Ruben Chadwick bounced back from a difficult opening day to claim victory at Round 4 of the 2026 Australian Hard Enduro Championship at Bonnie Doon, Victoria.
Aboard his Beta RR 300 RACE, Chadwick finished third on Saturday before returning on Sunday to dominate the four-hour main race, completing eight laps and building a lead he carried through to the chequered flag.
The weekend delivered typically unpredictable Victorian conditions, with rain earlier in the week leaving sections of the course muddy and slippery, while long, steep power climbs added another challenge.
“It was a pretty average day on Saturday,” Chadwick said. “The muddy, slippery conditions just weren’t playing to my strengths, and I struggled to adapt. I came away with third place, but we knew we had more in the tank.”
Some overnight changes helped Chadwick turn things around on Sunday, as he made a fast start and quickly settled into a strong rhythm.
“I came into Sunday with a clear slate,” he explained. “I was out of the gate fast and got into a rhythm straight away. I managed to complete eight laps in four hours, and while I expected a battle for the entire race, I managed to find a break around the two-hour mark and start pulling away.”
Chadwick put much of his success down to his fitness and ability to maintain his pace throughout the demanding four-hour race, while the Beta RR 300 RACE proved well suited to the fast, technical climbs.
“The Victorian boys are definitely more used to these conditions and that riding style, but I think what separated me was the ability to push hard for the entire duration,” he said.
“I found my rhythm and just nailed every hill climb – those big, long power hills in second and third gear wide open, maintaining momentum all the way up.”
The strong Sunday performance also highlighted the capability of the Beta in the demanding conditions.
“The bike felt awesome,” Chadwick said. “I was able to push hard all day on Sunday, and we managed to build a nice lead that we held through to the finish.”
The victory keeps Chadwick at the top of the Gold Class standings heading into the final round of the championship.
There was also plenty to celebrate in the Women’s Class, with Ebony Nielsen putting together an impressive weekend of her own. Riding a Beta RR 300 RACE, Nielsen claimed back-to-back wins on Saturday and Sunday and was the only female competitor to complete four laps of Sunday’s main race.
Nielsen retains the Women’s Class championship lead as the series now heads towards its fifth and final round, where both riders will be looking to finish their campaigns on a high.
Photos by: Performance Media
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