www.motorcycle-usa.com Courtesy of Monster Energy

From Clive Strugnall first of all...

As expected there has been incredible drama on the second day of the Roof. The determination to win from the top 10 riders this year in unbelievable. Chris Birch and Graham Jarvis have been literally banging bars like junior MX right from the 6am start at Bushman's Pass this morning. After the heat and scorching sunshine yesterday this morning dawned overcast and cool, and the steady rain which started during the night continued to fall steadily all day. The parched dusty trails and passes soon turned slick and slipperier than an oily billiard ball, putting even more pressure on the riders.

Behind Birchy and Jarvis, Altus de Wet, Last year's winner Wade Young, Travis Teasdale, Kenny Gilbert and ran nose to tail, swopping places as they charged toward the first refuel point. Birch and Jarvis arrived first and left side by side, about five minutes ahead of the chasing bunch. At the next marshal point Birch, Jarvis were so intent on their dice that they somehow took a wrong turn and left the route, letting the flying Altus de Wet into the lead. He arrived at the next marshal some 10 minutes ahead of the chasing pack. By the time Birch and Jarvis had rejoined the route they had been caught by Young, Teasdale, Gillet and amazingly, Ben Hemmingway. sadly along the way last year's winner Wade Young had to retire with mechanical problems.

The pace was even more frantic, and by the time they reached the marshal back at St Benendict's Birch and Jarvis had caught up their 10 min deficit and scratched into the lead, which they held to the end of the day's section at Bushman's Pass.