Five Minutes With Glenn Kearney

With less than a week remaining until hundreds converge on Tasmania for the 2015 Yamaha Australian 4-Day Enduro, Motorcycling Australia’s Ben Rowles took the opportunity to speak with 2004 A4DE champion and current Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team stalwart, Glenn Kearney, to hear about his 4-Day experiences, as well as what he’s expecting from the 2015 outing in Van Diemen’s Land. 

When was your first A4DE?
The first 4-Day I did was actually in New Zealand, in 2001 I believe. That was my first ever enduro event, so I went over and I rode for Husaberg back then and I went on from there. I think my first Aussie championship was in 2003 on a Yamaha for Ballards, and that was a 4-Day where I won in my class, and then I won Outright in 2004.

What are some of your memories of the successful 2004 4-Day campaign?
What is it now? About 11 years ago (laughs)? That event was held in Warragul and it was a good time. It was my last year here in Australia before I headed off to the US for six years, so I was on the 250 two-stroke back then, and yeah it was a good event with a grasstrack from memory. I think back in that year I was battling with Brad Williscroft who was looking good to win it for the most of the event there, and Jake Stapleton was another one who I battled with there as well. 

What makes the A4DE such a special and unique event?
For a long time back then there was no Australian series, so that was the Australian championship, which was the one race which made it really prestigious back then. Now we obviously have the AORC (Australian Off-Road Championship), which is just a totally different thing. The 4-Day is a real test of both man and machine, and it has that prestige about it where you get that one shot at it every year. It’s quite unique and everyone wants to come out and win this one.

How do you rate the A4DE title in the list of your achievements?
It is definitely right up there and probably my favourite memory from the Australian stuff. I won the state championships here against Brad Williscroft back in the day when there was no AORC, so that was sort of the equivalent. We still went to all the different states and raced in each state series, but there was no standalone one, so for me that 4-Day title is right up there in terms of my achievements here in Australia. 

You’re an experienced rider now that takes a lead role with the Husqvarna Enduro Racing Team. What advice do you give to young riders coming through about the event?
We kind of treat it like a Six Days (International Six Days Enduro). It’s a tough one because it’s a long race and a lot of things will happen over the course of the event, so you have to play it a bit safe and look after your body and bike to get through. At the same time, you can’t rest and take it too easy because everyone goes so hard right from the start where if you lose some time early in the event, it’s hard to play catch up.

The event is obviously heading to Tasmania for the first time. What are you expecting from the event down there?
Really looking forward to it actually! I’ve been to Tasmania once before and I think it’s going to be unreal. Hopefully the event all runs smoothly and we should have a good 4-Day down there.

Thanks for your time, Glenn. Good luck next week!
Cool, no worries!

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To stay up to date with the 2015 Yamaha Australian 4-Day Enduro, visit the A4DE website and Facebook page.