birch, Rachael Archer of Te Awamutu and Liam Ellis. Photo courtesy Foto Boezeroog.
The Kawasaki rider was credited with a sensational display at the 2024 International Six Days Enduro which finished in Spain this week. Her team finished 10th overall in New Zealand’s first appearance at the event.
Archer, 22, has been a star since moving to the United States to compete when she was just 17. As a 20-year-old she won the Women’s Cross Country class title in the US.
Archer shows the enduro way
New Zealand made its debut appearance this season at the women’s section of the International Six Days Enduro, held in Spain, and impressed many at this huge gathering of the motorcycling world elite.
The three-rider New Zealand women’s contingent that battled in the Women’s World Trophy (WWT) teams’ class – Ngaroma’s Rachael Archer (Kawasaki) joined by Tapanui’s Kylie Dorr (Beta) and Opunake’s Taylar Rampton (Husqvarna) – managed a few jaw-dropping results on their way to finishing 10th overall in their first appearance at this massive annual dirt-biking marathon.
Archer was the stand-out for the New Zealanders. She finished overall runner-up among the women, just under three minutes behind United States team rider Brandy Richards after an incredible six days of brutal racing in the Galicia region, on the Atlantic coastline in the north-western of Spain.
Archer managed to tap into any left-over reserves of energy to significantly cut her deficit to Richards on the final day, which featured a motocross, an aspect of off-road motorcycle racing that is considered faster but arguably less technical.
The rider who finished the enduro third overall in the women’s rankings was Australia’s Jessica Gardiner, ending the event just a little under five minutes behind the hard-charging Archer.
Archer was not only overall runner-up in the individual standings for the women, but also she wound up an astonishing 54th overall (when ranked alongside the men. More than 570 riders in total were at the event.
“It felt good to win a special test (a tightly timed sprint section) at this event,” said Archer. “I felt like I rode decent and didn’t crash, so put in a solid ride.
“I didn’t really set any goals or expectations for myself coming into the week. I just wanted to learn and gain as much experience as I could. I feel like I’ve done that and also shown some speed.”
Dorr was meanwhile classified 28th individual in the WWT class (and also finished 129th overall alongside the men). Rampton dropped out after day five with an injury, but was still credited with finishing 30th overall among the women.
“New Zealand team manager Justin Stevenson said it was “not the dream result for Team New Zealand – but close”.
Team France won the premier World Trophy (WT) class ahead of the United States and Spain. In the Junior World Trophy (JWT) class, Team Sweden won ahead of France and the United States.
There were no Kiwi men’s team entered this season.
New Zealand’s Rachael Archer (Kawasaki), who put on a sensational display at the 2024 International Six Days Enduro in Spain. Photo by Pole Position Communication
