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Moto-Trials, cross country and enduro
Christchurch enduro rider Angus Macdonald, who will be joined by his brother Hamish in contesting the Romaniacs extreme enduro event in Romania next month.
MAY 17, 2016: Canterbury motorcycle enduro riders Hamish and Angus Macdonald could be the next Kiwi superstars to claim a podium finish overseas, especially if they can continue their steep upward momentum in the brutal and unforgiving sport.
The board of Motorcycling New Zealand sets aside each year funding for rider grants and this year the two Christchurch brothers, rising stars on the national scene in recent years, have been granted $1250 to assist them in their bid for international success next month.
They are making plans to race at the big annual Red Bull Romaniacs extreme enduro event, in the rugged Carpathian Mountains of Romania, between July 12-16.
New Zealand's Chris Birch won the event outright in 2010, the only Kiwi ever to do so, a testimony both to the mental toughness and world-class abilities of Glen Eden's Birch, but also a telling indication of just how brutally difficult this event can be.
It attracts many hundreds of elite off-road riders from all around the world and not all of them are even able to finish as fatigue, injury and mechanical mayhem takes its toll.
Hamish Macdonald currently leads the 2016 edition of the New Zealand Enduro Championships, with two rounds still to be run, at Waimiha on June 4 and at Tokoroa on June 5.
Angus Macdonald is currently fifth overall in the nationals standings.
The back-to-back enduro nationals rounds in the Central North Island will be their last major outings before they head overseas.
Motorcycling New Zealand (MNZ) wishes every success for the Macdonald brothers, and for the many other intrepid Kiwis who will tackle the event this year.
New Zealand's many MNZ-affiliated motorcycle clubs are the first port of call for riders when they are applying for funding. Clubs have the ability to help riders with funding and fundraising; after these avenues are exhausted, the club can then make an application on behalf of the rider – ideally the club (or nominated representative) and the rider would complete the application together.
Funding is typically allocated four times a year. Applications are to be received by the 20th day of the following months – February, May, August and October.
Provided the application contains all the information that MNZ needs, it will be discussed at the following month's MNZ board meeting.
"MNZ recognises young talent and wants to encourage it and help facilitate progress by these individuals," said MNZ general manager of operations Vicky Hicks.
"We are thrilled to be able to offer some assistance to these fine athletes. Other Kiwi motorcyclists will also benefit from grants from MNZ and we will be naming those recipients shortly."
New Zealand has a reputation for producing world class motorcyclists and, with assistance such as this coming from within the bike community, from individual sponsors, club support and MNZ grants, there is no reason why this record cannot be enhanced in Romania next month.
Credit: Words by Andy McGechan
MAY 3, 2016: Off-road motorcycle riders are being spoiled for choice these days, with so many opportunities in New Zealand to take to the hills or bush.
And, starting in just a few weeks' time – near Tokoroa on June 19 – begins the Dirt Guide Cross-country Series that will cater for all tastes and abilities and that actually make the choice quite easy, go and ride, improve your skills by learning from some of the sport's elite, or perhaps even try to match them in a race situation.
In almost any corner of the country you'll see floods of vans, utes and cars with trailers, carting dirt bikes away for another weekend of off-road fun, typically an enjoyable challenge.
And the words "enjoyable" and "challenge" can certainly be used in the same breath when discussing the four-round Dirt Guide Cross-country Series.
Now into its ninth year and continuing to grow, the secret for the series' success is that it caters for young and old alike and, while it does offer something to tempt the less-experienced novice and junior riders, it is also a challenge for the more serious and highly-competitive of senior racers.
It will feature two separate three-kilometre and 10-kilometre junior races to blast off in different parts of the forest at the same time at about 9.30am, with a more testing 20-kilometre course for the two-hour senior race set to launch at about 12.30pm.
Points are counted from just three of the four rounds, with contestants to discard their one worst result.
Adding extra spice to the Dirt Guide Cross-country Series is that the opening event will also count as the first round of the fledgling NZXC series, the brainchild of former Kiwi international and 2015 national cross-country champion Paul Whibley, who was, incidentally, also the man who won last season's Dirt Guide Cross-country Series.
Sponsored by Kiwi Rider magazine, the series kicks off on Sunday, June 19, at a venue called "Tar Hill", about 15 kilometres south of Tokoroa.
"This series is set in the pine forests south of Tokoroa and it has now built a reputation as being a really fun competition," said organiser Sean Clarke, of Tokoroa.
"There is a class or category that caters for everyone. The tracks for all the events this year have been prepared," he said.
"We want all dirt bike owners to come and have a go at bush riding. With riders getting older every year, we are really keen to provide an experience to entice the younger riders to come along and ride. There are classes for mini bike riders as young as seven," he said.
"Only a few people ever win races like this, so it's not about the winners but about participation."
Previous series contenders such as just-crowned 2016 national cross-country champion Brad Groombridge, of Taupo, Coatesville's Sam Greenslade, the Dirt Guide series winner in 2014, and Atiamuri's Hadleigh Knight are expected to enter again and national enduro women's class championship frontrunner Natasha Cairns, from Thames, is also expected to make the journey.
Racing will be on similar terrain to that used for part of the big International Six Days Enduro in the South Waikato region in November 2006.
The series is sponsored by Michelin, Bel Ray, Renthal, O'Neal, DRC, Zeta, Kiwi Rider magazine, Oakley, TCX boots and Yoshimura.
Round one, Tar Hill, Tokoroa, June 19.
Round two, Ohakuri, August 7.
Round three, Ohakuri, September 4.
Round four, Tar Hill, October 2.
by Andy McGechan
The 2016 New Zealand Enduro Championships
CAPTION: Te Awamutu's Rachael Archer (KTM), the new leader in the junior grade. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
APRIL 10, 2016: With three rounds completed and three different riders celebrating wins, the 2016 New Zealand Enduro Championships are bubbling with excitement and intrigue, the likes of which hasn't been seen in the sport for many years.
Christchurch's Hamish Macdonald won round one in the Greta Valley, near Christchurch, over the Easter Weekend, while Taupo's Brad Groombridge won round two at Mosgiel a couple of days later, but now we have a third first-time winner in the competition, with Howick's Liam Draper winning the third round of five in the series at Moonshine, near Upper Hutt, on Saturday.
The finishing order on Saturday was Draper, Macdonald and Groombridge and so just four points now separate these three riders at the top of the championship standings in the expert grade and, with points from only four of five rounds to be counted as riders discard their one worst result, anything can still happen.
Draper's win on Saturday meant it was also a third different bike brand that had ended up on the top – Macdonald rides a Sherco, Groombridge pilots a Suzuki and Draper is a Husqvarna man – meaning honours have been shared around by some of the manufacturers as well.
"This is the first time I've won a national enduro championship event," said Draper, a 19-year-old apprentice plumber. "I'm glad I was on a four-stroke bike and not a two-stroke like the last time I rode here. It was so important to get the power to the ground, to find traction on the loose rocks, and I certainly felt better on this course today.
"I'll be hoping I can carry on this winning momentum."
Saturday's runner-up, 17-year-old Macdonald, was naturally thrilled to end the weekend alone at the top of the series standings after three rounds, albeit just two points clear of Groombridge, with Draper just another two points further back.
"I got a flat tyre in the first section today, but fixed it at the first pit stop and, luckily, it didn't cost me any time," said Macdonald.
"It's the first time I've ever been in this position, leading the nationals, and I'm certainly feeling the pressure. Dad (Mark Macdonald) was a national enduro champion back in the early 1980s, so I'm guess I'm trying to fill his boots."
And the shake-ups didn't end there, with Te Awamutu's Rachael Archer taking over the lead from Amberley's Hamish Foster in the junior grade.
"I fell off a couple of times at round one and, at round two, I overshot a corner, and those things cost me. But my junior title defence is back on track now. I've just got to try and stay upright," said the 14-year-old Archer.
"I outgrew the 85cc bike and started riding this 125cc bike in March. I needed more power and bigger wheels and I'm loving this new bike."
Macdonald leads Titirangi's Callan May in the battle-within-a-battle for expert over-200cc two-stroke class honours, while Groombridge leads Draper in the battle for domination in the expert under-300cc four-stroke class. May finished fourth overall on Saturday.
Helensville's Tom Buxton continues to lead the expert under-200cc class; Hamilton's Chris Power is still on top in the expert over-300cc class and Tokoroa's Sean Clarke rules the roost in the expert veterans' (over-40 years) class.
Meanwhile, Loburn's Josh Dando finished fourth overall in the intermediate grade at Moonshine, but, with his wins at rounds one and two, he continues to lead the grade overall, eight points clear of Thames rider Natasha Cairns, who is also the leading female in the series.
Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Phil Skinner, of Putaruru, said the sport was in a healthy state.
"It's so good to see the young blood coming through. With three different winners over three rounds, we have a fantastic competition on our hands."
The national series continues with round four at Waimiha on June 4 and, finally, it all wraps up near Tokoroa on June 5.
Words by Andy McGechan,
The 2016 New Zealand Enduro Championships
MARCH 29, 2016: There was no sign of any Easter Bunnies in the South Island at the weekend, just top class motorcycle racers delivering high-end action.
When the dust cleared after the opening two rounds of this season's New Zealand Enduro Championships over the Easter Weekend holiday, there were two fresh names on the top of the leader-board.
Taupo's Brad Groombridge and Christchurch's Hamish Macdonald shared the spoils over the two days of racing, Saturday's series opener in the Greta Valley, near Christchurch, won by Macdonald, with Groombridge finishing runner-up, and Monday's second round near Mosgiel on Easter Monday won by Groombridge, with Macdonald taking the No.2 spot on that occasion.
Howick's Liam Draper finished each of the days third overall.
With three rounds still to come, all of them in the North Island, it's probably too early to be lining up the trophy engraver just yet, but certainly Groombridge, Macdonald and Draper must already rate among the most likely candidates to take home the silverware this season.
Fourth overall after two rounds is Titirangi's Callan May – who finished fifth on Saturday and fourth on Monday – with Coatesville's Sam Greenslade (7-5) rounding out the top five.
With riding conditions at the weekend described by many as "perfect", with virtually no dust and little mud, the riders were able to perform at their best, tackling the rugged terrain with confidence as well as skill.
Multi-talented Groombridge, who has just finished the national motocross championships series fifth overall in the MX1 class and also won the opening round of the parallel New Zealand cross-country championships neat Huntly last month, the enduro scene is also becoming more familiar to him and that can mean just one thing, he's probably going to get even better as the enduro series progresses.
He met his match in Macdonald on Saturday, but turned the tables at round two on Easter Monday and with the series now heading closer to Groombridge's home turf, the racing's only going to get tougher for all of Groombridge's rivals.
"I crashed twice on Monday, but didn't lose too much time," said Groombridge.
"I've done a lot of riding lately and I'm now able to apply different riding skills to the different codes."
The various championship class leaders are two of five rounds are Helensville's Tom Buxton (expert under-200cc two-stroke class), Taupo's Brad Groombridge (expert under-300cc four-stroke), Christchurch's Hamish Macdonald (expert over-200cc two-stroke), Hamilton's Chris Power (over-300cc four-stroke), Tokoroa's Sean Clarke (expert veterans, over 40 years).
The national series continues with round three near Wellington on April 9, round four at Waimiha on June 4 and, finally, it all wraps up near Tokoroa on June 5.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
CAPTION: Christchurch's Hamish Macdonald, among those favoured to feature in the national enduro series again this season, especially with round one right on his doorstep.
MARCH 22, 2016: With a double-header weekend to kick things off, the heat will go on right from the start of this year's New Zealand Enduro Championships.
The five-round series kicks off near Christchurch this Easter Saturday (March 26) with Auckland's defending champion Chris Birch probably still the man most favoured to win.
However, the Kiwi international from Glen Eden must know there are a plethora of riding stars in the sport at the moment and a challenge to his reign could come from anywhere and, with round two set for Mosgiel just two days later, on Easter Monday, there will be no time to rest or dwell on the round one efforts before the riders have to go bush once again.
Wellington's Jake Whitaker is a record eight-time national moto trails champion, and the current No.1 in that finely-balance parallel motorcycling code, and the 24-year-old has made it his business over the past couple of seasons to transfer those skills to enduro riding. Whitaker has tasted plenty of success on the enduro scene in the past six months and could possibly be expected to threaten the 35-year-old Birch.
Taikorea's two-time former American cross-country champion Paul Whibley is now settled back home in New Zealand and along with fellow cross-country international Callan May, from Titirangi, they could give the sport here a real shake-up.
There are no clashes of dates with the cross-country or motocross scene this season and so, in addition to freeing Whibley and May to tackle the enduro series, motocross hero Brad Groombridge, from Taupo, will be able to contend.
Birch and the others can also expect tough opposition again from riders such as former national enduro champion and current national cross-country champion Adrian Smith, of Mokau, fellow Kiwi international Sean Clarke, from Tokoroa, Christchurch bothers Angus and Hamish Macdonald, Morrinsville's Simon Lansdaal, Auckland trio Liam Draper, Freddie Milford-Cottam and Chris Power, Tauranga's Reece Burgess, Northland's Mitchell Nield and possibly also from Taupo's rising young star Greg De Lautour, to name just a few.
"Hopefully we will see the continual rise in the number of female competitors, perhaps able to eventually challenge Natasha Cairns' dominance in the women's grade," said Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Phil Skinner.
"It will also be interesting to see is the young brigade – Macdonald, Draper and Whitaker – will be able to topple New Zealand's only professional enduro rider, Chris Birch."
Venue for round one on Saturday is Greta Valley, North Canterbury, a new venue for the championship. Racing will start at the earlier time of 9am and riders are reminded that fire extinguishers and spark arrestors are required because of the drought conditions.
The second round on Monday (March 26) is at Berwick Forest, Mosgiel.
Following racing in the South Island this Easter Weekend, which is being held in conjunction with the Beta NZ South Island series, the national series continues with round three near Wellington on April 9, round four at Waimiha on June 4 and, finally, it all wraps up near Tokoroa on June 5.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
CAPTION: Wellington's Jake Whitaker (Husqvarna TE250), who outlasted the cream of man and machine and conquered brutal terrain to win the Mt Damper Hard Enduro in Taranaki at the weekend.
MARCH 14, 2016: With a huge international event coming up on his horizon, Wellington's Jake Whitaker was looking for a difficult task at which to test himself and they don't come much tougher than the weekend's Mount Damper Hard Enduro.
The Husqvarna rider from Wainuiomata faced up to the best riders in the off-road motorcycle racing business – the domestic elite, Kiwi internationals, a sprinkling of overseas riders – as well as tackling some of the most rugged terrain in New Zealand, and he came away with a huge grin and a trophy to match.
The 24-year-old multi-time national moto trials champion had made it look surprising easy when he won the WaimiHard Enduro in January, taking his Husqvarna TE250 to lead Glen Eden's multi-time national enduro champion Chris Birch to the top of the podium.
It was almost a carbon copy of that result for moto trials expert Whitaker at Mt Damper Falls in Taranaki on Saturday and Sunday as he again edged out Birch and Manawatu's national cross-country champion Paul Whibley for the No.1 podium position.
Whitaker finished third overall in the 'warm-up' prologue event on Saturday, a shorter race to determine start positions for Sunday's gut-buster, and third was still enough to earn him a front row spot for Sunday.
"It was pretty tough going, to be honest, but it was supposed to be wasn't it?" said Whitaker.
"It was very steep terrain with lots of tree roots. We had to go down a creek bed too and that was very slippery. The bike was awesome , but I made a few mistakes. Nothing major, thankfully.
"I was able to start on the front row and just followed the prologue winners (Christchurch brothers Angus and Hamish Macdonald) for the first 15 minutes or so, until I managed to sneak in front just before the first big uphill. That was a good thing because you don't want to be behind anyone on that. You want to get a clear run at the big hills."
Now also a familiar face on the national enduro scene, Whitaker was using the weekend's Mt Damper Hard Enduro event to continue his build-up to compete at the four-day Romaniacs event – a hugely-popular international extreme enduro staged in the rugged Carpathian Mountains of Romania each July – and it was perhaps those moto trials skills that gave him the edge.
"It was fantastic to be able to compete with, and even better to beat, someone of the international calibre of Chris Birch and I'd have to say I'm very pleased with how my preparation is going for Romania."
The enduro took Whitaker two hours and 36 minutes to complete, with Birch finishing about five minutes behind and Whibley another 11 minutes further back.
The next big event for Whitaker is the opening round of the New Zealand Enduro Championships, which kick off near Christchurch in less than two weeks' time, on March 26.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
MAXXIS FIM SuperEnduro World Championship
& FIM Women SuperEnduro Cup
2016 provisional calendars, updated 8 March
The FIM Women SuperEnduro Cup event originally scheduled to take place in Madrid, Spain on 19 March is cancelled. The 2016 calendar has been amended as follows: Date
05 December 2015
02 January 2016
20 February 2016
27 February 2016
Belo Horizonte
12 March 2016
Czech Republic
19 March 2016
Maser (Treviso), 22 February, 2016 - Sidi ran the show in the third test of the Superenduro Indoor World Championship held on Saturday, February 20th in Pinamar, Argentina. With two victories and a second place in the third heat, Jonny Walker (KTM) took home the Argentina GP, thus winning his first race in 2016. American Colton Haaker (Husqvarna) came in second place, while his fellow countryman Cody Webb (KTM), winner of the first two GP races in Poland and Germany, had to settle for third place. Due of this success Jonny Walker now leads the overall world standing. Thanks to this terrific triple, Sidi Sport has once again confirmed its dominion in this specialty.
These three phenomena stole the show during the race and shined on the podium in their Sidi Crossfire 2 SRS boots, which are still the top models in the Sidi Sport off-road collection in 2016. Now things will continue in South America, where the fourth test in the Superenduro Indoor World Championship will take place on Saturday, February 27th, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. The Sidi pilots will again be ready to put on an amazing battle!
NZ Cross-country Championships
FEBRUARY 16, 2016: The New Zealand Cross-country Championships are expected to be an explosive affair again this season.
The four-round series kicks off in the Waikato region this Sunday, February 21, although many of the leading contenders have already lit the fuse on what many expect will be another season of motorcycling fireworks in 2016.
What would be considered 'warm-up' events have certainly given a good indication that the competition will be fierce in the nationals this season.
Mokau's four-time former national No.1 Adrian Smith (Yamaha) is one rider who is certainly among the favoured few to win the nationals again this year and he'll expect Raglan's Jason Dickey (Kawasaki) and Rotorua's Scotty Birch (Honda) to be among the usual suspects to challenge him for the crown.
Riders such as Morrinsville's Tesselaar brothers, Nathan and Hayden, Palmerston North's former national champion Adam Reeves, Pahiatua's Charles Alabaster, Masterton's Allan Gannon, Maruia's Ethan Bruce, Aucklanders Chris Power and Sam Greenslade, Pukekawa's Anthony Parker and Morrinsville's Simon Lansdaal could also threaten.
However, there could be surprises in store for the cross-country regulars in the form of men from other, parallel, bike codes – riders such as Taupo motocross ace Brad Groombridge and Howick enduro gun Liam Draper, along with South Island enduro exponents Angus, Hamish and Mitchell Macdonald, from Christchurch.
Groombridge and Draper teamed up to win the Cambridge Four-Hour Cross-country Race last weekend and, with no clash of dates between the cross-country, motocross and enduro codes this season, it's likely these men will be a feature of cross-country race action in 2016.
Among the young guns to watch out for will be Palmerston North's James Galpin and Wairoa's former national junior champion Reece Lister, both of whom have been strong in recent events.
Sunday's venue for round one is at Findlay Road, signposted from Red Fox Tavern, State Highway 2, Maramarua, just up the road from Huntly. This opening round is sponsored by Murphy's Buses.
"The course on Sunday features a bit of everything," said Motorcycling New Zealand cross-country commissioner Chris Smyth, from Dannevirke.
"The nationals venues are spread equally over the North and South Islands and there has been a tremendous amount of interest being shown by the riders. With no clashes of dates with other championship events, it allows riders to better plan their campaigns too.
"It will be interesting also to see the 'clash of the veterans' too between Adam Youren, Hugh Lintott and Dougy Herbert, plus the juniors who will no doubt feature this year, riders such as Jake Wightman, Jackson Walker and Chris Dickson."
Rounds two, three and four of the national series will be held respectively in Mosgiel on April 3, Taranaki on April 16 and, finally, near Nelson on May 14.
Points only the best three of four rounds are counted, so riders will discard their worst result, ensuring the battle will go down to the wire.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
BUSH RIDERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB News Letter - Ready, set GO!
Dates yet to be set for: Spectro Series – March, April, May 2016
MX Club Champs – Sept/Oct/Nov – please let Matt Tylee know if you
have a paddock suitable for a Natural Terrain MX
Sat/Sun January 30 & 31st Woodville Grand Prix
February 6th 2nd Round Central Series XC Marton
March 20th 3rd Round Central Series XC Hawkes bay
May 22nd 4th and Final Round Central Series XC Pahiatua
NZ Cross Country dates: (weekend of, maybe Saturday or Sunday)
20 February Huntly
2 April Mosgiel
16 April New Plymouth
14 May Nelson
NZ Enduro dates: (weekend of, maybe Saturday or Sunday)
13 February 2016 National Rnd 1 (Waikato or Northland)
5 March National Rnd 2 (Thames)
12 March South Island Rnd 1 (St Arnauld)
26 March National Rnd 3&4 (South Island Rd2&3) CHCH & Mosgiel
9 April South Island Rnd 4 (Central Otago)
30 April National Rnd 5 (Waitemata)
28 May National Rnd 6 (Wellington)
11 June South Island Rnd 5 (??)
25 June National Rnd 7(Taupo or Tokoroa)
For other events visit www.silverbullet.co.nz
Following the creation of the EnduroGP category starting in 2016, the FIM and ABC Communication are pleased to present the new Enduro visual identity.
With this move, Enduro is following in the footsteps of other successful and high profile FIM World Championships. The new category showcasing the sport's World elite is part of a plan to revitalise and streamline the image of Enduro with the media and the public.
The 2016 edition of this Championship kicks off on 08 Avril in Agadir (Morocco) with the first of 8 races. EnduroGP rider and manufacturer rankings will be established on the basis of the general rankings of the three categories E1, E2 and E3.
The calendar and categories for 2016 are given below. The evolutions for 2017 will be announced during the year.
|08-10 April
|15-17 April
|20-22 May
|10-12 June
|17-19 June
|01-03 July
|15-17 July
|09-11 September
The 2016 FIM MAXXIS Enduro classes:
EnduroGP – E1, E2 and E3
Enduro 1 - 100cc to 125cc 2-stroke/ 175cc to 250cc 4-stroke
Enduro 2 - 175cc to 250cc 2-stroke / 290cc to 450cc 4-stroke
Enduro 3 - 290cc to 500cc 2-stroke / 475cc to 650cc 4-stroke
Enduro Junior – The riders must be under 23 years old on 1 January of the year of the Championship and have a valid driving licence.
Enduro Youth - 100cc to 125cc, 2-stroke / The participating riders must be under 20 years old on 1 January of the year of the Championship and have a valid driving licence.
Maser (Treviso), Italy – Jan. 11, 2016 – Sidi Sport is off to a strong start in the World Indoor Trial Championship. Spanish rider Adam Raga (TRS) won the first event of the 2016 X-Trial season in Sheffield this weekend. The competition featured six extremely challenging technical sections that left no room for error. It was an all-Spanish final, with Raga and Toni Bou fighting for the victory. In the end Raga came out on top, putting in an almost perfectly clean performance (only 3 penalty points) to win the first event of 2016. Bou, second (with 7 points), and another Spaniard, Albert Cabestany (13 points), third, completed the podium. The fight for the title will continue with the next round on Feb. 7 in Barcelona, where we hope to see Raga and the Sidi Trial Zero boots on the highest step of the podium once again.
The remaining events in the 2016 world indoor championship series: Barcelona, Spain, Feb. 2; Wiener Neustadt, Austria, March 19; Marseille, France, March 25.
DECEMBER 22, 2015: The dates and venues are set and now the challenge has been issued.
The four-round 2016 New Zealand Cross-country Championships will be spread evenly between North Island and South Island venues, all the top riders have indicated they'll be lining up again, with enough gaps in between each round to ensure ample time for riders to recover from mechanical or physical injuries, and so another fiery competition can be expected when it all kicks off near Huntly in February.
"There are no clashes of dates between the national motocross and cross-country codes, so let's see if the motocross boys can put their money where their mouths are," said Motorcycling New Zealand cross-country commissioner Chris Smyth.
"I've heard comments made by the motocross boys that cross-country racing is easy and yet, apart from a couple of riders such as (Motueka's) Brad Thomas and (Taupo's) Brad Groombridge, we have not seen them turning up to show us how good they are. There's a challenge for them ... show us what you're made of."
While competition is no doubt considered healthy for the sport, Smyth's tongue-in-cheek challenge is not the call of a man desperate to boost entry numbers, quite the contrary.
"We have had full fields in recent times and the depth of talent has been great. We have some great tracks running these events for us and some great venues too. It's going to be another fantastic season."
Points from three of the four rounds are counted towards the championship, with riders able to discard their worst result, meaning the titles could go down to the wire, just as they did in 2015.
Manawatu's former international Paul Whibley was crowned overall senior champion earlier this year, following a see-saw battle with four-time former champion Adrian Smith, of Mokau, with riders such as Maruia's Ethan Bruce, Rotorua's Scott Birch and Hamilton's Andrew Charleston never far behind.
Palmerston North's James Galpin, Stratford's Karl Roberts, Napier's Adam Youren, Eketahuna's Grant Christie and Rotorua's Jane Roberts were also impressive this year.
In the junior ranks, the fighting was fierce between Kotemaori's Reece Lister, Waimauku's Jake Wightman, Nelson's Jackson Walker, Huntly's Andrew Barr and Marton's Josh Pilet and more of the same can be expected in 2016.
The 2016 NZ Cross-country Championships calendar:
Round 1; Sun, February 21, 2016, Huntly.
Round 2; Sun, April 3, 2016, Mosgiel.
Round 3; Sat, April 16, 2016, Taranaki.
Round 4; Sat, May 14, 2016, Nelson.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
The 2015 Farmlands NZ Moto Trials Championships
CAPTION: Taranaki's Matt Foster, hoping he can snatch up the national expert grade title on home turf this weekend. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
OCTOBER 20, 2015: The ultimate level of the sport of moto trials returns to the Taranaki region for the first time in 10 years when the regions hosts the nationals over Labour Weekend.
The Farmlands Motorcycling New Zealand 2015 New Zealand Moto Trials Championship will be held at three separate venues in Taranaki over three days, from October 24-26, with each course expected to push competitors to the limits, testing to the utmost their abilities to scale obstacles without either "dabbing" their feet on the ground, going outside the strictly-marked course, stalling their engines or crashing.
Points are deducted for these "faults".
Unlike many other forms of motorcycling competitions, the emphasis with moto trials is not on speed, but rather on throttle control, balance and being able to read the extreme terrain put before them.
With Britain's defending Kiwi champion Jack Sheppard not making the trip Downunder this season, it perhaps opens the door for seven-time former New Zealand champion Jake Whitaker, of Wainuiomata, to re-assert his authority on the sport in this part of the world.
The 24-year-old Whitaker, also a former Australian champion, should be too slick for expert grade rivals such as Taranaki's Matt Foster, Tauranga's Jacob Gundry, Rotorua's John Haynes and Nelson's Nick Oliver, but this sport has a habit of tripping up the unwary and, with Whitaker perhaps distracted over recent months as he branched out to try his skills in various other off-road biking activities, it may be time for an upset.
Whitaker, of course, has other ideas.
"I have not been riding my moto trials bike much lately, so that may place me at a bit of a disadvantage, but I'm stronger and fitter than before, thanks to my riding cross-country and enduro events.
"There are no European professionals to deal with this time around, so I'm feeling pretty confident," he said.
"Hopefully I can win again and make it an eighth national moto trials crown ... that would be a record," said Whitaker, whose national title tally is level with Hawke's Bay's Warren Laugesen, a rider who is not competing this weekend.
"I won this event for the first time in 2007, as a 15-year-old, and it has stood the hairs up on the back of my neck ever since," said Whitaker.
The intermediate grade is always hotly contested and this year Manawatu rider Kevin Pinfold is at the top of the table in the North Island Championship, giving him the edge, although he will have to hold off strong challenges from Christchurch-based South Island Champion Glenn Smith and Opunake rider Andrew Clement, who is always a threat.
In the presidents' grade, it looks set to be a battle between Tauranga's Warwick Merriman, Nelson's Stephen Oliver and up-and-coming Wellington rider Dylan Ball, who recently won the 7-13 years' title in Australia.
Because of his youth, Ball is not eligible for the presidents' title, but the tougher sections will be useful training for him as he looks to a bright future in the sport.
Day one on Saturday is set for Upper Durham Road, Inglewood. Day two will be held at Korito Road, Egmont Village and day three will be held at Wiremu Road, Opunake.
Action begins each day at about 10am and spectator entry is free.
Credit: Words by Andy McGechan,
HUSQVARNA'S WHITAKER MAKES THE HARD LOOK EASY - "The event definitely lived up to its name – "hard enduro" – it was certainly that," said Whitaker.
AUGUST 25, 2015: He is a seven-time former New Zealand moto trials champion and former Australian moto trials champion, and now he's turning those skills into great success in a completely different bike discipline.
Wellington's Jake Whitaker made the switch to enduro racing a couple of seasons ago and it really hasn't taken him very long at all for his finesse with the throttle and his tightrope-like bike balancing abilities to transfer into success on the gnarly enduro scene.
This modest athlete would probably shrug it all off by telling you it's really the just same sport, just done at a significantly higher speed. But there's much more to it than that.
The 24-year-old took his Husqvarna TE250 to tackle the inaugural Moonshine Run Hard Enduro near Porirua on Saturday and, while even some of the sport's toughest nuts were flailing and falling down all around him in the Akatarawa Forest, Whitaker simply ploughed on, making the difficult look easy, winning the race by a massive 50 minutes from fellow Kiwi international Paul Whibley.
Eketahuna's Jacob Hyslop finished third overall, another 17 minutes further behind Manawatu's Whibley.
Whitaker, Whibley and Hyslop were three of only six riders to complete three laps of the course, while several riders took more than three hours to complete just one lap
"The event definitely lived up to its name – hard enduro – it was certainly that," said Whitaker.
"The week leading up to this event was pretty wet, so the course through the forest was drenched and that made things tough to begin with.
"There were quite a few bits that I found challenging but what made it especially hard was the pace I was trying to maintain, so the intensity was high and there was no time to rest.
"The course featured everything really ... there were steep tree-rooted up-hills and down-hills, two creek sections with big slippery rocks to get over and slick logs all over the place.
"It played to my advantage really, because my trials riding skills meant I was able to ride over a lot of the obstacles, rather than have to get off the bike and lift it across. I think I saved quite a bit of energy that way.
"I didn't really see any other riders until my second lap when I caught up to the lappers, so I didn't see Paul Whibley behind me at all. To beat somebody the calibre of (former American and current New Zealand cross-country champion) Whibley was a great feeling."
The next major race for Whitaker is to tackle round three of the NZXC Championships in the Woodhill Forest, near Auckland, this coming weekend.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
MAXXIS FIM Enduro World Championship:
FIM International Six Days' Enduro:
For the French file click here/ Pour le fichier français cliquer ici
Honda Tarawera 100 Cross-country marathon
CAPTION: Bay of Plenty's Ben Townley (Honda CRF450, centre of photo), now with three wins from three starts at the Honda Tarawera 100 cross-country marathon. Sharing the podium are Brad Groombridge (runner-up, left) and Hadleigh Knight (third, right).
JULY 5, 2015: Bay of Plenty's Ben Townley has now made it three wins from three starts at the fabled Honda Tarawera 100 cross-country motorcycle marathon on Saturday.
The 30-year-old former world and national motocross champion from Tauranga took his Honda CRF450 into the lead soon after the start of the 140-kilometre (100-mile) race from which the event gets its name.
But it wasn't a case of Townley disappearing into the horizon, but rather a virtual repeat of the race of last season where Taupo's Brad Groombridge hunted him down and applied pressure right until the end.
There was virtually nothing to separate the pair at the start of the fourth and final lap of the afternoon and it was Groombridge in front, thanks to a slick final re-fuel in the pits giving him an advantage of several bike lengths as they exited.
But, despite the race typically pushing competitors to eye-watering speeds, even over treacherous ground getting rougher by the minute, it was actually a pass made at walking speed that handed the initiative back to Townley.
"I stayed behind Brad through the first part of that last lap and then we came up on hillside that was snagged with lots of riders unable to get up.
"Brad went right and I went left, both of us trying to find a way though, and we were actually only going at walking speed when I edged past him to take the lead," said Townley.
"This win was tough. Brad really gave it to me hard and kind of flustered me when he caught up to me on lap three.
"I'm glad I got the win in the end and would certainly love to come back and make it four in a row next year," said Townley, the winner on debut in 2013, successful defending champion in 2014 and now a three-time consecutive winner of the great race.
Third overall was Reporoa 18-year-old Hadleigh Knight, with Pahiatua's national cross-country champion Paul Whibley, Rotorua's Scott Birch and Waitakere's Ethan Martens rounding out the top half dozen finishers.
Townley was naturally also credited with the over-300cc four-stroke class win.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
Tarawera 100 Cross-country marathon
JUNE 29, 2015: Winning the Honda Tarawera 100 is a huge honour indeed and Bay of Plenty's Ben Townley is determined to rule again at this iconic annual event near Kawerau this weekend.
Former world and national motocross champion Townley celebrated a winning debut at the Honda Tarawera 100 cross-country marathon in 2013 and he sensationally made it two outright wins in a row last season, but now he wants to celebrate a hat-trick.
The Tauranga 30-year-old may be easing into the twilight years of his racing life after wrapping up his international career in March 2013, but he showed his race craft was still as sharp as ever when he took his Honda CRF450 to again win the great race last July.
Townley heads again to the hilly, farmland venue, on the outskirts of Te Teko, west of Whakatane, for the 38th annual running on Saturday in a confident mood, although the former motocross world champion can take nothing for granted, with his victory last year an extremely tight affair that could so easily have eluded him.
Townley snatched the holeshot as a shotgun blast signalled the 10am start to this event in 2014 and he was never headed in the gruelling 140-kilometre race (the distance that gives the Tarawera 100, a 100-mile marathon, its name).
He finished ahead of fellow motocross exponents Brad Groombridge, of Taupo, and Rhys Carter, of Mount Maunganui, with Auckland's Sam Greenslade and Waitakere's Ethan Martens rounding out the top five.
"I kept an eye on where the riders were behind me and just stayed steady and kept them there for the first lap because I didn't want to push too hard when I was leading on a fresh track. I just had to be patient," said Townley.
"But then I put the hammer down on laps two and three and then just tried to survive after that.
"To be honest, though, I couldn't have held Brad at bay for another lap. I didn't realise he was coming so fast.
"I thought I always had the race under control and just did what I needed to do.
"I'm a lot fitter this year and now have calluses on my palms too, so my hands are a lot tougher.
"Brad (Groombridge) will be tough to beat again and I know he fancies his chances after he got a sniff of the win last year, but I will probably also have to be concerned about (national cross-country experts) Paul Whibley and Adrian Smith."
Pahiatua's Whibley and Mokau's Smith battled throughout the New Zealand Cross-country Championships that wrapped up in May and finished the series 1-2.
"I know that Whibley and Smith will be fast starters and that's really one of the keys to winning the Tarawera 100," said Townley.
"There is still a lot of race to go after the start but a good starts puts a rider in control."
In addition to winning outright, Townley was also credited with the over-300cc four-stroke class win at the Tarawera 100 last time around, while fellow Honda star Scott Birch (Honda Hamilton CRF250), of Rotorua, won the under-300cc four-stroke class.
Other class winners last year were Auckland's Chris Power (over-200cc two-stroke class); Auckland's Liam Draper (under-200cc two-stroke class); Thames' Natasha Cairns (women's class); Maruia's Ethan Bruce (under-19 open class); New Plymouth's Tony Parker (veterans' 35-39 years); Whakatane's Darren Capill (super veterans, 40-49 years) and Auckland's Stephen Major (mega veterans, over-50 years) and it's fair to say these individuals should count among the leading contenders again this time around.
Morrinsville brothers Hayden and Nathan Tesselaar shared a bike to win the new two-man, one-bike class last season, while Hamilton pair Aaron Jones and Andrew Charleston combined on separate bikes to win the new two-man, two-bike class.
The race programme allows for these configurations again this year, so perhaps the Tesselaar siblings, Jones and Charleston could also conjure up repeat wins on Saturday.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
Whibley takes first round of XC Cross Country Series - go to "Rider Reports" for the story.
JUNE 9, 2015: There is simply no excuse for not riding your bike this weekend.
The popular Dirt Guide Cross-Country Championships kicks off on Sunday in what promises to be an even bigger and better series than before.
Now into its eighth year and continuing to grow, the secret for the series' success is that it caters for young and old alike and, while it does offer something to tempt the less-experienced novice and junior riders, it is also a challenge for the more serious and highly-competitive senior racers.
The series has this year been boosted from three to four rounds and it's all set to kick off in forestry at Tar Hill, just south of Tokoroa, this Sunday (June 14), featuring two separate three-kilometre and 10-kilometre junior races to blast off in different parts of the forest at the same time at about 9.30am, with a more testing 20-kilometre course for the two-hour senior race set to launch at about 12.30pm.
Points are counted from just three of the four rounds, with contestants to discard their one worst result.
Adding extra spice to the expanded Dirt Guide Series this year is that Sunday's event will also count as the opening round of the fledgling NZXC series, the brainchild of former Kiwi international and just-crowned national cross-country champion Paul Whibley.
Pahiatua's Whibley is "cherry-picking" from several separate competitions to form his own five-round NZXC series and so riders on Sunday will have double the incentive to ride well and earn solid points.
The Dirt Guide series organiser is Tokoroa enduro icon Sean Clarke.
"I really enjoy putting this series on, especially for the junior riders," said Clarke.
"It gives them a look at what cross-country and enduro racing is like in the forestry. I myself never got to ride in the bush until I was 15 years old, but now we have the minis riders starting at seven years old, so it gives them a great start in this type of racing.
"We run two courses for the minis and juniors, which are just smaller versions of what the seniors tackle.
"This series also brings the cross-country and enduro riders together for a real clash of the codes, with the course I set a bit slower than the normal cross-country races but faster than an enduro course, so it makes for great racing."
Last year's Dirt Guide Series senior winner was Auckland's Sam Greenslade, and he should again be expected to feature near the front this weekend.
Greenslade didn't dominate and win every race last season, but consistency earned him the main prize, his 2-4-3 results over the three rounds giving him the outright win over fellow North Shore man Chris Power (12-2-2), with Mokau's former national enduro and cross-country champion Adrian Smith posting a 1-3-22 score-card to finish third overall.
The winner at round two last year was Taupo youngster Greg De Lautour, while Titirangi international Callan May won the final round of last year's series.
The Dirt Guide series is a popular stand-alone series, separate from the nationals, and a perfect preparation for Kiwis wishing to head on to greater things.
May is a good example of a rider who has done just that.
He is overseas again this season, regularly finishing among the leaders in the prestigious Grand National Cross-country Championship series in the United States, so he obviously won't be among the starters at Tar Hill on Sunday.
Others to watch for on Sunday include Helensville's Tom Buxton, who won the intermediate grade last season, finishing the series ahead of Te Puke's Daniel Marsh.
Waimauku's Jake Wightman was the top junior in both 2013 and 2014, while Te Awamutu's Rachel Archer won the 85cc class last year and should also be expected to shine this time around.
Round two of the series is set for Ohakuri, also just south of Tokoroa, on August 9, with round three to follow at a new venue near Atiamuri on September 6. The fourth and final round is set for a return to Tar Hill on October 4.
The series is sponsored by Michelin, Bel Ray, Renthal, O'Neal, DRC, Zeta, Kiwi Rider magazine, Oakley, TCX boots and Yoshimura.
Dirt Guide Cross-country Championships 2015:
Round one: June 14, Tar Hill, south of Tokoroa
Round two: August 9, Ohakuri, south of Tokoroa
Round three: September 6, Atiamuri (new venue)
Round four: October 4, Tar Hill, south of Tokoroa
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
The 2015 NZ Cross-country Championships
CAPTION: Pahiatua's Paul Whibley (Yamaha YZ450F), the new No.1 on the New Zealand cross-country motorcycle racing scene.
MAY 18, 2015: Pahiatua's Paul Whibley made it look easier than it was as he raced to title victory at the New Zealand Cross-country Championships at the weekend.
The 36-year-old former Manawatu forestry worker, affectionately dubbed "The Axeman" on the motorcycling scene, led from the start of the fourth and final round of the nationals at Waitawhiti Station, about 40 kilometres east of Pahiatua on Sunday, to wrap up the senior crown for 2015.
But that was only the end result of what was really quite a tough day for the professional racer and former international star.
Whibley and four-time former and defending national cross-country champion Adrian Smith, of Mokau, had traded wins throughout the season, Whibley finishing 2-1-1 and Smith 1-2-2 at the previous rounds.
However, with only three of the series' four rounds to be counted, with riders to discard their worst result, it meant Sunday's final round was a winner-takes-all affair for these two heroes.
When Smith suffered bike problems and was forced out of the race early on Sunday, it was an anti-climax for fans and the pressure was off for Whibley.
He was able to cruise to the win, although, despite appearances, it actually wasn't an easy ride for him on Sunday.
"I lost where the track went about midway through lap one and lost about 15 places," he explained.
He was quickly on the charge again, however, and has recovered his position at the front before the end of the first 24-kilometre lap.
"I had a crash on the second lap too, and I hit a dirt bank. The crash knocked off one of my hand-guards and I lost my goggles. I quickly picked myself up and worked hard to make a gap over the chasing pack (which was at that stage led by Hamilton's Andrew Charleston and Rotorua's Scott Birch) and so, with a clear track in front of me, the lack of goggles wasn't too much of a problem."
The eventual final finish order for the three-hour senior race was Whibley, followed several minutes behind by Charleston and Birch.
Despite failing to finish the race, Smith had done enough at the earlier rounds anyway to clinch the No.2 spot for the championship.
The outright winner of the junior section of the cross-country nationals was Kotemaori's Reece Lister and he had that title in the bag even before Sunday's final round, after winning all three of the earlier rounds, although he was disappointed to crash during the pre-race "look lap" on Sunday morning and was unable to compete in the final race of the series.
Waimauku's Jake Wightman won the 90-minute junior race on Sunday, leading Nelson's Jackson Walker and Eketahuna's Chris Dickson past the chequered flag.
The best-performed females in the series were Rotorua's Jane Roberts (senior) and Hastings rider Ellie Tilson (junior).
Results, seniors:
Leading final overall standings:
1. Paul Whibley (Pahiatua) 75 points; 2. Adrian Smith (Mokau) 69; 3. Andrew Charleston (Hamilton) 60; 4. Scott Birch (Rotorua) 56; 5. Ethan Bruce (Maruia) 53.
Final class standings:
Ethan Bruce (two-stroke over-200cc); Palmerston North's James Galpin (two-stroke under-200cc; Whibley (four-stroke over-300cc); Smith (four-stroke under-300cc); Stratford's Karl Roberts (vets, 35-44 years); Napier's Adam Youren (super vets, over-45 years); Eketahuna's Grant Christie (Super mega vets, over-50 years); Rotorua's Jane Roberts (women, non-championship).
Results, juniors:
Leading final overall standings:
1. Reece Lister (Kotemaori) 75 points; 2. Jake Wightman (Waimauku) 69; 3. Jackson Walker (Nelson) 62; 4. Andrew Barr (Huntly) 50; 5. Josh Pilet (Marton) 48.
Final class standings:
Barr (12-16 years four-stroke); Lister (12-16 years two-stroke over-85cc); Waimauku's Nick Wightman (12-16 years two-stroke under-85cc); Hastings' Ellie Tilson (12-16 years women, non-championship).
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
The 2015 KTM NZ Enduro Championships. Full Final results scroll down
CAPTION: Glen Eden's Chris Birch (KTM), with seven win from seven starts this season.
MAY 11, 2015: It was the perfect campaign for Aucklander Chris Birch in this season's New Zealand Enduro Championships.
The 34-year-old had absolutely no problem in defending his national crown from 2014, compiling an unbeatable string of seven wins from seven starts in the 2015 edition of the KTM-sponsored national series, which wound up with a double-header weekend in the Central North Island on Saturday and Sunday.
He won the sixth and penultimate round at Waimiha, near Benneydale, on Saturday, beat Mokau's former national enduro champion and current national cross-country champion Adrian Smith across the finish line by 47 seconds and then he repeated the treatment at the final round, in forestry south of Tokoroa on Sunday, this time edging out Smith by nearly two minutes (1 minute 59 seconds).
Third overall at both events was South Island rising star in the sport Hamish MacDonald.
With five wins from five starts before the weekend even began, Birch already had the trophies for both the outright honour and the over-300cc four-stroke class title in his grasp, but, "as long as not too many risks were taken", it was still his aim to make it a clean sweep of seven wins from seven starts.
"My plan was to concentrate on winning the championship, so I was riding carefully this weekend and not doing anything stupid," said Birch.
"It was just a case of me working out what was the fastest way through the sections and doing it safely. It was a little bit frustrating because I always like to go fast, but sometimes going flat out is not the fastest way."
Nonetheless, Birch still came out on top both times at the weekend.
Clashes of dates with the parallel but separate cross-country nationals meant Smith was unable to put up more of a fight this season, but several new challengers did emerge in the form of Howick's Liam Draper and Christchurch's MacDonald, these two young men showing the future of the sport is looking healthy indeed.
Draper finished fourth at Waimiha on Saturday, but mechanical woes meant he was unable to finish at Tokoroa on Sunday. He had still done enough to finish the series overall runner-up and also to wrap up the battle-within-a-battle for under-200cc two-stroke class glory.
"It's pretty awesome to see these young guys coming on," said Birch. "There were really no up-and-comers three years ago, but now we have too many to name. The sport is strong at the moment."
The unbeaten Birch finished a massive 36 points clear of Draper in the race for overall honours, with MacDonald in third, another 16 points further back.
Wellington's Jake Whitaker, Palmerston North's Adam Reeves and Kaikohe's Mitchell Nield rounded out the top half dozen expert grade riders overall.
In the intermediate grade, Paeroa's Matt Coombe finished on top overall, with Auckland's Ryan Armitage and Thames rider Natasha Cairns filling out the podium.
In the junior category, Te Awamutu's Rachael Archer was overall series winner, with Te Atatu's Rios Aspin and Loburn's Josh Dando completing the podium.
Expert grade class winners were Birch (over-300cc four-stroke); Whitaker (under-300cc four-stroke); MacDonald (over-200cc two-stroke); Draper (under-200cc two-stroke); Tokoroa's Sean Clarke (veterans, over 40 years).
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
Final Results of MNZ KTM Enduro Championships for 2015
The 2015 NZ Cross-country Championships
APRIL 20, 2015: Pahiatua's Paul Whibley has one hand on the New Zealand Cross-country Championships crown ... or has he?
The 36-year-old former Kiwi international won the third round of four in the series near Nelson on Sunday, making it back-to-back wins for the Yamaha star with just one round remaining, near Pahiatua on May 17, to wrap up the 2015 season.
But defending champion Adrian Smith, from Mokau, won round one and then finished runner-up at round two and again at round three on Sunday, so there is still virtually nothing to separate these two men in the championship chase, especially considering that riders must discard their one worst score.
The mathematics is chillingly simple – if Smith wins the final round and Whibley finishes runner-up, the two men will be level on points and the count-back rule applies.
That means that, after they each presumably discard a runner-up result, they will both have two wins and one runner-up result to their credit and so the rider who finishes highest at the final round wins the championship.
As it stands, one of these two men will be crowned champion on May 17 and no other rider is in a position to change that.
"It's Paul's to lose really, said Motorcycling New Zealand cross-country commissioner Chris Smyth. "He's won two out of three races and just needs to beat Adrian at the final round.
"The track on Sunday was fantastic, the best of the series so far," he said.
"Event organiser Adam Lithgow did a great job of laying it out. It had a bit of everything really ... fast and open sections, then forestry and logging trails among the pine trees. Everyone enjoyed it."
Third overall behind Whibley and Smith on Sunday was Nelson's Ethan Bruce (KTM), with Hamilton's Andrew Charleston (Honda) and Rotorua's Scott Birch (Honda) rounding out the top five.
Meanwhile, the battle for junior honours is over – Kotemaori's Reece Lister (KTM) won the 90-minute race early on Sunday and with that he made it three wins in a row and the title is now his already.
With the discard rule in place, it doesn't matter what happens at the final round, it is now impossible for Lister to be beaten.
Runner-up to Lister on Sunday was Waimauku's Jake Wightman (KTM), with Nelson's Jackson Walker (Yamaha) finishing third.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
Rider: Paul Whibley Team: Yamaha NZ Bike: Yamaha YZ450 F Event: Central Cross Country Series Result: 1st
Heavy rain leading up to the final round of the Central Cross Country Series had organizers scrambling to reroute parts of the track to make sure everyone had a ride-able course. Come race day the continued threat of rain held off and what had fallen prior had soaked in nicely. I got away well from the Le Mans style start and quickly moved into the lead. The trail lead down a gravely creek before we turned out and weaved our way along some really flowing bulldozed tracks. A short run along a ridge top reminded us how strong the wind was but before you knew it we dropped back down into the gulley and towards scoring. Daniel Cristie kept me in sight for the first shortened lap but after the pits we ran through the "gorge" and the pine section were I started to edge away. The pine trees were pretty slick the first time through but after getting stirred up the soil got better and better. The gorge also benefited from a few bikes with a line forming through the loose rocks and everyone's confidence grew with the realization that the wall to wall water section was not that deep. I managed to pull clear of Daniel and run my own race out front. I really enjoyed the track with a balanced mix of bush, pines and farmland. Jacob Hislop held third place ahead of series champion Charles Alabaster.
1 st: Paul Whibley
2 nd: Daniel Cristie
3 rd: Jacob Hislop
The 2015 KTM NZ Enduro Championships
APRIL 7, 2015: Rounds four and five of the New Zealand Enduro Championships in the South Island over the Easter Weekend break turned out to be another Chris Birch benefit, the Auckland man extending his unbeaten run to five in a row.
A double-header weekend of racing was expected to sort the men from the boys and Glen Eden's Birch (KTM 350 XC-F) showed he was still "the man" when it comes to enduro racing.
With just two rounds left to race in the KTM-sponsored series, the 2015 title is really his for the taking.
Multi-time former champion Birch was in scintillating form over the weekend and there were no surprises in his continuing to stretch his unbeaten run, but what may have come as something of a surprise was where Birch's main challenges came from, particularly at round four, near Christchurch, on Saturday.
Christchurch rider Hamish McDonald ended the day second overall on the steep course on Banks Peninsular, finishing just 49 seconds behind Birch, while a rider not a recognised enduro exponent, Taupo's Brad Groombridge, finished third overall.
Howick's Liam Draper finished fourth overall on Saturday and maintained his position at overall series runner-up.
Groombridge is an accomplished cross-country racer and is mostly recognised as one of New Zealand's leading MX1 motocross racers, but his performance in finishing third at this national enduro championship round is really something special for the Suzuki rider to celebrate.
Round five on Easter Monday was staged just down the road in the Berwick Forest at Mosgiel, inland from Dunedin, and once again Birch was supreme, albeit winning the day by just five seconds from fellow Auckland rider Chris Power, in his tightest winning margin this season.
Draper, riding a Husqvarna TE125, finished third on Monday and remains overall runner-up for the series, although still 29 points adrift of Birch.
Draper is, however, dominating the battle-within-a-battle for under-200cc two-stroke class honours.
Groombridge finished sixth overall on Monday, just behind Wellington's multi-time national moto trials champion Jake Whitaker, but, because these two South Island events were Groombridge's only enduro outings of the season thus far, he really has no chance of clinching top honours in either the overall or individual bike classifications.
The series continues with round six is at Waimiha on Saturday, May 9, and then wraps up at the seventh and final round near Tokoroa on Sunday, May 10.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
The 2015 KTM NZ Enduro Championships
MARCH 31, 2015: A double-header weekend of racing will surely sort the men from the boys as Easter offers up two tasty showdowns for the enduro community.
Auckland's Chris Birch has so far raced to three wins from three starts in this season's New Zealand Enduro Championships and, with back-to-back rounds of racing set for this Easter Weekend, he could possibly make that five from five.
The 34-year-old Kiwi dirt bike international and defending national champion won the opening round of seven in this year's KTM-sponsored national enduro series in the Riverhead Forest, west of Auckland, in February, and then he repeated the dose at round two near Whangamata just a couple of weeks later.
Glen Eden's Birch then made it three in a row when he took his KTM 350 XC-F bike to win the third round near Wellington midway through last month, finishing the day on the steep forest course near Porirua just ahead of Wellington's Jake Whitaker (Husqvarna), Howick's Liam Draper (Husqvarna), North Shore's Chris Power (Yamaha) and Whangamata's Jason Davis (KTM).
With rounds four and five set to follow in quick succession this weekend – round four near Mosgiel on Saturday and round five near Christchurch on Easter Monday – it will be the perfect time for Birch's rivals to strike back, before their title hopes dry up completely.
None of Birch's rivals could be described as "Easter bunnies", every one of them international-calibre contestants and many with national class titles to their names already, but Birch is really something special.
Whitaker, riding a Husqvarna FE250, came close to beating the seven-time national champion at round three when he crossed the finish line just 75 seconds behind Birch after a brutal day of racing in the Akatarawa Forest, up the Moonshine Valley Road, with Draper again producing a surprise performance to take his tiny 125cc Husqvarna TE125 to finish third overall.
Birch currently rules the series overall from Draper and Davis and, in the battle for the separate class honours, Birch leads the way in the over-300cc four-stroke class; Whitaker leads the under-300cc four-stroke class; Davis leads the over-200cc two-stroke class; Draper heads the fight for under-200cc two-stroke class honours, while Tokoroa's Sean Clarke is on top of the veterans' over-40 years class.
In the intermediate division, class leaders after three rounds are Mercer's Mark Bon (under-200cc two-stroke); Wanganui's Seth Reardon (under-300cc four-stroke); Paeroa's Matt Coombe (over-200cc two-stroke); Thames rider Natasha Cairns (women); Pukekohe's Chris Hilton (veterans 40-49 years); Helensville's John Buxton (veterans 50-54 years) and Tairua's Mark Scott (veterans over-55 years).
Following racing in the South Island this coming weekend, the series continues with round six is at Waimiha on Saturday, May 9, and then wraps up at the seventh and final round near Tokoroa on Sunday, May 10.
Credit: Words Andy McGechan
The 2015 NZ Cross-country Championships
Kotemaori's Reece Lister (KTM), now with back-to-back wins in the junior grade of the national cross-country series.
MARCH 17, 2015: Pahiatua's Paul Whibley struck back with a vengeance on Sunday.
The 36-year-old former Manawatu forestry worker, affectionately dubbed "The Axeman" on the motorcycling scene, returned to settle back in New Zealand after a successful 12-year stint of racing motorcycles off-road in Europe and the United States and he immediately went to work try to re-established his position at the top of the sport in New Zealand.
The first round of four in this season's New Zealand Cross-country Championships, near Onga Onga, in Central Hawke's Bay, last month did not go quite to plan for the Yamaha rider and he had to settle for overall runner-up that day, finishing behind defending and four-time former national champion and friend Adrian Smith, from Mokau.
But the day belonged to Whibley at round two near Mosgiel on Sunday.
Whibley (Yamaha YZ450F) and Smith (Yamaha YZ250F) were never far apart throughout the three-hour senior race until, with just over a lap to go, came disaster for Smith when he launched his bike into a bog, the bike stuck and he was thrown over the handlebars.
The time he lost recovering himself and his bike was about all that came between the pair at the finish, with Whibley eventually taking the chequered flag by just over two minutes from Smith.
Hamilton's Andrew Charleston (Honda) finished third, with Maruia's Ethan Bruce (KTM) and Rotorua's Scott Birch (Honda) rounding out the top five.
The reversal of fortunes for Whibley and Smith means the two men now head to round three near Nelson (on April 19) level on points and, with only three of the four rounds to be counted and riders discarding their worst result, it means the championship chase will go down to the wire at the final round near Pahiatua on May 17.
"It was another very fast course," said Whibley. "There were some interesting pieces up gullies, but in other places it was just flat out. Fifth gear on my bike got a good work-out that's for sure."
The 90-minute junior race earlier in the day saw round one winner Reece Lister (KTM 125), from Kotemaori, again triumphant.
Taupo's Xavier McBrydie (Husqvarna CR125) produced one of the best results of his young career to finish runner-up, only 13 seconds behind Lister, with Nelson's Jackson Walker (Yamaha), Waimauku's Jake Wightman (KTM) and Taupiri's Andrew Barr (KTM) rounding out the top five.
Unless somebody can upset Lister at round three, he could possibly wrap up the junior title with a round to spare.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
Race Report Rider: Paul Whibley, Team: Yamaha Bike: Yamaha YZ450 F Event: Castrol Honda 6 Hour Result:1st
I paired up with my Yamaha teammate Adam Reeves for the Castrol Honda 6 Hour at
Burts Farm in Matata over the weekend. I had raced at this venue years ago and it was
good to see things have only gotten better since then. A really fun track that mixed
farmland and trees, well marked and a safe average pace. The pumice soil was perfectly
watered by rain on Friday so conditions were prime.
Bit of a different start, a live engine flag start. Off the start I was away quickly into the
lead but Scott Birch held it on over a blind jump and took the lead, pretty brave but I was
happy to follow on the first lap.
Mitch Rees came flying by both of us mid-way and set a
wicked pace, although he handed the lead back shortly after going down in a tight turn. I
think Mitch was riding solo and his early pace wouldn't last until checkers.
I lead the wayaround on the second lap after Scott tagged his teammate Andrew Charleston in. I sent
Adam out for his first session with a small lead. The early racing was close, when Adam
tagged me back in the order had been shuffled again with Mitch Rees flying and taking
back the lead.
I pushed hard and passed Scott and Mitch and set about building a lead.
The track was cutting up with plenty of chop and dark holes in the trees so line selection
and smooth riding began to play a part. Adam tagged in for his session and had his YZ 250
singing, solidifying our lead. After 6 hours the checked flag was ours. A really fun track
and enjoyable event.
1st: Paul Whibley/Adam Reeves
2nd: Scott Birch/ Andrew Charleston
3rd: Ashton Grey/Jake Wightman
Paul Whibley is supported by:
Sidi, Smith, G2, Asterisk, MotoSR, Vortex Ignitions,
EC3D, Bush Riders MCC, Darbis, GHQ, Freedom Moto,
Yamaha NZ, Rosscos Start Up Services, Works
Connection, Pro Taper, Race Pace Services, Unabiker,
Leatt Brace, Tire Balls, bikesportnz.com, CarbSport,
KettleClamp, Alliance Offroad, Ride Eng MotoSeat
FMF Kenda Yamalube CV4 GYTR IMS MSR Recluse
Twin Air Wiseco Ride Eng Workshop graphics, HJC, JT
sprockets, DID, Vesrah
The 2015 KTM NZ Enduro Championships
National Enduro Championship TWO WINS FROM TWO STARTS FOR DEFENDING CHAMP BIRCH
FEBRUARY 15, 2015: A gap is ominously widening between Auckland's Chris Birch and his national enduro championship rivals.
The 35-year-old Kiwi dirt bike international and defending national champion has already won seven New Zealand Enduro Championships outright and it's quickly looking as if No.8 will be stacked away before too much longer after he produced another scintillating performance at the second round of seven in this season's KTM-sponsored series at Whangamata on Saturday.
Birch won the first round at Riverhead Forest, west of Auckland, earlier this month and made it back-to-back wins with another impressive showing at Whangamata at the weekend.
It was a different rider who finished runner-up this time around, Whangamata's Jason Davis (KTM 250 XC) making the most of local knowledge to edge ahead of the other riders and finish the day just 36 seconds behind Glen Eden's Birch (KTM 350 XC-F) and a mere two seconds ahead of the third-placed rider, Titirangi's Callan May (Yamaha YZ250F).
Davis had finished fourth overall at Riverhead, but now, with his runner-up finish on Saturday, he finds himself second overall in the series, 10 points behind leader Birch but four points ahead of Howick's Liam Draper (Husqvarna TE125).
Draper finished runner-up at Riverhead and fifth overall at Whangamata and, while he may have slipped down in terms of overall standings, he continues to lead the battle-within-a-battle for under-200cc two-stroke class honours.
Davis leads the over-200cc two-stroke class and Birch leads the way in the over-300cc four-stroke class.
"It was pretty dusty and dry in the forest at Whangamata," said Birch.
"I did what I could to make sure I had a clear track in front of me at the start of every special test stage, but the course was well marked and, even with the dust, it didn't feel as if I was going dangerously fast."
Other class leaders after two rounds are Coatesville's Sam Greenslade (KTM 250 EXC-F, under-300cc four-stroke class) and Tokoroa's Sean Clarke (Husqvarna TE250, veterans' over-40 years).
The series continues in forestry near Wellington on Saturday, March 14, followed by round four near Christchurch on Saturday, April 4, with round five just two days later, near Mosgiel on Monday, April 6. Round six is at Waimiha on Saturday, May 9, with the seventh and final round set for Tokoroa on Sunday, May 10.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
SMITH ON TRACK TO MAKE IT Cross Country TITLE No.5
FEBRUARY 15, 2015: It is perhaps too early to be making bold predictions, but Mokau's Adrian Smith is certainly on target to make it national cross-country title No.5 this season.
The sheep and beef farmer made it look easy when he won the first of four rounds of the New Zealand Cross-country Championships in Central Hawke's Bay on Saturday, Smith crossing the finish line more than three minutes ahead of fellow Kiwi international Paul Whibley – now permanently back in New Zealand after 12 years' racing overseas – with Rotorua's Scott Birch coming home third overall, two minutes and 21 seconds behind Whibley.
Whibley led for a few kilometres soon after the start, until he opted to "play it safe and back off a bit", the course much more open and faster than he had been accustomed to racing in the United States over the past few seasons.
"Those other guys seemed pretty excited to go faster than me, even with rocks, tree stumps and other obstacles hidden in the dust and long grass. Put it this way, Adrian (Smith) and Scott (Birch) wanted to go a lot faster than I was prepared to go. The pace was completely nuts."
Smith stretched out his lead and, by the end of the first 36-kilometre lap he was a minute ahead of Birch, with Whibley about 15 seconds further back.
However, once into a rhythm, Whibley gobbled into the advantage that Birch had over him and swooped to take second spot midway through the third lap.
But there was no catching Smith, who continued to stretch his legs in front, the 29-year-old well out of sight and range of Whibley by the time the chequered flag came out.
"When Paul gets used to the Kiwi cross-country scene again, he'll be pushing me a lot harder and so I am obviously thrilled to get this one in the bag," said Smith.
Meanwhile, Kotemaori's Reece Lister won the 90-minute junior race staged earlier in the day, leading Waimauku's Jake Wightman and Hamilton's Luke Taylor across the line.
Lister's win was made all the more remarkable because he suffered a flat front tyre three laps from the end of the race.
He was eventually the only rider to complete seven laps after he arrived at the timing zone before the 90 minutes had elapsed and was forced to continue back out on to the track for an extra circulation of the 16-kilometre junior course.
Round two of the series is set for Mosgiel, near Dunedin, on Sunday, March 15, followed by round three near Nelson on Sunday, April 19 and, finally, it all wraps up near Pahiatua on Sunday, May 17.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
FEBRUARY 10, 2015: The New Zealand Cross-country Championships will feature added fury this season with the return to domestic racing of Kiwi international Paul Whibley.
The four-round series kicks off in the Central Hawke's Bay region this Saturday, February 14, and many expect it will be another season of motorcycling fireworks in 2015, particularly now with Pahiatua's two-time former US cross-country champion Whibley at home to tackle the domestic series.
Mokau's national No.1 Adrian Smith is one rider who is certainly among the favoured few to win the nationals again this year, after winning the title in 2006, 2012, 2013 and 2014 and having won two out of three rounds in the 2015 Bel Ray Cross-country Championships, which wrapped up near Bombay on Sunday, although Raglan's Jason Dickey won that series overall.
A flat tyre resulted in a non finish at the only round he didn't win and ultimately that proved costly to Smith's Bel Ray campaign hopes. He has his fingers crossed that this will be the only bad luck he will suffer this season.
Whibley, Smith and Dickey may be the riders with the highest profiles, but they should not underestimate the threats posed by men such as Hamilton's Andrew Charleston, Rotorua's Scott Birch, Stratford's Karl Roberts, Morrinsville brothers Hayden and Nathan Tesselaar , Maruia's Ethan Bruce, Pukekawa's Anthony Parker or Morrinsville's Simon Lansdaal, to name just a few.
Former junior hotshots such as Takapau's Ben Fryer and Stratford's Josh Hunger should also be respected.
Sunday's venue is at 500 Lookout Road, signposted from Highway 50, and is about 20 kilometres' drive from Onga Onga.
Rounds two, three and four of the national series will be held respectively at Mosgiel, near Dunedin (on Sunday, March 15), Nelson (Sunday, April 19) and near Pahiatua (on Sunday, May 17).
Credit Andy McGechan
FEBRUARY 3, 2015: The popular Bel Ray Cross-country Series goes down to the wire at the third and final round at Bombay this weekend.
Raglan Kawasaki rider Jason Dickey won the previous round near Huntly last month and the two men who finished directly behind him that day – Honda duo Andrew Charleston, of Hamilton, and Rotorua's Scott Birch – will perhaps attract most of the focus this Sunday because any one of these three riders could carry off the trophy this season.
Defending Bel Ray champion, round one winner and current national cross-country champion Adrian Smith (Yamaha), of Mokau, experienced disaster at round two when he suffered a flat tyre and was unable to finish. This leaves him now only sixth in the series standings and with no chance of winning outright.
It is likely that Kiwi international Paul Whibley (Yamaha), now back in the country permanently after spending the past 12 years racing in Europe and the United States, will show up at the Bel Ray Series event for the first time on Sunday and, even though they will not be title contenders, both he and Smith will surely have a say in what happens this weekend.
Top women's grade contestants have been Te Awamutu's Jan-Maree Pool (KTM), Rotorua's Jane Roberts (KTM) and Pukekawa's Rachel Parker (KTM) and it should be another tight battle between these riders on Sunday and pre-96 class series leader Mark Bon (Yamaha IT490), from Mercer, will be looking for some competition from other Vintage MX bike riders to spice up the competition for him
Meanwhile, in the junior ranks, Waimauku's Jake Wightman (KTM) finished runner-up at the opening round of the series and convincingly won round two, giving him a nine-point lead over Gisborne's Duncan Summerfield (KTM), who has a 3-4 score-card thus far.
Their 90-minute race will be staged early in the day and both Wightman and Summerfield can expect intense pressure from riders such as Hamilton's Luke Taylor (Gas Gas), Cambridge BikesportNZ.com rider Ashton Grey (KTM), PioPio's Troy Miller (Honda), Huntly's Jack Broughton (Honda), Raglan's Coby Rooks (Honda), Ngaruawahia's Jeremy Ashdown (Yamaha) and Te Awamutu's Daniel White (Kawasaki).
Hamilton's Tyla Cushion (Honda) in unbeaten so far in the junior women's category, but will be aware that Te Kuiti's Samantha Kelly (Yamaha) is within strike range.
A total of 14 females have contested the series this year, showing the increased popularity of the series and the sport in general.
This weekend features a new venue, at Sutton's Farm, Bombay, although it was previously used about eight years ago, possibly before many of the current riders were competing in the sport, and this will make it a level playing field.
A mini cross-country circuit will be set up near the pits for learners and young novices to test their skills while the main racing is conducted on the adjacent steep hill-country and bush course.
With massive support from Bel Ray's Steven Croad, the series continues to grow and plans are already being made for an even better competition next season.
Words by Andy McGechan
The 2015 KTM NZ Enduro Championships
FEBRUARY 2, 2015: Auckland's Chris Birch seemed unstoppable as he romped to victory at the New Zealand Enduro Championships last year and he has now started off the 2015 edition of the competition with the same scintillating domination.
The seven-round KTM-sponsored series kicked off in the Riverhead Forest, west of Auckland, on Sunday with the Glen Eden rider still firmly in charge at the top of this gruelling off-road motorcycle sport.
The 34-year-old Birch (KTM) won all six of the event's tightly-timed special stages to finish the day just over a minute ahead of fellow Kiwi international Paul Whibley (Yamaha), now back in New Zealand permanently after more than a decade competing in Europe and the United States.
"I was quite surprised that I won every special test today," said Birch afterwards.
"I actually didn't feel as though I was riding that well. I have been doing a lot of rider coaching sessions lately, but that doesn't involve me riding at race pace and I had to lift it to another level today."
However, although Whibley obviously challenged Birch on Sunday, a clash of dates with his preferred cross-country racing campaign means Whibley will not be able to push on and continue to challenge Birch.
The next round of the enduro series is set for Whangamata in less than two weeks' time, on February 14, the same date that Whibley will begin his New Zealand Cross-country Championships campaign in Hawke's Bay.
And that might mean that the rider who finished third overall on Sunday, Howick teenager Liam Draper (Husqvarna), could be the one to watch as the enduro series progresses.
"I enjoyed the racing today and I showed I have good speed," said Draper, also an accomplished moto trials rider and also currently racing national championship level motocross.
"I'm getting better and better at enduro racing now and hope to do a lot better than last year, when I broke my thumb at round three. My aim is to finish this year without injuring myself and also to race the motocross nationals."
Birch also led the battle-within-a-battle for his individual class honours on Sunday, finishing top of the Expert over-300cc four-stroke class, while Draper leads the Expert under-200cc two-stroke class.
Whangamata's Jason Davis (KTM) leads the Expert over-200cc two-stroke class after round one, while Coatesville's Sam Greenslade (KTM) secured the lead in the Expert under-300cc four-stroke class and Tokoroa's Sean Clarke (Husqvarna) climbed to the top of the Expert veterans' class.
Round three is near Wellington on Saturday, March 14, followed by round four near Christchurch on Saturday, April 4, with round five just two days later, near Mosgiel on Monday, April 6. Round six is at Waimiha on Saturday, May 9, with the seventh and final round set for Tokoroa on Sunday, May 10.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
DECEMBER 1, 2014: The hills around Huntly will echo with the sound of highly-tuned dirt bikes this Sunday as the 21st anniversary Bel-Ray Cross-country Championships kick off for another thrilling series.
Once again the entry list for the three-round competition reads like a virtual Who's Who of New Zealand's off-road motorcycling talent, with a handful of Kiwi internationals and current and former national champions all vying for honours.
In addition to the regulars, riders such as four-time and current national cross-country champion Adrian Smith, of Mokau, and Raglan's Jason Dickey, other top riders expected to race the series this year include three-time former national cross-country champion Adam Reeves, from Palmerston North, Morrinsville's Tesselaar brothers, Hayden and Nathan, Auckland's Sam Greenslade, Rotorua's Scott Birch, Morrinsville's Simon Lansdaal, Hamilton's Andrew Charleston and Taupo's Greg De Lautour, to name a few.
Two-time former American cross-country champion Paul Whibley, from Pahiatua, is also a possible starter on Sunday, along with local hotshots Anthony Parker, Andrew 'Nugget' Barr and brothers Luke and Joel Taylor.
Two international-calibre moto trials riders who have recently transferred their riding skills across from trials riding to enduro and cross-country racing – seven-time national moto trials champion Jake Whitaker, of Wellington, Napier's multi-time former national moto trials champion Warren Laugesen and Auckland's Liam Draper – are also fancied to be among the leading riders this weekend.
The Bel-Ray cross-country series has for long been a popular event with New Zealand riders, the course generally featuring safe and free-flowing trails.
A wide range of classes are catered for and this allows competitors to make their way through the grades with a good chance of collecting a prize or two. The experts class has always attracted New Zealand's top talent with many Kiwi internationals competing while at home during their international off-season.
The venue for Sunday's race is Vining's Farm, Tiko Tiko Road, Glen Murray, west of Huntly.
The 90-minute junior race starts at 10am and the two-hour senior race blasts off at about midday. Mini bike riders will run a race on a separate, extended motocross track, starting at 10am.
Classic bike class will be first away and this will be the only class to start with the engines running.
The classics class introduced for the first time last year has been expanded this year to include all air-cooled bikes up to 2014.
Day licences are available and free for the first round. The remaining two rounds after this weekend's opener are set for January 11 (Smith's Farm, Naike) and February 8 (Sutton's Farm, Bombay).
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
NOVEMBER 26, 2014: Multi-time New Zealand motorcycle Enduro Champion and International Six Days Gold Medal winner Sean Clarke last season came up with an exciting concept to help develop the next group of world class New Zealand off-road racing talent.
And the concept is starting to grow as this weekend sees the second annual running of the Suzuki Junior Three-Hour race.
Set in the Ohakuri Forest, just south of Tokoroa, the race this Saturday, November 29, appeals to both ends of the talent spectrum and has attracted some of the sport's elite rising stars, as well as many who seek to learn and develop their skills for the future.
The race had been scheduled to run at the beginning of October, but a storm ravaged the Central Plateau and forced Clarke to postpone it until this weekend.
Clarke, with the support of the Dirt Guide and Kiwi Rider magazine, has been staging 90-minute cross-country races for junior and mini-bike riders for the past three years and this latest project of his is already proving popular with the dirt bike community.
Clarke got his start in off-road motorcycle sport early. So early, in fact, that he still carries the nick-name 'Junior' – even though he is now a veteran. After an illustrious career, he's doing something for the new juniors, hoping to attract more kids into cross-country racing.
The winners in his Dirt Guide/Kiwi Rider-backed series have all come from motocross backgrounds, and all are previous King of the North Mini Motocross winners: James Scott (Oparau) and Dan White (Korakonui) to mention just two.
Scott won last weekend's annual two-hour Tarawera 50 cross-country race at Matata, near Whakatane, with White finishing runner-up and these two individuals have already indicated that they will team up to tackle this weekend's Suzuki Three-Hour.
Riders such as Rotorua's Logan Steens, Galatea's Logan Salmons, Palmerston North's Hunter Miller, Pahiatua's Jarod Hylsop, Te Awamutu's Rachael Archer and just-crowned national junior women's motocross champion Tyla Cushion, from Hamilton, could also feature.
"The kids really like the fact they are out in the forest and learning the track as the event progresses," Clarke says.
"A lot of the time they are riding on their own, which helps hugely in building their confidence. However, they are still kids so we will have several travelling marshals out on both courses to ensure all the riders have a good time."
Yes, there will be two courses in the Suzuki Junior Three-Hour. One will be a 10 kilometre course for juniors aged 11 to 15-years-old; the other will be a mini course over four kilometres for 7 to 11-year-olds. The courses are designed to suit the small wheels of the bikes the kids will be racing and both classes will be racing at the same time.
The Suzuki Junior Three-Hour is a teams' contest so none of the riders will be racing the full three hours. They will either share a bike, with one rider handing over to the other at the re-fuelling stops, or run pony-express style, with the second rider on a fresh bike waiting for his team-mate to finish a lap before heading out.
In the minis, the 7 to 11-year-old riders have choice between 0-105cc two-stroke motocross bikes, or four-stroke trail bikes up to 150cc.
Sign-in is at 7am with scrutineering starting at 7am as well (bike, boot and helmet check). Race starts at 9am.
The race is sponsored by The Dirt Guide, Bel-Ray, Michelin tyres, Renthal bars, DRC, O'Neal apparel, Yoshimura exhausts, TCX boots, Kiwi Rider magazine and Oakley goggles.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
"The OSET MX-10 is designed as the first bike for off-road, MX and play
riders. Compared to the traditional gasoline 'first bikes' sold for the
last few decades, this machine is a leap forward in performance and
The OSET MX-10 takes OSET into new territory – the enduro/ MX/supermoto market! This machine has been in development for some time,
and we're delighted with it! A ground up design featuring a steel frame, 48v OSET drive system (complete with 3-dial adjustability) and top
specification components, this machine has the potential to re-define the starter MX market around the globe. The MX-10 features a custom upside down fork built to
OSET's specifications and an adjustable oil shock at the rear. Hydraulic disc brakes with reach adjustable levers for small hands provide plenty of stopping power.
With the dials turned up, the acceleration is spectacular. With them turned down, the MX-10 is very tame and ideal for first timers. This bike will grow as the rider grows!
Wheelbase 725mm (28.5") Brakes Front 160mm, rear 140mm hydraulic disc brakes
Seat Height Low Mid High 495mm 520mm 550mm Motor 1200w OSET neodymium magnet DC motor
Ground clearance Low Mid High 145mm 175mm 202mm Controller 48v OSET, adjustable for power, speed and response
Bar height Low Mid High 715mm 750mm 770mm Batteries 4 x 10ah AGM SLA or OSET 48v lithium
Wheels Alloy rim/OSET hub with 10" MX tyres. Aftermarket 'Supermoto' wheels.* Charger 2 amp 48v Suspension Front - upside down telescopic air/oil fork. Rear spring/oil adjustable rear shock Age Range 4-7 years old
OSET however, has resisted the urge to simply 'dress' the OSET Trials machines as motocross bikes and pretend they are suited for the task. Instead, we
started with a fresh sheet of paper and designed a new machine from scratch. The starting point was to analyse the ideal off-road geometry for children aged 4-7. Next we designed components and systems to achieve optimum performance. We knew
what we wanted when we started the project and the team is confident the MX-10 delivers on every aspect – we're incredibly proud of the bike
we've produced! The most popular gasoline starter machine has been the same since 1981. The bike is a simple, drum
braked, gasoline powered 50cc machine that has remained virtually unchanged since it's introduction. With few alternatives, these bikes have sold in great numbers. The OSET MX-10 aims to provide a new &
improved option! The MX-10 features an adjustable seat height – giving even the smallest riders more confidence as
they can touch the ground. When lowering the bike, the geometry alters to provide more stability for raw beginners. The front forks, rear shock and brakes are all designed to suit the bike and young riders –
they're lightweight and adjustable because one size does not fit all. One of the biggest hurdles young riders have to overcome when riding a traditional gasoline starter machine is the power delivery. With most of the
power at the top of the rev range, many kids are simply too scared to give it a handful. The MX-10 resolves that issue. The power, throttle response and top speed can all be easily altered to suit the rider.
The very youngest riders can build confidence and speed safely. The linear, electric power is easy for children to master and allows for parental control. And we're not finished there! Electric
power means no kick start – whichmeans no more running across a track to help get the bike restarted. It also means no hot exhaust, so no one is going to be scorched accidentally.
And the weight means when they inevitably slide off, they can pick the bike up relatively easily and get started on their own. As practice locations become increasingly scarce, the virtually silent
MX-10 opens up many more options than its gasoline counterparts. It means more time on the bike, more skills and more fun! And, to give the option of versatility,
aftermarket wheels and tires can transform this bike for Supermoto too! OSETs intention is to never enter a market with a half-hearted machine.
We want to build the best machine we can – be it for trials, enduro, play riding or motocross. We want kids to have fun on motorcycles – safely!
The 2014 MTF Nelson New Zealand Moto Trials Championships
CAPTION: Tauranga's Jacob Gundry, who retained his Junior grade title near Nelson at the weekend. OCTOBER 28, 2014: A gripping see-saw battle between two international superstars was the main talking point of the New Zealand Moto Trials Championships near Nelson over the Labour Weekend.
World No.13 Jack Sheppard, from England, had the rare skills needed to halt seven-time consecutive New Zealand Moto Trails Champion Jake Whitaker in his tracks at the three-day event, even though he didn't have everything go his way at the MTF Nelson-sponsored event.
But, by winning two of the three days and finishing runner-up to Kiwi legend Whitaker on the other day, the visiting hero from Ipswich did enough to steal away with the trophy.
With his impressive string of recent successes, the 23-year-old Whitaker was obvious favourite to win the top prize at the weekend, but he also knew he would face his sternest test yet when he learned that world class rider Sheppard was making the trip Downunder.
"Jack won day one and I won day two, but it was a much tougher course on Monday and Jack was just too good for me there," said Whitaker.
"I was happy enough with my riding over the weekend but, obviously, I'm still disappointed not to win.
"Jack Sheppard is a fulltime professional rider, and among the best in the world, so I knew it was going to be difficult to beat him."
Motueka's Daniel Clark was able to successfully defend his Intermediate grade title, winning for a second year in a row from David Trewin – the Kaikoura man who was also runner-up last season – with Ashhurst's Kevin Pinfold claiming third place.
It was business as usual also in the Junior and Presidents' grades, where the champions from 2013 both managed to defend their respective titles.
Tauranga's Jacob Gundry retained his Junior grade crown, while Nelson's Stephen Oliver was similarly dominant in keeping his Presidents' grade title.
But there were changes at the top of the A Grade, Clubmans', Twin-Shock and Women's divisions.
Nelson's Peter Oliver won the A Grade ahead of Howick's Liam Draper and Wellington's Carl Robson. Draper was also runner-up in this class last season, on that occasion finishing behind the class-hopping Gundry.
Marlborough's Keith Ruthven became the new champion in the Clubmans' grade, finishing the weekend ahead of Blenheim's Gareth Wadsworth, while Christchurch's Paul Jackson won the Twin-Shock division.
Tauranga's Gabby Gundry had to give up her Women's grade crown, settling instead for second place behind new champion Stefanie Downes, of Christchurch.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
The 2014 MTF Nelson New Zealand Moto Trials Championships
CAPTION: Motueka's Karl Clark, one of the local favourites this weekend.
OCTOBER 20, 2014: With seven consecutive national moto trials championships to his name, it would be a brave person indeed to bet against Wellington's Jake Whitaker making it seven in a row this weekend.
The 23-year-old Kiwi international, who also boasts three Australian moto trials championship titles in his impressive résumé, is obvious favourite to win the top prize at the New Zealand Moto Trials Championships near Nelson this Labour Weekend.
When Whitaker earned his record-equalling seventh national title last season, it put him level in the history books with Napier's Warren Laugesen and he would like nothing better than to own the record alone as an eight-time champion.
But Whitaker will also face perhaps his biggest threat this coming weekend when 21-year-old world No.13 Jack Sheppard arrives from Ipswich, in Suffolk, England, to keep him honest at the MTF Nelson Vehicle Finance-sponsored three-day event.
In addition to international star Sheppard, Whitaker will again need to respect perennial challengers Karl Clark, from Motueka, Nelson's Nick Oliver, Rotorua's John Haynes and New Plymouth's Matt Foster if he hopes to retain his Expert grade title.
"Jake will certainly have his work cut out," said event organiser Greg Cox.
"I expect the main battle will be between Jake and Jack, but it's the largest field we've seen in recent years in the Expert grade and nobody can take anything for granted.
"The courses we've set over the three days are quite varied. It will go from open grass, to rocks and creek beds and there will be a man-made section too, with concrete pipes on a flat-bed trailer."
Competition is also expected to be tight in the A Grade, Intermediate, Presidents', Women's, Clubmans' and Junior divisions.
Leading A Grade riders will likely include last year's champion, Jacob Gundry, of Tauranga, Howick's Liam Draper and Wellington's Carl Robson.
Gundry doubled up to also tackle the Junior grade last season and it came as no surprise that he won this title as well, finishing ahead of Te Puke's Ben McLeod.
Motueka's Daniel Clark will be determined to defend his Intermediate grade title, with his biggest threat likely to be last season's runner-up, David Trewin, from Kaikoura.
Nelson's Stephen Oliver could be the man to watch in the Presidents' grade, while Tauranga's Gabby Gundry will no doubt put her recent international experience to good use as she attempts to defend her Women's class crown.
Balance, bravery and throttle control is the main emphasis for this unique motorcycle competition. Speed is not essential, with the prime aim instead being to conquer extreme terrain without touching feet on the ground or falling off.
Points are lost for these "faults" and the rider with the lowest score wins.
The venues are:
Day 1 – Drummond Farm, 32 Riwaka Valley Road, Riwaka, Nelson.
Days 2 & 3 – Hickmontt Farm, 35 Riwaka-Kaiteriteri Road, Riwaka, Tasman.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
16 July 2014 – It is exactly 10 years ago this week, the first OSET Bike rolled out of Ian Smith's garage in Denver, Colorado, to be ridden by his son, Oliver!
OSET Electric bikes in New Zealand are handled by Kevin Pinfold, phone 06 326 8666, email firstname.lastname@example.com & Merv George email firstname.lastname@example.com
Named after its inaugura l rider, Oliver Smith Electric Trials, the then 3 year old Oliver took to the machine like a duck to water. Within just a few minutes he was riding standing up and just a week later was competing against children aged eight and nine. Within the month the smallest rider in town was making headlines, taking the top spot on the podium against the older kids.
OSET Bikes is the brainchild of Ian Smith, who wanted a safe, lightweight, fun machine for his young son to ride. What started out as a garage project, between himself and engineer Mike Buchholz almost overnight, became a valid business concept that has taken the world of off-road motorcycling by storm!
Fast forward 10 years and the 'project' now sells bikes to over 25 countries worldwide, has six models and a clothing and accessories range. The company has been invited to attend the highest profile events the UK has to offer, including MOTO GP, WSBK, BSB, Isle of Man TT and Goodwood Festival of Speed. And its proven technology has seen the company consistently dominate the youth trials scene for the last two years, making it the first electric powered machine, anywhere in the world to win a national championship against petrol counterparts.
While OSET Bikes has enjoyed unprecedented success, Ian is keen to keep his feet firmly on the ground. He said: "It's an amazing feeling looking back today and remembering the day Oliver rode the very first bike. I honestly can't quite believe we're here ten years on. It was never the intention and every year our breath is literally taken away by what we've been able to achieve.
"We have literally learnt as we've gone along and we're still learning. When we started we had no experience of manufacturing on a large scale – and especially pulling together something as complicated as a motorcycle that contains over 250 component parts.
"We are on the 9th generation of the bike. As technology changes and our 'field' knowledge increases, we have been able to develop the OSETs to ensure we always deliver on safety, reliability and most importantly fun! As OSETs have grown in popularity, we have worked with the ACU to help bring about the E-Class – enabling 4-6 year olds to ride electric bikes competitively. We have also introduced OSET Cups events around the UK. The aim is to help kids get the most out of their OSETs and boost the popularity of trials from a young age. We also run the OSET Dynamos – a free to join OSET owners club."
OSET Bikes are the ideal starter bike for children, whether for a bit of back-garden fun or with a view to developing a serious hobby. Designed specifically for trials riding, children develop balance, throttle control, agility and skill on a bike that provides the solid foundation needed to excel in whatever form of two wheeled sport they go onto enjoy.
Ian finished: "It's been a rollercoaster of a decade for OSET Bikes and as we look to develop our range, we're definitely up for the thrills and spills of the next 10 years!"
Trials Central - http://www.trialscentral.com/news-archive/trials-bike-news/16176-oset-celebrates-10th-birthday
Trial Mag - http://www.trialmag.net/07/16/2014/oset-celebrate-10th-birthday/
Trials King - http://www.trials-king.co.uk/news/item/674-oset-celebrates-10th-birthday
Maser (Treviso), 22 July, 2014 - The 2014 Romaniacs belongs to Jonny Walker and Sidi Sport. At the end of a gruelling three days of racing on an almost impossible track, the English rider from KTM came in a mere seconds ahead of 2013 champion and fellow countryman Graham Jarvis to win the important and highly spectacular international endurance race that took place in Sibiu, Romania, in the heart of Transylvania. This is Jonny Walker's first career victory in this punishing, uniquely fascinating, hard enduro race.
It was an electrifying edition of the 2014 Red Bull Romaniacs from start to finish. Jonny Walker came to the starting line for the last day with just a 5 minute advantage over the super strong defending champion Graham Jarvis. Jonny immediately imposed an aggressive racing rhythm to block any attempt at a comeback by his English rival, who instead was trying for his fifth victory in Transylvania but who had to settle for second place this time. In fact, with great determination Jonny not only controlled the race but he even managed to increase his advantage as he went on to capture this prestigious success that was missing from his profile.
It was also a major achievement for Sidi Sport, which accompanied Jonny Walker in this extraordinary enterprise with their Sidi Crossfire2 boots, which reaffirm themselves as the number one boot for off road, on any terrain and in any conditions… even the most extreme. When you need an ally in the battle to win, Sidi Crossfire2 is there!
Official Overall Results Gold Day 4
Rank BIB Rider Nat. Prolog Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 TOTAL
1 4 Jonny Walker GBR 00:02:00 4:09:08 5:31:51 5:44:44 5:25:40 20:53:23
2 1 Graham Jarvis GBR 00:01:00 4:15:10 5:27:33 5:49:13 5:33:53 21:06:49
3 7 Wade Young ZAF 00:06:30 4:38:17 5:32:30 5:51:00 5:39:14 21:47:31
4 5 Paul Bolton GBR 00:00:00 4:19:27 6:23:26 5:53:35 5:25:05 22:01:33
5 3 Andreas Lettenbichler DEU 00:03:00 4:29:23 5:59:40 6:06:45 6:08:11 22:47:00
6 6 Chris Birch NZL 00:06:00 4:36:59 6:35:22 6:07:35 6:14:33 23:40:29
7 8 Philipp Scholz DEU 00:05:00 4:52:36 7:01:56 6:25:19 6:17:21 24:42:12
8 33 Cory Graffunder CAN 00:05:30 5:18:02 7:05:24 6:15:00 6:52:28 25:36:24
9 21 Blake Gutzeit ZAF 00:04:30 5:12:18 6:56:44 6:53:09 6:38:44 25:45:25
10 10 Miha Spindler SVN 00:06:45 5:07:24 7:16:15 6:50:14 6:41:45 26:02:23
11 13 Rienk Tuinstra NLD 00:08:30 5:35:26 7:59:27 7:27:21 7:24:00 28:34:44
12 18 Altus De wet ZAF 00:07:45 6:34:06 8:09:22 6:54:33 6:49:49 28:35:35
13 9 Lars Enoeckl AUT 00:10:00 5:03:53 6:38:33 11:03:00 6:04:41 29:00:07
14 11 Pierre Pallut FRA 00:04:00 6:36:07 8:06:47 7:09:14 8:05:52 30:02:00
15 30 Mike Skinner NZL 00:08:45 5:48:37 8:35:24 7:59:07 9:00:20 31:32:14
16 28 Graham Hedgcock ZAF 00:10:00 6:59:16 9:20:15 7:32:48 7:57:41 32:00:00
17 31 Otto Freund DEU 00:10:00 7:31:30 9:37:29 7:26:47 7:58:34 32:44:20
18 26 Homero Diaz MEX 00:08:00 6:22:47 15:22:47 8:03:35 9:08:27 39:05:36
19 27 Philipp Schneider AUT 00:07:00 7:44:30 15:27:48 8:03:17 7:50:51 39:13:26
20 32 Carlos Enrique Caballero ESP 00:07:30 8:47:30 15:22:06 8:36:50 8:48:12 41:42:08
21 29 Dwayne Kleynhans ZAF 00:07:15 8:49:16 15:29:22 9:11:37 13:08:42 46:46:12 DSQ
22 24 Didier Goirand MEX 00:08:15 8:45:22 15:22:00 13:09:00 9:57:39 47:22:16 DSQ
23 17 Phillip Cheater NZL 00:10:00 7:10:40 17:00:34 12:49:57 23:35:00 60:46:11 DSQ
24 25 Noel Bolso CAN 00:10:00 12:59:51 12:00:41 25:45:00 23:35:00 74:30:32 DSQ
25 23 Jason Krause ZAF 00:10:00 16:26:02 14:35:30 25:45:00 23:35:00 80:31:32 DSQ
26 22 David Thomas ZAF 00:10:00 17:23:07 18:56:25 25:45:00 23:35:00 85:49:32 DSQ
We await full results for the event as there were more than a dozen New Zealand riders competing in the event.
Honda Tarawera 100 cross-country marathon TOWNLEY MAKES IT TWO WINS IN A ROW
JULY 6, 2014: He celebrated a winning debut at the Honda Tarawera 100 cross-country marathon last season and now Bay of Plenty's Ben Townley has made it two impressive victories in a row.
The Tauranga 29-year-old – now retired from full-time racing and working at manager of The Honda Shop Racing Team – showed his race craft was still sharp as he took his Honda CRF450 to win the 37th annual edition of the great race, on the outskirts of Te Teko, west of Whakatane, on Saturday and he did it in style.
Former motocross world champion Townley snatched the holeshot as a shotgun blast signalled the start at 10am and was never headed in the gruelling 140-kilometre race.
He finished ahead of fellow motocross exponents Brad Groombridge, of Taupo, and Rhys Carter, of Mount Maunganui, with Auckland's Sam Greenslade and Waitakere's Ethan Martens rounding out the top five.
The margin for victory was narrow, with Townley leading Groombridge across the line by just 21 seconds and he was just one minute and 31 seconds ahead of Carter after four 43-minute laps of the hilly grassland circuit, but Townley's tactics were carefully calculated.
"I knew I needed a good start and when I got the holeshot I knew I was in a good position to go on and win.
"I kept an eye on where the riders were behind me and just stayed steady and kept them there for the first lap because I didn't want to push too hard when I was leading on a fresh track. I just had to be patient.
"But then I put the hammer down on laps two and three and then just tried to survive after that."To be honest, though, I couldn't have held Brad at bay for another lap. I didn't realise he was coming so fast. My hand was hurting near the end because I have not done much riding lately and I had blisters."
Townley was also credited with the over-300cc four-stroke class win, while fellow Honda star Scott Birch (Honda Hamilton CRF250), of Rotorua, won the under-300cc four-stroke class.Other class winners were Auckland's Chris Power (over-200cc two-stroke class); Auckland's Liam Draper (under-200cc two-stroke class); Thames' Natasha Cairns (women's class); Maruia's Ethan Bruce (under-19 open class); New Plymouth's Tony Parker (veterans' 35-39 years); Whakatane's Darren Capill (super veterans, 40-49 years); Auckland's Stephen Major (mega veterans, over-50 years).
Morrinsville brothers Hayden and Nathan Tesselaar shared riding duties to win the new two-man, one-bike class, while Hamilton pair Aaron Jones and Andrew Charleston combined to win the new two-man, two-bike class.
Credit: Words by Andy McGechan
MOMCC Moto Trials Report 15 June 2014
Round 2 of the Manawatu Orion club champs was held at the bee hive property (now owned by Mr Leamy) on the Pohangina Valley East Road. Thanks to Nicks drainage work and my plank the pre section mud was kept to a minimum (just one of the things we did to make the trial more comfortable for you) but there were still a few who found the blackberries a bit prickly.
A few of the sections were quite technical and maybe more use of the chainsaw would have eased that a bit. However there were certainly lessons to be learnt for all. The 5's were scattered everywhere, even in the final lap when lower scores were had previously. Either the sections cut up but more likely a lack of concentration??
Oscar Alexander had a fantastic days ride (total 16) so he must be ready to graduate to MOMCC. Likewise the Walcroft father and son Adrian and Callum quietly undercut the competition in their respective grades – well done guys. There is good competition in all grades although a few riders were riding some harder lines skewing the scores a little. Kevin Pinna's score reflecting the harder obstacles he was attacking (and messing up) in a couple of sections.
Due to my handicap (not mental) I wasn't too adventurous with the section setting but next time we may need to look further up the valley for some new sections, although that may mean some earthworks and a bit of scrub cutting. Thanks to Nick and Andrew who helped set the sections
Regard Merv
Hi all, from Kevin Pinfold
Details of the next Manawatu Orion mototrial.
Event – Club Champs Rnd 2 plus twinshock/classic.
Date – June 15th
Venue – Leamy's farm (formally Coombes') on the Pohangina Valley East Road (beside No 3 Line). Will be sign posted from the Ashhurst to Pohangina Road at the Poh' Vlly East Rd intersection. Allow about 10 mins from Ashhurst.
Sign on – 9.45 am
Start – 10.30 am
All grades including twin shock/classic
Note – parking is a bit restrictive at this venue but please don't park on the road for safety reasons, everyone should get a park if it's done sensibly.
Trials masters (section setters) Merv and Nick and perhaps more.
NZ National Cross Country series 2014.
James Galpin Race Report 2nd - 200cc class
Bike: 2014 KTM 200 XC-W
James is supported by: AFC motorcycles, Techno Mousse, Moto SR, Bush Riders MCC, Broxy training
Round 1 New Plymouth: The day started off with the sun shining bright and as we arrived, the juniors had just finished doing their look lap, and I couldn't wait to go racing. I was excited because this race would the fifth race and my first 3Hr national as a senior rider. After the juniors race we had riders briefing and then made our way over to the start line. I was nervous because I knew I had to get a good start because of the shortage of rain they had up there and I knew it would be dusty. The shot gun fires and we run to our bikes, I end up kicking it twice before the bike starts but still ended up getting an alright start. For the first part of the first lap I found myself getting passed due to the dust and my lack of experience. The dust was so thick that in some spots on the track I couldn't see half the front fender. Half way through the first lap I crashed off the end of a farm track and it cost me about 10 places. I didn't know what placing I was in but I pushed hard the whole race. After making up a whole lot of positions I got really bad arm pump on the last few laps. After getting passed back by only a few riders I ended up finishing the race 3rd in class.
Round 2 Huntly: As we arrived at the track east of Huntly it was raining hard and the juniors had just finished their look lap. After the juniors had finished their race we had rider's briefing and then walked down to the start. I got another good jump off the line, then in the first corner I get cut off by a crash happening right in front of me and I have to detour through the parked cars, then as I come back onto the track I find myself right at the back of the field. As I try to make my way closer to the front I find myself getting stuck behind people crashing and taking up the whole track. As the race goes on I start to pick people off and make up some placings. After crashing one too many times and making too many pit stops for clean goggles I can see that it was slowing me too much and I just had to harden up and ride with muddy goggles. The race was cut short to 2 hours because of the torrential rain which left not much time to make up for my mistakes at the start of the race. I ended up picking a few more people off and finished 4th in class.
Round 3 Reefton : As we arrived at the track and watched the juniors race I was readying myself for a race that I had to win to be able to get a chance at the 200cc national title.
After riders briefing we all rode over to the start and got read for the race. I knew that I should do better than the last few times because I had a new KTM 200 instead of my trusty 125 Husaberg. With the new electric start on the 200 I get a great jump off the line and end up around third going into the first corner. As the race goes on I try to stay with the leaders as much as possible.
Coming up to the 2 hour mark my hands start to get extremely sore. At this stage I was 2nd in class and I wanted that win so I pushed hard for those last few laps. As I am sprinting on that last lap I find 1st place parked up on the side of
the track with a dead engine but I wasn't sure if it was him so I continued to push hard. I finished the race with a 1st in class.
Final round, Blenheim: As we drove in, the juniors were getting ready for the start of their race and people were setting up their pit. The weather was perfect for riding. I knew that the race coming up would be one of the hardest races I have ever done if i was to pull off the win. After riders briefing we all walked up to the start line were we got ready for the race. I was nervous because I knew that whatever placing I got in the race, would also be my placing in the series, as there was only two points between the top four positions. I got another good jump off the line, but due to the dodgy start area, ended up 5th around the first corner.
For the first lap I tag on behind a couple of good riders until I have learnt where the track goes, but going into the second lap I get on the gas and race my own race. With plenty of rocks on the track, I was glad that we were using Techno Mousses in my
tyres. About half way through the race I get a bit cocky going along the side of a hill in 4th gear. The next minute I find myself flying head first and getting slammed into the ground. I get up dizzy with a
throbbing head but I knew that bitching about it wasn't going to get me anywhere, so I picked up the bent bike and rode on. Going into the last lap my head was aching but I wasn't going to let that get
in the way. I was sitting 2nd in class and trying so hard for that 1st place finish, but the rider in front was just too far out of reach.
After 3 hours, I ended the race 2nd in class and 2nd in the series. I'm pretty happy with my result in my first year at senior level.
MAY 26, 2014: Ever wondered what motorcycle cross-country racing is all about? Here's your chance to find out.
The seventh annual running of the Dirt Guide Cross-country Series kicks off at Tar Hill, just south of Tokoroa, this weekend (May 31) and the popular three-round competition presents as an ideal opportunity for novice or first-time racers to become initiated in the sport.
In addition, the multi-layered series offers serious racing for the more accomplished off-road exponents too, where entries are expected from elite riders such as recently re-crowned four-time national cross-country champion Adrian Smith (Yamaha), of Mokau, Auckland's Chris Power (Yamaha), Whangamata's Jason Davis (KTM) and Morrinsville's Simon Lansdaal (Husqvarna), to name a few.
Tauranga's Reece Burgess (KTM) had led the 2013 edition of the series after the first two of three rounds, but his campaign came to grief at the final round.
Disaster struck for Burgess with just two laps to go. Burgess had been running in second place with he suffered a puncture. He tried to battle on to the end, but, on the last lap, the tyre completely destroyed itself and came off the rim. This dropped him back to 27th overall and eighth in class, which was not enough for him to take the title.
The overall series win instead was shared by Titirangi's Callan May (Yamaha) and Taupo's Greg De Lautour (KTM).
De Lautour's score-line for the 2013 series was 8-2-3, while May's score-line was 4-6-2, meaning they accumulated identical points (55). Burgess finished 3-1-27 to earn 45 points.
The Dirt Guide series is a popular stand-alone series, separate from the nationals, and a perfect preparation for Kiwis wishing to head on to greater things.
Callan May is an example of a rider who has done just that. He is overseas this season, regularly finishing among the leaders in the prestigious Grand National Cross-country Championship series in the United States, so he obviously won't be among the starters at Tar Hill on Saturday.
Putaruru's Ryan Scherer won the intermediate grade in the Dirt Guide series last season, his second consecutive outright win in the grade, with Carterton's Luke Fisher second and Bennydale's Duncan McLaren rounding out the top three.
In the junior division, Auckland's J ake Wightman made a clean sweep of the 2013 series, while Oparau's James Scott fought back from a bad start to take third overall on the day but second place for the series.
There is something for everyone in the Dirt Guide series, starting with the mini bike riders in the morning, right through to the main race for seniors in the afternoon.
"The main senior race starts at 12.30pm and this features a 20-kilometre loop in the forest and is suitable for anyone over the age of 15 ... as long as they have a reliable dirt bike and appropriate riding gear," said organiser Sean Clarke, a former International Six Days Enduro medal winner and multi-time former national enduro champion.
Activity continues the next day, too, with a trail ride planned for Sunday at the same venue.
As in previous years, no Motorcycling New Zealand licence is required to race in the Dirt Guide series.
The day kicks off at 9.30am with the 7-11 years' mini riders and the 12-16 years' juniors.
The minis' track is right next to the event home base and so is great for kids to have a go in a cross-country race but not venture too far away from the protection and guidance of mum and dad.
The juniors race on a 10-kilometre loop, a shorter section of the 20-kilometre senior track that will be used in the afternoon.
The senior race starts at 12.30pm, with the Expert grade starting first and the Intermediate grade set off on their race about 30 seconds later.
"If you don't feel like racing, there is always the trail ride the next day. The main loop for the trail ride is about 35 kilometres and there are shorter loops and a kids' track, so if you are looking for a great race or trail ride come along and have a go."
Round two of the series is set for Ohakuri, also just south of Tokoroa, on June 28, with the third and final round also at Ohakuri, on July 26. In each case, the trail ride will be run the following day.
The series is sponsored by Michelin, Bey Ray, Renthal, O'Neal, Troy Lee Designs, DRC, Zeta, Kiwi Rider magazine, TCX boots, Yoshimura and Suomy helmets.
Dirt Guide Cross-country Championships 2014:
Round one: May 31-June 1, Tar Hill, south of Tokoroa
Round two: June 28-29, Ohakuri, south of Tokoroa
Round three: July 26-27, Ohakuri, south of Tokoroa
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
MAY 18, 2014: Mokau's Adrian Smith made New Zealand motorcycling history on Saturday when he rocketed to a record fourth national cross-country title.
The Yamaha off-road motorcycle ace headed down to the fourth and final round of the championships near Ward, south of Blenheim, with one thing on his mind – "to ride smart and wrap up the overall win".
The 28-year-old won his first New Zealand cross-country championship crown in 2006 and was outright winner again in 2012 and last year too, and he headed to Marlborough's final round on Saturday with a clear points advantage to make it title No.4 and three in a row.
But, while a sensible, low-risk approach would get the job done, that's not really in Smith's nature or style.
He won Saturday's three-hour race from main rival Ethan Bruce (Yamaha), the young man from Maruia able to keep Smith honest through most of the race, until a slick fuel stop from Smith before the last stint gave the Awakino Gorge sheep and beef farmer the break he needed to ditch Bruce and eventually take a comfortable win.
Bruce finished runner-up and nailed down the No.2 spot overall for 2014, while Taupo's Brad Groombridge (Suzuki) held off Rotorua's Scott Birch (Honda) and Raglan's Jason Dickey (Kawasaki) to claim the third podium spot on Saturday.
However, Dickey's fifth placing was enough for him to secure the No.3 spot for the championship.
Meanwhile, Waipukurau's Ben Fryer (Yamaha) had wrapped up the junior class titles with a round to spare at the previous round, although that didn't stop him pushing hard in the 90-minute junior race staged earlier in the day.
Otorohanga's Aaron King (Honda) won Saturday's junior race, with Fryer forced to settle for runner-up spot, King's win earning him the No.2 junior ranking for 2014.
Third in the junior race on Saturday was Auckland's Jake Wightman, followed by Eketahuna's Charlie Richardson, and Wanganui's Seth Reardon.
The final championship rankings had Fryer on top, with King and Wightman second and third respectively.
Motorcycling New Zealand cross-country commissioner Chris Smyth said he was thrilled with how the series had gone.
"Everybody seemed to enjoy it," said Smyth. "The track was really well watered by rain leading up to Saturday's races and so dust was not a problem. Northern Accessories provided extra sponsorship for the final round and that was greatly appreciated too.
"All four host clubs did a wonderful job this season and the series was a real success."
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
The 2014 NZ Cross-country Championships SMITH WILL TAKE A MEASURED APPROACH
MAY 13, 2014: Unless he's very careful, Mokau's Adrian Smith could be his own worst enemy.
The Yamaha off-road motorcycle ace is well aware that a third consecutive national cross-country crown is his for the taking at the fourth and final round of the championships near Ward, south of Blenheim, this weekend, but only if he rides intelligently.
The 28-year-old Awakino Gorge sheep and beef farmer won his first New Zealand cross-country championship crown in 2006 and was outright winner again in 2012 and last year too, and he heads to Marlborough's final round on Saturday with a clear points advantage.
Smith can only be beaten by two men, South Islander Ethan Bruce looming as his biggest threat after winning the opening round in Taranaki in February and then scoring fourth and 39th placings at the two rounds that followed, in Huntly and Westland respectively.
Only three of the four rounds are to be counted towards the championship – with riders to discard their worst result – so Maruia's Bruce (Yamaha YZ250) will obviously consign his uncharacteristic 39th placing to the rubbish bin and hope for a win on Saturday and for Smith to strike problems.
Smith (Yamaha YZ250) has finished 4-1-1 in the three rounds thus far and anything worse than third this weekend will therefore become his discard result.
The only other man who could possibly beat Smith to the championship is Smith himself.
"All I need to do is ride the race and keep an eye on where Ethan Bruce is on the track," said Smith. "I have to play it smart. All I really need is a top-three finish. If Ethan is winning and I crash while trying to beat him, it could cost me the title."
Raglan's Jason Dickey (Kawasaki KX250F) is third in the championship chase, with 2-3-3 results to his credit thus far, but the title is really out of his reach.
"It is a new venue this weekend, so I don't know anything about what we might expect in terms of terrain and obstacles," said Smith. "I'm expecting flowing grassland with a few steep sections. But I just don't know until I get there. Hopefully Ethan is as much in the dark about it as me."
Meanwhile, Waipukurau's Ben Fryer and Stratford's Karl Roberts each wrapped up their respective junior class and veterans' class national titles with a round to spare at the previous round, although they also would no doubt like to finish the series with a bang on Saturday.
Fryer will likely have a fight on his hands on Saturday keeping riders such as Eketahuna's Charlie Richardson, Invercargill's Todd Keown, Hamilton's Luke Taylor, Otorohanga's Aaron King, Te Kuiti's Sean Kelly, Auckland's Jake Wightman and Marton's Ethan Breuer at bay.
The juniors race for 90 minutes, starting with a shotgun blast at about 10am, and the three-hour senior race follows immediately afterwards.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
The 2014 KTM NZ Enduro Championships
BIRCH FINISHES SERIES IN WINNING STYLEMAY 11, 2014: Kiwi international Chris Birch finished the New Zealand Enduro Championships on Saturday the way he started it back in February, by winning.
The Auckland man didn't even need to show at the weekend's sixth and final round of the KTM-sponsored series at Waimiha, near Benneydale, because he'd wrapped up the championship overall and also won his over-300cc four-stroke class with a round to spare after also having dominated the day at round five near Kawhia three weeks previously.
But, with several major overseas competitions now on his horizon, the Glen Eden rider decided he'd use Saturday's national championship finale as the start of his international build-up.
The 33-year-old Birch won five of the six rounds this season, ending the series ahead of Mokau's Adrian Smith (Yamaha YZ250) and North Shore rider Chris Power (Yamaha WR450F) in the outright stakes and ahead of Power in the over-300cc four-stroke class rankings.
Birch now prepares himself to contest the Dacer Rally in Canada in June, an 800-kilometre one-day enduro, before he heads to Romania for the big annual Romaniacs Extreme Enduro, in the unforgiving Carpathian Mountains, from July 15-19.
"I've been working towards the Romaniacs for the past two months," said Birch.
"It's not something you can just show up at and ride it. It takes a lot of work beforehand.
"Waimiha is always a tough place to ride ... mostly because of all the tree roots. And it was quite slippery in places too. I was a bit grumpy with myself at the start of the day on Saturday because I didn't think I was riding very well at all. But I calmed down and rode intelligently after that and things improved."
Morrinsville's Simon Lansdaal was a revelation on Saturday, taking a 125cc Husqvarna to finish the day in the overall runner-up spot, crossing the line just 24 seconds after Birch.
However, although Lansdaal was, obviously, also top finisher in the under-200cc two-stroke class on Saturday, it still wasn't enough to dislodge Kaikohe's Mitchell Nield (Yamaha YZ125) from the top position in this class.
Nield finished the day seventh overall and clinched the class crown by a meagre four points.
Other Expert Grade class winners after Saturday's final round were Smith (over-200cc two-stroke); Wainuiomata's Jake Whitaker (Husqvarna FE250, under-300cc four-stroke); New Plymouth's Dougy Herbert (Husaberg TE300).
Intermediate Grade class winners were Helensville's Tom Buxton (KTM 200XC, under-200cc two-stroke); Ngaruawahia's Kelvin Babington (KTM 250EXCF, under-300cc four-stroke); Auckland's Bryce Williams (KTM300EXC, over-200cc two-stroke); Taumarunui's Cody Davey (Honda CRF450, over-300cc four-stroke); Thames' Natasha Cairns (KTM200XC, women's class); Waihi's Steve Price (KTM250EXC, veterans 40-49 years); Helensville's John Buxton (KTM300EXC, veterans over 50 years).
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
The 2014 KTM NZ Enduro Championships
CAPTION: Morrinsville's Simon Lansdaal (Husqvarna CR125), looking to snatch away the under-200cc class honours this weekend. Photo by Andy McGechan, BikesportNZ.com
MAY 6, 2014: It is the final throw of the dice for national enduro title hopefuls this weekend.
Kiwi international Chris Birch has already won the New Zealand Enduro Championships outright and sealed up the over-300cc four-stroke class win as well as the riders head to Waimiha, near Benneydale, in the King Country, for the sixth and final round on Saturday.
But, for many of the riders, that doesn't mean the fat lady has already sung her last song.
Only two of the five Expert Grade classes have already been decided and most of the intermediate are also still wide open, so there remains plenty of good reasons for New Zealand's elite off-road motorcycle racers to treat the finale of this KTM-sponsored series very seriously indeed.
The under-300cc four-stroke class is in the bag for Wainuiomata's Jake Whitaker, but the battle is still very intense to find the class runner-up with Paekakariki's Tyler Mills and Feilding's Freddie Milford-Cottam both in the running.
Morrinsville's Simon Lansdaal will no doubt harbour hopes of catching Kaikohe's Mitchell Nield for overall honours in the under-200cc two-stroke class, while the battle for veterans' class honours could not be any tighter with Tokoroa's Sean Clarke and Taupo's Mark De Lautour level-pegging in the points.
Mokau's Adrian Smith has a firm grasp on the over-200cc two-stroke class trophy, with Taupo youngster Greg De Lautour perhaps too far behind now to be a real threat, but Smith will no doubt still be keen to take another win off defending outright champion Birch after tasting success at round four of the series near Christchurch in April.
The 33-year-old Birch has thus far won four of the five rounds and is favoured to win again on Saturday, really only using the event at Waimiha as a warm-up ride ahead of his next big international foray.
Birch heads off to contest the Dacer Rally in Canada in June, an 800-kilometre one-day enduro, before he heads to Romania for the big annual Romaniacs Extreme Enduro in the unforgiving Carpathian Mountains from July 15-19.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
Hi Guys, BELRAY-MITAS TRIAL NEXT SUNDAY 11TH MAY - BULLOCKS QUARRY BULLS
Final trial in our Autumn series coming up quick.
Great prizes from Kiwi Rider and Belray, special deals on Belray Oils
Note; sadly Merve George has pulled led his archilies pushing a trailer so wont be riding.
Tell all your mates to get along, its going to be a beauty event.
Prizegiving, beers and sausages to follow event
Helpers required at Bullocks Quarry Bulls at 2pm Sat to help set out if you have a spare few hours.
The KT is going better, but is the rider is the major question?????
Robert Cochrane
Legends Events & Media Ltd
Hi all,
Adrian's report on last Sunday's mototrial. And results via the following
The 2014 NZ Cross-country Championships
APRIL 9, 2014: We may be heading into winter, but it's about to get very hot indeed in the South Island this weekend.
Mokau's Adrian Smith believes he on track to retain his national cross-country championships crown this season after winning the second rou nd of four in the series near Huntly last month, but he can take nothing for granted as the competition heads deep into the home territory of his closest rival, Maruia's Ethan Bruce, for round three on Sunday.
The two Yamaha men are level on top of the championship standings, with the competition now at the halfway stage, and Sunday's race at Waipuna Station, Ikamatua, in Westland will go a long way towards determining where the main trophy ends up this season.
Bruce won round one in Taranaki in February, while Smith battled through traffic to finish fourth. The results were reversed at round two near Huntly in March, Smith winning and Bruce crossing the line in fourth position.
While that puts the two round winners on top of the points table, it could just as easily be the men who finished second and third at the previous rounds – Raglan's Jason Dickey (Kawasaki), Morrinsville's Nathan Tesselaar (KTM) and Taupo's Brad Groo mbridge (Suzuki) – who could sweep in and claim the initiative on Sunday.
Dickey has finished 2-3 thus far, while Groombridge had huge problems at round one, credited only with a 30th-place finish, although he rebounded to finish runner-up at Huntly.
The points from only three of the four rounds are to be counted towards the title, with riders to discard their worst result, so anything is still possible for any of these riders.
Riders such as Palmerston North's three-time former national champion Adam Reeves (Yamaha), Eketahuna's Daniel Christie (KTM), Huntly's Andrew Charleston (Honda), Rotorua's Scott Birch (Honda) and Taranaki's Renny Johnstone (Kawasaki) could also challenge for the win in the three-hour senior race on Sunday.
"It was difficult for me at Huntly because I had an injured thumb," said defending three-time champion Smith. "I lost feeling in it and couldn't grip on the bike very well. But I am fully recovered now and feeling very fit for Sunday."
Meanwhile, the battle will likely be intense in the junior class between 13-year-old Auckland KTM rider Jake Wightman and Waipukurau 16-year-old Ben Fryer (Yamaha).
Leading riders such as Eketahuna's Charlie Richardson (KTM), Marton's Ethan Breuer (Honda) and Otorohanga's Aaron King (Honda) are also expected to feature in the 90-minute junior race on Sunday morning.
The championships will wrap up in Marlborough on Saturday, May 17.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
The next MOMCC mototrial details as follows
Event – Club Champs Rnd 1
Date – April 13
Venue – Carroll farm, near the end of No 2 Line, Pohangina Valley East. Will be signed form the Poh Vlly East turn off on the Ashhurst to Pohangina road as per usual place. No 2 Line is the third road on right after turn off. Allow approx 15 mins from Ashhurst.
Sign on – 9.45 am
Start – 10.30 a
Section setters – Adrian and Phil
See you there Cheers Kevin
CAPTION: Taupo's Brendon Imlig (KTM 250XC-F), among the front-runners in the Expert under-300cc four-stroke class.
APRIL 1, 2014: The gap is starting to widen at the top of the New Zealand Enduro Championship standings and that suits Aucklander Chris Birch just fine.
Birch has won the past nine national enduro championship rounds, compiling an unbeaten six-in-a-row to win the title last season and now the first three of six in this season's KTM-sponsored series.
And that means the 33-year-old Kiwi international from Glen Eden is obvious favourite to win again at round four near Christchurch this weekend.
The world-renowned Birch (KTM 350XC-F) is also winning the battle-within-a-battle for over-300cc four-stroke bike class honours.
However, Birch would be the first to admit that he can take nothing for granted as Mokau's former national champion Adrian Smith (Yamaha YZ250), Auckland's Chris Power (Yamaha WR450F), Kaikohe's Mitchell Nield (Yamaha YZ125), Wainuiomata's Jake Whitaker (Husqvarna FE250) and Feilding's Freddie Milford-Cottam (KTM 250XC-F) are just a handful of very talented individuals who would pounce if there is any let-up by Birch.
Howick's Liam Draper (Husqvarna TE125) had been one of the front-runners but he has now been forced to withdraw after being injured at the previous round in the Riverhead Forest.
The venues for all three rounds thus far have offered contrasting terrain and weather conditions and, whether it be mud or dust, hard-pack or sand, driving rain or scorching sun, the riders and bikes have coped well.
Most riders will know very little about the fresh national venue being set out on Peraki Station, on Banks Peninsular, near Christchurch, for action this Saturday and it will be sure to test them.
In the battle-within-a-battle for class honours, Birch tops the over-300cc four-stroke class; Smith dominates the over-200cc two stroke class; Draper leads the under-200cc two-stroke class; national moto trials champion Whitaker heads the under-300cc four-stroke class and Tokoroa's Sean Clarke (KTM 250 EXC-F) leads the over-40 years' veterans' category.
Following this weekend's event, the riders will head to Oparau, near Kawhia, for round five on April 19 and, finally, it all wraps up at Waimiha, in the King Country, on May 10.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
The 2014 KTM NZ Enduro Championships BATTLES-WITHIN-BATTLES STIR UP INTEREST
MARCH 18, 2014: Like any good championship event that incorporates a multitude of separate categories, it is often the "battles within" which can spark the most interest.
The third round of six in this season's KTM-sponsored New Zealand Enduro Championships are set for the Riverhead Forest, near Auckland, this weekend and it is expected to be another massive skirmish.
While Kiwi international Chris Birch (KTM) leads the way to clinching the overall honours again this season, many eyes will also be watching on Sunday to see what happens a little further back in the field.
As well as leading overall, Birch also leads the battle-within-a-battle to win the over-300cc four-stroke class, with fellow Aucklander Chris Power (Yamaha) and Marton's Cam Smith (Kawasaki) giving chase, but there are also four other bike categories to keep an eye on.
Kaikohe's Mitchell Nield (Yamaha) and Auckland's Liam Draper (Husqvarna) are locked together at the top of the under-200cc two-stroke class, the two riders sharing wins at the two rounds thus far and both have also finished runners-up, so that fight will be particularly intense at Riverhead on Sunday.
Mokau's Adrian Smith (Yamaha), the national champion on the parallel cross-country racing scene, has a battle on his hands in the over-200cc two-stroke class as he is challenged by Hokianga's Damon Nield (Husqvarna) and Taupo's Greg De Lautour (Beta).
Wainuiomata's Jake Whitaker (Husqvarna) and Feilding's Freddie Milford-Cottam (KTM) share the front-running in the under-300cc four-stroke class. Milford-Cottam won the class at round one at Whangamata last month, but Whitaker hit back at round two near Porirua two weeks ago and so there is nothing to separate these two talented riders.
Meanwhile, Tokoroa's Sean Clarke has been putting his vast international experience to good use in dominating the veterans' (over-40 years) division.
Clarke (KTM) led the veterans' class at both Whangamata and Porirua and few would be against him in the Riverhead Forest on Sunday, although riders such as Taranaki's Dougy Herbert (Husaberg), Taupo's Mark de Lautour (KTM), Wellington's Hugh Lintott (Yamaha) and Napier's Warren Laugesen (Beta) might have something to say about that on Sunday.
Following this weekend's event at Riverhead, the series heads down south for round four near Christchurch on April 5, followed by round five at Oparau on April 19 and, finally, it all wraps up at Waimiha, in the King Country, on May 10.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
March 16, 2014: The sport of motorcycle cross-country racing is full of high-speed zigs and zags and now it's just taken another 90-degree turn.
The second round of four in this season's New Zealand Cross-country Championships was held near Huntly on Saturday with the results a complete reshuffle of those recorded at round one in Taranaki last month.
The winner in Taranaki was Maruia's Ethan Bruce (Yamaha), with Mokau's defending national champion Adrian Smith (Yamaha) forced to settle for fourth place after a terrible start to the three-hour marathon near Inglewood.
Those results were turned completely on their head on the steep hill country farmland at Waerenga, near Huntly, on Saturday with Smith winning the race and South Islander Bruce this time settling for fourth position overall.
That means the two rivals are locked together at the top of the standings, with Raglan's Jason Dickey (Kawasaki) – who finished runner-up in Taranaki and third at Huntly – snapping at their heels as the series has now reached the halfway stage.
Taupo's Brad Groombridge (Suzuki) finished runner-up to Smith on Saturday but he was only 30th in Taranaki and must now rely on excellent results in the remaining two rounds if he is to threaten for the title, while Eketahuna's Daniel Christie (KTM) was fifth on Saturday.
The conditions were atrocious for the riders with Cyclone Lusi sweeping through the region and the race duration was shaved back from three hours to two because of safety fears in the worsening storm.
Meanwhile, 13-year-old Auckland KTM rider Jake Wightman won the earlier junior race – its 90-minute duration reduced by 15 minutes as the storm started to brew – followed closely by round one junior class winner Ben Fryer (Yamaha), of Waipukurau.
"On some parts of the course you had to lean hard into the wind to stay on the track and, through one corner, I was actually blown into a gate," said Wightman, thrilled at the vast improvement from the ninth placing he had achieved at round one.
Wightman said he was "actually quite surprised" to learn he had won.
"Really?! I thought I was in about fifth."
Eketahuna's Charlie Richardson (KTM) finished third in the junior race, followed by Marton's Ethan Breuer (Honda), with Otorohanga's Aaron King (Honda) rounding out the top five.
The points from only three of the four rounds are to be counted towards the title, with riders to discard their worst result, so anything is still possible.
Rounds three and four of the national series will be held respectively in Westland (on Sunday, April 13) and Marlborough (Saturday, May 17).
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
Hi Guys, TWINSHOCK TRIAL HALCOMBE SUNDAY 23RD
The first of the Autumn Series gets underway at the awesome Hughes Property at Halcombe. Venue will be signposted off Kakariki Rd just before you get to the Halcombe Sign (village)?
Any questions please give me a call or TXT – NEW MOBILE NUMBER 022-154-0334
Any helpers for Saturday afternoon to help setout please contact me.
Farmer says he has graded the track so we will pit in the second paddock close to sections if the ground is dry. We will probably
Run reverse sections to last time we used the property, plus some curly new ones.
Don't forget to bring hot and cold drinks and lunch – a few hot sausages will be cooked by me to top up your lunch.
Looking forward to a great days riding with friends.
Robert Cochrane
Legends Events
Media Consultant
Ph 64-6-343-7585
James Galpin
2014 Bush Riders Cross Country series Race report
Rider: James Galpin
Age: 17
Bike: Husaberg TE125
Sponsors: AFC motorcycles, RG3, Graphics, HQ, Broxy rider Training.
Series Placing: 1st Intermediate, 6th Overall
Round one of the Bush Rider Cross Country series started at Taikorea with two 1 hour races.
All the top NZ riders were there, so my first race as a Senior was going to be tough. The weather was
hot, and the track sandy and dry. The start was a dead engine start with hands on head. The first
race Paul Whibley yells ten seconds to start, he drops the flag, I kick start my bike and we are off.
Going into the first corner I find myself around 5th place. As the race goes on I drop back a few places
but still maintain my speed. I had no problems throughout race 1 finishing in 10th place. But in the
second race I got a rubbish start by crashing into someone that was down in the dust. I had to work
really hard in the sand to pass the bigger bikes on my 125. By half way through the second race I had
worked my way back up to 10th but as I went on I was getting very tired and hit the wall, so I pulled
over and threw up. After throwing up I was feeling a bit better and finished the race in around 18th.
Overall ending up 1st in class and 15th
Round two was on steep hill country at Hislop's near Pahiatua, the weather was good and I was
ready to race. The race began with a Lemans start with all of us running to our bikes, as I rode
through the gate at the top of the hill I was in around 15th place and looking to pass. Traction was
perfect with no dust. As the laps go by I get up to 10th place. After the gas stop I knew I had 2 laps to
go. After chasing hard I just get the checked flag in 8th place overall and 1st in class.
Round three was in Alfredton at the Christie's property, the weather was perfect and I was keen to
go racing. The race started with hands on the back fender due to the strong winds and steep country
side. The shot gun fires and we were off. I got an allright start in around 7th and then while trying to
pass I jumped into a drain and that put me back to nearly last. Half way through the 2hr race as I was
making my way through the field I got a really bad gut ache that made me chop the speed right
down. After suffering from a stomach ache I finished in 18th overall and 1st in class. With the Senior
races not starting until lunch time, I need to have more food to stop the gut ache.
Round four was at Daniel Edmonds property at Alfredton and it was raining. It was a Lemans start
again, and I was ready for another round of the Bush Riders Cross Country series. I got a good start
and was running around 4th place but then shortly gave away my position by crashing out on the first
steep slippery hill. Throughout the first lap I could see that the track was going to get cut up and
become tough to get around. In the third lap my mousses and hard terrain tire were not helping me
find traction on the greasy up hills. On that last lap I had to push my bike up nearly every hill,
at this stage I had no idea what placing I was in but wasjust determined to finish the race. After a long
gruelling race I finished 11th overall and 1st in class.
The final round of the Bush Riders Cross Country series was held at Ellingham's property at Makairo
and the weather was pretty much perfect. Another Le Mans start and I got my best start for the
series in 3rd place going round the first corner. I was tailing the two riders in front of me for most of
the 1st lap until I slipped off the track and into a steep drain. As I ride out of the drain I can tell that I
had been passed by four other riders. In the second lap I got back into 4th place but by the end of
that lap I got passed and put back to 5th. I stayed in that postistion for most the race until the last lap
when I dropped another position, but I was not going to let him get away with passing me on the last
lap. I chased him the whole lap because I knew I could pass near the end, because that is where I
was fastest. After passing a rider with a broken down bike and passing the rider that I had been
chasing all lap I ended up 4th overall and first in class.
I was pretty happy with how I rode in this series. I learnt that I have to eat closer to race time, that
my fitness is good, and that the before school training is paying off. The National Cross Country
series will be a big step up for me this year, with longer tracks, more rugged terrain, and a 3hr race
time. I can't wait!
Many thanks to Brendan at AFC, Richie at RG3, and Broxy, for all the help and advice. Without you guys this would be much more difficult, and I'm sure, less successful.
The sports academy at Freyberg high school has played a large part in his improved fitness, and his continued drive to train and succeed at this level has been good to see.
James has adapted to the longer Senior events without too much trouble. He is slowly learning that he can't sprint for the entire 3 hrs J
The 2014 KTM NZ Enduro Championships
MARCH 3, 2014: If it's true there is no rest for the wicked; then New Zealand's elite off-road bike racers must be very bad men indeed.The mud has perhaps only just been washed from the motorcycles following round one of the KTM New Zealand Enduro Championships near Whangamata and now round two is already looming large for the nation's leading off-road exponents, with the competitors this week making their way south to tackle the steep forest course at Pauatahanui, near Porirua, this Saturday.
Glen Eden's Chris Birch, the defending national champion, won the series opener at a muddy Whangamata just over a week ago, with fellow Aucklander Liam Draper and Kaikohe's Mitchell Nield joining him on the podium.
Auckland's Chris Power, Feilding's Freddie Milford-Cottam and Taupo teenager Greg De Lautour rounded out the top six finishers at Whangamata, while Wainuiomata's seven-time former and the current national moto trials champion Jake Whitaker was never far behind in seventh spot overall.
All of these men will have their sights zeroed in on Birch, each of them hoping they can halt another win-streak by the Kiwi international before it can get started.
Birch won all six rounds of the national championship series last season and the last thing any of these riders want is for Birch to start building up momentum for another unbeaten run in 2014.
Racing in the Akatarawa, Puketiro and Fernhill Forests kicks off at the Moonshine motocross track, on Bulls Run Road, off Moonshine Road, near Pauatahanui, at about 10am.
Following Saturday's event, the series heads to the Riverhead Forest, near Auckland, for round three on March 23, followed by round four near Christchurch on April 5, round five at Oparau on April 19 and, finally, it all wraps up at Waimiha, in the King Country, on May 10.
Words Andy McGechan,
FEBRUARY 18, 2014: Auckland's Chris Birch could be forgiven for being just a little bit paranoid, believing that everybody is out to get him.
And that's because they are.The Kiwi international off-road motorcycle ace from Glen Eden was runaway winner of the New Zealand Enduro Championships last season winning it outright as well as clinching the over-300cc four-stroke class title, and he's again the favourite to win this year's KTM-sponsored six-round series which kicks off on the Coromandel Peninsular on Saturday.
Birch won all six rounds on his way to victory last season, although his many challengers were never too far behind.
Birch can't afford to rest on his laurels because it is another talent-packed field of riders who line up to oppose him this season.
The 33-year-old Birch can expect tough opposition again from riders such as former national enduro champion and current national cross-country champion Adrian Smith, of Mokau, fellow Kiwi international Sean Clarke, from Tokoroa, Auckland pair Freddie Milford-Cottam and Chris Power, Wellington's seven-time national moto trials champion Jake Whitaker, Tauranga's Reece Burgess, Northland's Mitchell Nield and possibly also from Taupo's rising young star Greg De Lautour.
Hosted by the Thames Valley Motorcycle Club, the course for Saturday's competition will be laid out in the Taungatara Forest, just north of Whangamata, and it is expected to offer all sorts of challenges to the unwary."Winning the national title again would be nice, but I'm not taking anything for granted," said Birch.
"I will ride the same KTM 350 XCF that I've been using lately and I am fit and free of injury at the moment, so I'm raring to go.
"Mike Skinner and Callan May are racing overseas this season and Jason Davis is sidelined with injury, so I won't have to be concerned about them, but Adrian Smith will be a threat to me.
"But I don't see any reason why I can't win the title again."
Following racing at Whangamata on Saturday, the series continues with round two near Wellington on March 8. Round three is in the Riverhead Forest, near Auckland, on March 23, followed by round four near Christchurch on April 5, with round five at Oparau on April 19 and the sixth and final round at Waimiha on May 10.
Words by Andy McGechan,
BRUCE AND FRYER TAKE FIRST BLOOD - Cross Country
FEBRUARY 16, 2014: The New Zealand Cross-country Championships could well feature a couple of fresh names on both the junior and senior trophies this season.
The four-round series kicked off in the Taranaki region on remote farmland in outback Taranaki on Sunday and, when the dust cleared, there were two surprise winners standing on top of the two podiums.
Waipukurau 16-year-old Ben Fryer stood top of one podium after winning the 90-minute junior race by more than two minutes from Otorohanga's Aaron King and, later in the afternoon, South Island hero Ethan Bruce finished one minute and 40 seconds ahead of Raglan's Jason Dickey in winning the three-hour senior race.
Fryer had finished third overall in the junior class at the nationals last season, but his stand-out performance at the opening round of the 2014 series on Sunday certainly indicate that he could be No.1 by the end of the season when it all wraps up in Marlborough in May.
The same could be said of Bruce, from Maruia, near Lewis Pass, who took the lead early in the senior race and, apart from being locked in a see-saw battle with Dickey through the middle stages of the race, finally managed to break free and stretch out to a convincing lead before the chequered flag.
"It helps when you get a good start," said the 17-year-old Bruce afterwards.
"This is my second season racing as a senior and this is first time I've won. It's a great feeling."
Mokau's national No.1 Adrian Smith had a shocking start and was forced to fight through from almost last in the 57-rider senior field to eventually claim fourth overall at the finish, albeit more than two minutes behind third-placed Morrinsville rider Nathan Tesselaar.
"To have a bad day and still finish fourth is not too bad," Smith shrugged.
"I went berserk on the first couple of laps to make up ground but I blew myself out in the end and just had to settle for fourth."
The series is in its early stages and all the competitors are aware that titles are a long way from being determined.
The points from only three of the four rounds are to be counted towards the title, with riders to discard their worst result, so defending champion Smith may possibly be sending his result from Sunday straight to the rubbish bin.
Rounds two, three and four of the national series will be held respectively in Huntly (on Saturday, March 15), Westland (Sunday, April 13) and Marlborough (Saturday, May 17).
Words by Andy McGechan,
WHO'S WHO OF OFF-ROAD TALENT FLOCK TO BEL-RAY Cross Country
NOVEMBER 26, 2013: The Bel-Ray Cross-country Championships kick off near Huntly this weekend with a virtual Who's Who of New Zealand's off-road motorcycling talent signing up for battle.
In addition to the regulars, riders such as three-time and current national cross-country champion Adrian Smith, of Mokau, and Raglan's Jason Dickey, other top riders expected to race the 20th anniversary event this year include recent cross-country convert Brad Groombridge, the Bel-Ray-sponsored motocross ace from Taupo who has made himself something of a sensation on the cross-country scene in recent weeks.
Taupo's Groombridge teamed up with fellow Suzuki ace Daryl Hurley, of Hawera, to win the 2013 Suzuki Six-Hour near Tokoroa in October and he followed that up by riding as an ironman to win the big annual Acerbis Four-Hour race near Taupo earlier this month, the first time that race had been won by a solo rider.
Two-time former American cross-country champion Paul Whibley, from Pahiatua, is also expected to race at the event on Sunday, along with local hotshot Ant Parker and Huntly brothers Matt and Michael Vining.
Rotorua motocross ace Michael Phillips is expected to arrive with his Bel-Ray Honda CRF450 and, as always, he also rates among the leading contenders.
The Bel-Ray cross-country series has for long been a popular event with New Zealand riders, the course generally featuring safe and free-flowing trails.
A wide range of classes are catered for and this allows competitors to make their way through the grades with a good chance of collecting a prize or two. The experts class has always attracted New Zealand's top talent with many Kiwi internationals competing while at home during their international off-season.
The venue for Sunday's race is Stark's Farm, Evans Road, Huntly.
The 90-minute junior race starts at 10am and the two-hour senior race blasts off at about midday. Mini bike riders will run a race on a separate, extended motocross track, starting at 10am.
Classic bike class will be first away and this will be the only class to start with the engines running.
The remaining three rounds after this weekend's opener are set for January 12, February 9 and March 8.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
The annual MOMCC/IxionMCC BSA Shield Mototrial is next Sunday. Details as follows.
Event: BSA Shield
Date: Sunday November 10
Venue: Infracon Quarry, end of Kendall Line, Linton. Off SH 57 2 km south of the BP gas station.
Sign on: 9.30 – 10.15 am Start: 10.30 am
All grades will be set from A grade down to Twin Shock/classic. Any Expert's that arrive can make it up on the day.
We have a no licence permit so no licence required for twin shock and classic riders.
Entry fee: $15 senior, $10 junior
BBQ after the event
Section setters: Merv, Warrick, Kevin and possibly Phil.
MNZ steward: Merv COC: Phil
See you there Regards, Kevin Pinfold
OCTOBER 29, 2013: Wellington's Jake Whitaker earned a record-equalling seventh national title at the three-day New Zealand Moto Trials Championships in the Bay of Plenty over Labour weekend.
Rocks, tree roots, creek beds and steep hills ... mere judder bars on the path to another national title for the 20-year-old Whitaker, whose victory put him level in the history books with Napier's Warren Laugesen.
Kiwi international Whitaker arrived as heavy favourite and proceeded to dominate the Expert Grade completion, although he did uncharacteristically drop a swag of points over the three days of riding near Te Puke.
"I dropped a point on day one and that really annoyed me because it was the easiest day of the three," said Whitaker. "It was just a stupid lapse in concentration and I was forced to put my foot down on slippery rocks in a river bed."
It got even tougher after that and Whitaker dropped 11 points on Sunday and another 10 on Monday.
"The sections were a lot tougher this year than what they usually are and that's actually a good thing because it's supposed to be tough, it's the national championships. Although I was kind of hoping to make it clean through the three days like I did last year."
In the end, Whitaker eclipsed Motueka's Karl Clark, Nelson's Nick Oliver, Rotorua's John Haynes and New Plymouth's Matt Foster on his way to retaining his Expert Grade crown for a seventh consecutive time.
The A Grade competition turned into a battle between Tauranga's Jacob Gundry and Howick's Liam Draper, with Gundry emerging on top, ahead of Draper and Wellington's Carl Robson. Gundry doubled up to also tackle the Junior grade and it came as no surprise that he won this title as well, finishing ahead of Te Puke's Ben McLeod.
Motueka Daniel Clark won the Intermediate grade from Kaikoura's David Trewin; Nelson's Stephen Oliver dominated the Presidents' grade; Dunedin's Gavin Fox won the Clubmans' class; Tauranga's Gabby Gundry was crowned women's champion and Te Puke's Paul McLeod celebrated winning the Twin Shock division.
Balance, bravery and throttle control is the main emphasis for this unique motorcycle competition. Speed is not essential, with the prime aim instead being to conquer extreme terrain without touching feet on the ground or falling off. Points are lost for these "faults" and a rider with the lowest score wins.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
New Zealand Moto Trials Championships in the Bay of Plenty this coming Labour Weekend.
"ROCK STAR" WHITAKER GUNNING FOR TITLE No.7
CAPTION: Wellington's Jake Whitaker, gunning for national crown No.7 this weekend.
OCTOBER 21, 2013: He's the ultimate "rock star" of motorcycling, but defending champion Jake Whitaker is taking nothing for granted ahead of this season's three-day New Zealand Moto Trials Championships in the Bay of Plenty this coming Labour Weekend.
The Wellington rider rode a faultless campaign last season to make it six national Expert Grade titles in a row and he is brimming with confidence as he chases national crown No.7 on tricky terrain near Te Puke this weekend.
He has nothing left to prove in a riding career that features so many highlights, but he still recognises there is a high chance that everything could fall apart if he makes even the smallest of errors.
"I really want to equal the seven-title record of (Napier's) Warren Laugesen but I'm taking nothing for granted," said Kiwi international Whitaker, who was also the Australian trials champion in 2010, 2011 and 2012.
"I'll be up against Warren again this weekend and, even though I've had a good run over recent seasons to win six years in a row, it's the sort of sport where everything can quickly go wrong. It's always bound to be slippery on the rocks and there will be tree roots to trip up on as well, so it's never really easy and a small lapse in concentration could end in tears.
"There are a few young guys who are stepping up to the Expert Grade this year too, riders such as Dunedin's Blake Fox, Rotorua's John Haynes, Nelson's Nick Oliver and Taranaki's Matt Foster and the certainly have my respect."
The A Grade competition is also expected to be fierce with Howick's Liam Draper and Tauranga's Jacob Gundry expected to go head-to-head, while perennial frontrunners such as Wellington's Carl Robson, Te Kauwhata's Cory Davies, Tuakau's Robert Williamson and Kaitia's Luke March could also feature.
Titles will also be contested in the Intermediate, Presidents, Clubmans, Twin Shock, junior and women's categories
With this branch of motorcycling sport, the emphasis is not on speed. The prime aim is on conquering the extreme terrain without touching feet on the ground or falling off. Points are lost for these "faults" and a rider with the lowest score wins.
Access to both days' riding will be signposted from the respective main roads. There is no charge for spectators. Riding starts at 10am each day.
The venue for day one on Saturday, October 26, is Muir's Property, 746 No.4 Rd, Te Puke and that will be signposted from State Highway 2, No.3 Road, Te Puke.
Day two on Sunday is set for Grayling's Property, Hereford Rd, Oropi, Tauranga, signposted from the Oropi roundabout on State Highway 29.
The third and final day is scheduled for Meredith's Property, 745 No.4 Rd, Te Puke, signposted from State Highway 2, No.3 Road, Te Puke.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
The next Manawatu Orion moto trial is next Sunday, details as follows. Event: Club champs round 5
Date: October 20th
Venue: Davison's farm near the end of No 3 Line, off the Pohangina Valley East Road. Will be signposted from the usual place on the Ashhurst to Pohangina road. Allow approx 15 mins from Ashhurst.
Sign on: 9.45 am
Start: 10.30 am
See some of you there. Kevin Pinfold.
Results from Twinshock, Rigid & Evolution Trial 29 September
Well the rain held off until after lunch and then it wasn't too bad under the trees.
We had a few falls, one drowned Beamish and a very rattly Yamaha (hope the prognosis is not too bad Richie), but no hurt bodies and lots of laughs.
Great to have a couple of new riders on the day and a couple who haven't been out for a while.
Results for the day were:
A Grade
Gerald Bull TLR200 19
Colin Richardson Montesa 200 47
Richard Latimer Yamaha TY175 48
Alasdair Keane Beamish 250 66
Julian Rivers Fantic 301 75
Richie Bullock Yamaha TY175 85
B Grade
Derek Evans Ossa 250 54
Tod Palenski Fantic 200 62
Dick Phillips Custom Rigid 75
Next round is Sunday 13 October at Bullocks Quarry, Bulls (just after the bridge on the left coming north). See you there, Cheers Julian
Auckland's Chris Birch (KTM 300 XC-F), a class ahead of his rivals at the opening round of the KTM Extreme Enduro Series near Christchurch on Saturday.
OCTOBER 1, 2013: The winning season just keeps on going for Auckland's Chris Birch.
The 32-year-old Kiwi international was a convincing winner of the opening round of the KTM Extreme Enduro Series -- the Nut Buster Enduro -- in Canterbury on Saturday, setting the tone for what could be another steak of wins for the KTM rider.
Birch recently wrapped up the 2013 national enduro championships with a round to spare and he could now be set to dominate the KTM Extreme Enduro series as well, particularly in light of the impressive form he displayed at the Value Cars-sponsored Nut Buster event on Saturday.
A total of 118 riders lined up for the annual Nut Buster hard enduro, the venue just west of Christchurch.
Chris Birch took the overall win in the pro class with Wellington's Jake Whitaker (Husaberg FE450) finishing runner-up and series organiser Sean Clarke (KTM 300 EXC), of Tokoroa, rounding out the top three overall.
Whitaker tried his to chase down Birch, but, after a problem with his clutch, he was forced to make an emergency pit stop he was then unable to challenge multi-time Roof of Africa winner Birch.
"The event was a huge success, with everyone getting what was to be expected ... one tough nut-busting ride," said Clarke afterwards.
"The course was about 28kms long and took most riders about an hour and half to complete it. The track itself was a real credit to the men who prepared it, as it really hung in there with only one steep uphill climb causing a bit of a headache for some.
"Other than that, there were no bottle-necks and nothing was unmanageable. It was just plain hard work," said Clarke.
In the expert grade, West Melton's Angus McDonald took the win from Raglan's Dylan Yearbury and another West Melton rider, Hamish McDonald.
The clubmans' class was won by Rangiora's Rob Fraser, with Steve Paton and Josh Dando finishing second and third respectively.
Thames rider Natasha Cairns won the women's grade and finished and amazing fourth overall in the clubmans' grade.
The Nut Buster event for 2013 proved to be a great start to the series and sets a high standard for the remaining rounds.
The next round of the KTM Extreme Enduro series is set for the Riverhead Forest near Auckland, the Riverhead 100, on November 17.
For any other information, call Sean Clarke on 0275 996 045
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
2013 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships
SEPTEMBER 22, 2013: It is never an easy sport in even the best of conditions, but when the skies opened to drench the course just south of Tokoroa, it made the sixth and final round of the New Zealand Enduro Championships on Saturday a particularly tough event.
With the outright honours already in his grasp after winning the previous round, however, it was a case of Auckland's Chris Birch seeing whether he could finish the Yamaha-sponsored series the way he started it, in winning style.
And he certainly did, the 32-year-old Kiwi international from Glen Eden winning the day and, with that, he added his over-300cc four-stroke class win to the title for winning the championship outright – all rounds counting towards outright honours and just five of six rounds scored in the battle for individual class honours.
"I can't complain with that," said Birch afterwards, in classic understatement.
"I had one bad test today, when I rode like a Muppet, but I gave myself a talking-to and I was sorted after that."
Runner-up on Saturday was Titirangi's Callan May, finishing ahead of Palmerston North's Adam Reeves, with Aucklanders Michael Skinner and Freddie Milford-Cottam rounding out the top five.
Before the weekend's racing had even begun, May had already secured the under-300cc four-stroke class title, Milford-Cottam already had the under-200cc two-stroke class title in his pocket, and Tokoroa's Sean Clarke had already tucked away the veterans' class (over-40 years) crown for 2013.
But the battle was still on to uplift the big bike class titles.
Birch had a 21-point advantage over Tauranga's Reece Burgess in the over-300cc two-stroke class title chase before the start of action on Saturday and Birch's victory put that title beyond, while Smith led the over-200cc four-stroke class by 18 points from Whangamata's Jason Davis.
Smith, the outright national enduro champion last season, struck bad luck on Saturday when his bike threw a chain late in the afternoon, forcing him to withdraw from the race, but, because Davis was a no-show at Tokoroa, the advantage stayed with Smith and he took the title.
Final leading Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships overall standings:
1. Chris Birch (Auckland, KTM) 125 points (maximum); 2. Adrian Smith (Mokau, Yamaha) 88; 3. Callan May (Auckland, Yamaha) 86.
Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships final class winners:
Expert under-200cc two-stroke class: Freddie Milford-Cottam (Auckland, KTM).
Expert under-300cc four-stroke class: Callan May (Auckland, Yamaha).
Expert over-200cc two-stroke class: Adrian Smith (Mokau, Yamaha).
Expert over-300cc two-stroke class: Chris Birch (Auckland, KTM).
Expert veterans' (over-40 years) class: Sean Clarke (Tokoroa, KTM).
Intermediate under-200cc two-stroke class: Aaron Jones (Mokau, Yamaha).
Intermediate under-300cc four-stroke class: Kelvin Babington (Ngaruawahia, KTM).
Intermediate over-200cc two-stroke class: Adam Benefield (Te Kuiti, KTM).
Intermediate over-300cc four-stroke class: Dylan Yearbury (Cambridge, KTM).
Intermediate women's class: Natasha Cairns (Thames, Husaberg).
Intermediate veterans' 40-49 years' class: Peter Scherer (Putaruru, KTM).
Intermediate veterans' over-50 years' class: Steve Major (Auckland, Husaberg).
Junior 13-14 years' class: Jake Wightman (Auckland, KTM).
Junior 15-16 years' class: Tom Buxton (Helensville, KTM).
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
Next MOMCC mototrial is this Sunday. Details as follows Date: September 15 Event: Club Champs round 4
Venue: At the Woodville end of the Manawatu Gorge, almost opposite the Balance bridge. Parking in where the big stock pile of crushed lime rock is.
This is the first time we have used this venue for over 20 years. Before the pine trees were planted.
Note: No riding on the stock piles of lime around the car park area and take care on the rail crossing when exiting the car park to head up to the
Sections. We don't want this to be the last time we use this new venue.
Sign on: 9.45am Start: 10.30am Section setters: Merv and Andrew
SEPTEMBER 9, 2013: A couple of rookie line-ups earning top-10 results ... this is the stuff of fairytales.
New Zealand could not have asked for more from its Trials des Nations campaign at the weekend, a four-rider Kiwi men's team and two-rider Kiwi women's team arriving at the Trail des Nations for the first time in 10 years and taking on the world elite at this "Olympic Games of trials" at La Chatre, in France.
A total of 22 countries took part, with the top five professional nations competing in the elite Group A Class, while the remaining 17 nations, including Team New Zealand, fought for Group B honours.
New Zealand had previously achieved a best placing of fifth in Group B, back in 1997, but this year New Zealand was fielding a younger and less-experienced development squad.
Despite the daunting task, Team New Zealand's men – comprising Rotorua's John Haynes (Beta), New Plymouth's Mat Foster (Beta), Dunedin's Blake Fox (Sherco) and Napier's Warren Laugesen (Beta) – finished an astounding tenth overall in the International Trophy (Group B) section of the competition.
The two-rider Kiwi women's team – Christchurch's Stefanie Downes (Sherco) and Tauranga's Gabby Gundry (Gas Gas) – finished ninth overall out of 11 nations in the women's section and this was despite having just two riders to compete against the three-rider line-ups from the other nations present.
Team totals in the women's competition were calculated out of the two best of three scores, but this meant every score had to be counted by the Kiwi women.
Motorcycling New Zealand trial commissioner Jim Henderson, of Ohaupo, said this was "a fantastic achievement by the Kiwi riders".
"I have been in touch with the team and we here in New Zealand are all very proud of them, particularly the girls. This is the first time we've sent a female team.
"The riders are all self-funded and, unfortunately we weren't able to send national No.1 Jake Whitaker (of Wellington). Jake is the reigning Australian national champion and he had to choose between either doing this event or defending his Australian crown. He could not afford to do both.
"It's a pity we didn't get closer to beating the Australians in France but we know Jake is capable of beating them all and hopefully he'll beat them again at their nationals.
"But what our team of youngsters achieved in France under 'old head'
Warren Laugesen's guidance was remarkable."
Team Spain won the men's event outright, finishing ahead of Great Britain, while Team Germany won the International Trophy segment, ahead of the Czech Republic and the United States. Team Australia finished fourth in this Group B battle.
Great Britain won the women's section, followed by Spain and Germany.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
Hi all from Kevin Pinfold,
I put my hand up to write a report and here it is finally. Sorry it's taken half the week.
For a full results breakdown go to John Rushworth's excellent new mototrials results website www.moto-trials.co.nz
MOMCC Mototrials Champs Rnd 3 18/8/2013
Well what a brilliant turnout of 27 riders for this month's mototrial at the Infracon quarry
near Mangatainoka. Can't remember the last time we had that many riders at a club event.
We had riders of all calibres from juniors in their first year of riding to a multi times NZ
Champ. Half the riders came from the Hawkes Bay and Wellington areas. Thanks for
travelling to our event and making it an enjoyable day – well we hope it was.
Phil and Tony spent a very wet four hours on Saturday pegging out the eight sections in and
around the many limestone rocks in the disused quarry. However on race day the weather was
far better with only a few spits of rain for a few minutes, although the ground was rather
damp in places but this didn't affect most of the sections to any extent.
Seven times ex NZ Champion Warren Laugesen lead the Expert troupe around the sections
and they added a few tougher obstacles into the sections as they went, to up the challenge.
Warren is off to France in two weeks to manage the New Zealand team at the Trial Des
Nations. Warrick George's day wasn't going brilliantly and then turned to disaster on lap two
when he punched into a large rock step a bit hard and his steering stem broke. Game over for
Mark Sidebotham had the goods over his fellow Ixion club Beta riders, John Lawton and
Roger Dunkley, in the A Grade sections. They would usually ride the Intermediate sections
but decided to challenge themselves in the harder A sections.
Tony Smith, having helped set out the sections, must have been riding them in his head all
night as he had a clean sweep in the Intermediate grade dropping only four marks on his
trusty Sherco. Next best was Nigel Reid, down from Hastings, on 14 marks. Phil Stephenson
was having some good rides on his Gas Gas, but this is his practice ground so he should know
the terrain better than most.
Andy Anderson would normally ride the Intermediate sections but opted to ride Clubman in
this event to take it easy on a sore shoulder. He had no problems posting the lowest score of
14 to head off Paul Wheatley. Andrew Pugh's riding has improved this year and he was pushing
experienced Clubman campaigner Merv George closely for the third position but had to settle
for fourth in the end. But still ahead of his good mate Nick tucker who was a bit miffed he
had to settle for fifth. Although he shouldn't feel too bad as he hasn't been riding for a few
In the Sportsman class young Callum Walcroft rode very well on his Gas Gas 80 to win his
first event. This is probably only his fourth mototrial and he has improved well. Also showing
good improvement this year is Hannah Rushworth on her Gas Gas 80. She chose to ride some
harder Clubman lines in the sections which inflated her score a bit but it's good to see her
challenge herself. She would be glad that her mum, Jane Bray, didn't beat her I'm sure.
Next month's MOMCC mototrial is on September 15 th at a new venue at the Woodville end of
the Manawatu Gorge. This will be round four of the club champs.
Warren Laugesen Beta 54 HBMCC
Carl Robson Beta 90 Ixion
Warrick George Gas Gas DNF MOMCC bike broke
A Grade
Mark Sidebotham Beta 52 Ixion
John Lawton Beta 79 Ixion
Roger Dunkley Beta 81 Ixion
Tony Smith Sherco 4 MOMCC
Nigel Reid Gas Gas 14 HBMCC
Jonathan Buck Gas Gas 17 HBMCC
Phil Stephenson Gas Gas 23 MOMCC
Henry Buck Gas Gas 37 HBMCC Junior
Tony Ramshaw Scorpa 41 MOMCC
Neil Sturmfels Gas Gas 43 Ixion
Adrian Walcroft Beta 56 MOMCC
Oscar Alexander Beta 69 Ixion
Andy Anderson Beta 14 MOMCC
Paul Wheatley Sherco 23 Ixion
Merv George Gas Gas 25 MOMCC
Andrew Pugh Honda 29 MOMCC
Nick Tucker Sherco 32 MOMCC
Doug Daysh Gas Gas 36 MOMCC Junior
Hazel Rushworth Beta 63 CHBMCC
Bryce Sowry Honda 66 Bush Riders
Callum Walcroft Gas Gas 22 MOMCC Junior
Hannah Rushworth Gas Gas 47 MOMCC Junior
Jane Bray Gas Gas 53 MOMCC
AJ Wheatley Gas Gas 120 Ixion Junior
The next MOMCC mototrial is next Sunday, details as follows.
Event – Club Champs Rnd 3. Date – August 18
Venue – Infracon Quarry, Kohinui Road, Mangatainoka, near Pahiatua. Will be sign posted from the TUI Brewery between Woodville and Pahiatua. Venue is approx 6 mins drive from TUI.
Sign on – 9.45 am Start – 10.30 am
All grades/classes
Section constructors – Phil Stephenson and Tony Smith
Regards Kevin Pinfold
Hi all,
The next Manawatu Orion mototrial is next Sunday. July 21
Note – there has been a venue change from what has been previously advertised, but the new venue is close to that advertised. The farmer has informed me that he will be doing farm work on that day that won't fit with us having a trial there.
Event details.
Event - Winter Cup Mototrial Date – July 21
Venue – The farm at the end of Foley Road, off Pinfold Road, Woodville. Will be sign posted from Pinfold Rd/ State Highway 3 intersection on the northern exit of Woodville. Allow 10 min's from Woodville to venue.
Sign on – 9.45 am Start – 10.30 am
Section builders – Phil & Dougie.
Kevin Pinfold
I was looking forward to this race as the forecast was for rain.
Which meant No Dust for the first time in months! Overnight rain and showers on and
off during the day made for very slippery conditions.
The horn sounded and I ran to my bike and in four kicks the (usually first kick) Husaberg
125 eventually starts. As I gas it down the straight I find myself fourth to last. I knew I had to get
a good result to make up for the 8th place in the dust at Taranaki.
As the track opens up I start to pass some of the riders.
As we come up to one of the most boggiest sections, I see people struggling
in the hard wet conditions, so I take the chance to pass some of the other riders. As I come
through the chicane my pit board said that I was in 8th place out of 30. I need to catch up and make
some passes to make the podium. By the end of the second lap I find myself in 6th place and catching.
At this stage I was 2 minutes back from the top five so I got on the gas hard and after two
laps I started to pick them off one by one.
Towards the end I find out that my teammate Ben Fryer
and series leader Taylor Rae had both seized their bikes on the long top gear straights. That meant
that I was in third and catching Charlie Richardson. Usually I can run 2 hours on a tank, but due to
the speed and mud I needed to pit for more gas and fresh Goggles. On the third to last lap I pitted.
As Dad was filling my bike he said I was fast catching Charlie. By keeping that in mind and not
making mistakes I finally catch up to Charlie. As we are about to come up on the finish straight I
sneak around the inside, as we are gassing it down the straight we both look at each other and go
hard at the next corner.
We come up to the lap scoring chicane and Iam thinking it is the last lap. I
out brake him and put myself in 2rd . We still have 1 minute before the end of the 90 minute race,
so we are off for another 10km lap. I know Charlie is a fierce competitor and was not going to let
me have it that easy. As I passed over the first hill I look behind me and do not see him in my sight,
at that stage I thought he had crashed on the hill, but he had been forced to stop for gas. He was in
the back of my head now and I was going for leader Isaac Clark. I knew Isaac had a 90 sec gap
and thought I could close it, but in the end I could only take 30 sec off his lead. Towards the end
of the lap I could not see him, so I just carried on to the finish in a comfortable 2nd place.
With only four points separating Charlie, Isaac and I, it will be all on at the final round in
the Hawkes Bay next month. I hope it is wet!
James Galpin race report
Event: Rnd 3 National Junior XC
Location: Cheviot 21 April 2013
Bike: Husaberg 125 Placing: 2nd
James is supported by: AFC Motorcycles, Graphics HQ, Wayne Fraser Construction
Twinshock Trials NZ News
news @ www.vmxlivewire.gen.nz Issue 2 / Autumn 2013
What an amazing summer we have had so far and Autumn is looking pretty mild and warm also. My mum says, this is
just like it was in summer in the 1960s. So with two trials completed in perfect weather conditions we keep hearing the
call, I need to practise more so my scores are lower and they say it can be more enjoyable when your scores are lower.
I remember when Mick Andrews was here and I rode two training schools and two trials over 3 weekends and I was on
Round 3 of the Waikato trial and it involved a number of creek crossings and was a tough course but I was really
enjoying the very professional way the sections and course had been laid and the way the Waikato boys were running
the whole event. It set a benchmark for me to aspire to and I was really pumped and focused and did a 3 for the round
on the toughest trials course I had ever ridden. And I was so excited I said to Mick that I have just done a round of 3 and
the wise man said back, you still have one round to do so that is good progress Robert, but focus on each section and
think about it as you go. So I started to take a few things for granted, made a mistake, then another and next thing I had
done a 20 and my total score put me in last place out of thirty riders. But I had a smile a mile wide.
So when offered the chance to have logs at the Trentham trial I jumped at the chance to have new challenges for the
guys and I jokes about bringing in the big ones (logs) for Fred out of Africa on the Fantic 200 floated about. Fred and
his son Julian on his TY175 had a great tussle all day with Fred winning by . In the A Grade it was Colin Richardson who
triumphed over Gerald bull while in the B Grade Alan Burgess on the BSA B40 350cc was the victor for the day with the
loss of only points. The river bed area was very dry and the riverbed boulders seemed easy but still took the odd point
of the unwary. Great to see Steve McDonald out on the Honda TL250 and hear the grunt of the big 4 stroke power up
the banks.
Fred on the Fantic 200 Exp , Colin Richardson (A) showing great concentration plus Alan Burgess on the BSA (B)
Special thanks to our sponsors Pete at Kiwi Rider, plus Belray Oils and Fox safety gear, Robin at Mitas Tyres, Tim at
British Spares and we welcome Larry Barnett at Classic Cover Insurance to our family for the 2013 season. They offer
great deals on classic bike insurance whether road, race, dirt or trials. As an example, a trials bike can be insured for
$72 per year covering while in transit to events on a trailer as well as locked on your property. I highly recommend you
contact Larry Barnett at email@example.com as you may find your trials bike is not covered by your
personal effects or home & contents/property insurance policies.
2013 Twinshock Trials Event Programme
April 28th, Sunday, Kents Propertry, 78 Dehli Ave. Wanganui
May 26th, Sunday, TBA, Halcombe, Manawatu Championship
June 16th, Sunday, Earnslaw One Forest, Wanganui
August 25th, Sunday, Bullocks Quarry, Bulls
September 29th, Sunday, Woods Property Akatarawa Valley, Hutt Valley Championship
October 20th, Sunday, Bullocks Quarry, Bulls
November 17th, Sunday, BSA Shield, Linton Quarry, Manawatu, Manawatu/Orion MCC
November 24th, Sunday, Upukongaro Shelterview Jetsprints, Wanganui Championship
To confirm venues/times please contact Robert Cochrane firstname.lastname@example.com Ph 06-343-7585
Team photo from the Mangatukutukus event last month with two new Fantics making their first
appearance in one of our regional trials. The weather was kind, the bush soil was moist but not
sodden and the riding terrain was fab, amongst the trees and the bush, along winding tacks,
through holes, streams and over eroded tree roots, a very special place and thanks to Julian and
Gerald for setting out a thoroughly enjoyable trial. Mick Andrews 'Rider of the Day' was Richard Bullock
on the Yamaha TY175 with Joseph Rivers winning the B Grade on the KT Kawasaki on an impressive
13 points with Gerald Bull (32) taking out the A Grade from Colin Richardson.
TYRE TALK, IN STOCK NOW ARE THE Mitas 21inch trials front tyre. The radial tyres many of us
have fitted to twinshocks slip off the bead when using low pressures for trials. The Mitas are new 4
ply tires with stronger sidewalls for old rim widths, no slipping off bead. Modern trials radial tyres
have been designed to fit the wider rim width for modern trials bikes.
2013 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships
CAPTION: Aucklands Chris Power (Yamaha), chasing hard for the top spot overall and for over-300cc four-stroke class honours.
APRIL 22, 2013: Now is the time for title hopefuls to step up and be counted.
The first two of eight rounds in this seasons Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships were both won by Aucklands Chris Birch and, unless somebody can snap his winning streak in the next few events, the championship could well be decided long before the final round in September.
Extreme drought conditions forced a lull in the fighting, with the proposed third round in the Riverhead Forest being abandoned in late March, but it is back to the front line this weekend for the countrys elite dirt bike troops with racing set for the Puketiro Forest, near Wellington, on Saturday.
The racing starts at the Moonshine Valley motocross facility, on Bulls Run Road.
Just back this season after a two-year stint of racing in South Africa, multiple former New Zealand champion Birch has wasted no time in reasserting his authority at home.
He enjoys an eight-point outright lead in the Kiwi series over joint No.2 men Jason Davis, of Whangamata, and Adrian Smith, of Mokau.
Birchs back-to-back wins also mean he also has firm control of the battle-within-a-battle for over-300cc four-stroke class honours, while Davis and Smith are locked together at the top of the over-200cc two-stroke class standings.
This battle in second spot is particularly fierce with Davis the outright New Zealand champion in 2010 and Smith the defending outright champion from last season.
But Birch is the man they both have to beat.
Fourth overall in the outright standings is Taurangas Reece Burgess, while fifth outright and runner-up to Birch in the over-300cc four-stroke class is Aucklands Chris Power, the defending champion in the class, and he could be one of those expected to fire a few hostile salvos at Birch this weekend.
Other class leaders include Hokiangas Damon Nield (expert under-200cc two-stroke); Aucklands Callan May (expert under-300cc four-stroke) and Tokoroas Sean Clarke (veterans over-40 years class).
After this weekends event, the series heads to Waimiha, in the King Country, on May 11. It wraps up near Tokoroa on September 21.
2013 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships calendar:
Round 1, Feb 2, Oparau
Round 2, Feb 23, Whangamata
Round 3, March 24, Riverhead
Round 4 April 27, Wellington
Round 5, May 11, Waimiha
Round 6, June 1, Maramarua
Round 7, July 20, Taupo
Round 8, Sept 21, Tokoroa
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
2013 KTM NZ Cross-country Championships
APRIL 16, 2013: This seasons New Zealand Cross-country Championships are evenly poised at the halfway stage, although defending champion Adrian Smith has plans to tilt things his way this weekend (April 21).
The third round of four in the KTM-sponsored series is set for rugged farmland just outside Christchurch on Sunday and Mokaus Smith (Yamaha) is hoping that momentum will favour him after he convincingly won the previous round near Inglewood last month.
But Smith will not be taking anything for granted, he was stunned by the pace of Raglan teenager Jason Dickey (Kawasaki) at the opening round in Southland in February and quickly realised he could not afford to rest on his laurels.
Teenager Dickey beat BikesportNZ.com rider Smith to the finish line at Te Anau by nearly five minutes, with Te Awamutus Mark Penny (Suzuki) not far behind in third spot overall. Although Smith bounced back to win round two in Taranaki, he had his work cut out that day with Woodvilles Ben Exeter (KTM) and Palmerston Norths Adam Reeves (Yamaha) hounding him to the finish.
In addition to Dickey, Penny, Exeter and Reeves, there are plenty of others, too, who have the pace to cause an upset.
The win at round two gave me a little bit of leeway now as we head to round three, Smith agreed, his two results thus far giving him a narrow lead over Dickey in the overall series standings.
Competitors will discard their one worst result however, with only three of the four rounds to count, and this means Smith still needs to perform well at the North Canterbury track on Sunday.
Ben Exeter is only 18 years old and so riders like him have nearly 10 years on me, but I figure I have still got a few good years left in me too, laughed the 27-year-old Smith.
Other riders likely to threaten on Sunday include Maruias Ethan Bruce (Yamaha), Aucklands Callan May (Yamaha), Raglans Matthew Quirke (KTM), Hamiltons Sam Brown (Honda) and Aucklands Sam Greenslade (Husqvarna).
Meanwhile, in the junior grade, it will be worth looking out for the winner at both rounds one and two, Cambridge Honda ace Taylor Rae, to continue his good form and stretch his advantage in North Canterbury on Sunday. Ekatahunas Charlie Richardson (KTM) and Martons Ethan Breuer (Honda) should be a challenge to Rae.
The venue for this Sunday is at Davaar Road, Greta Valley. It will be signposted 7km North of Greta Valley on State Highway 1, North Canterbury. It is about 20 minutes' drive from Cheviot to the race venue.
The 90-minute junior race is set to kick off at 9.30am, with the three-hour senior race to start at about 11.30am.
The championship wraps up in Hawkes Bay on May 18.
Credit: Words by Andy McGechan
The next MOMCC Mototrial is this coming Sunday. April 21st. Details below.
Note: I have just been informed that this event is listed on Silver Bullet as being on the Saddle Road at Ashhurst. This is not correct as we had last months event there. Can you change that John?
Event: Club Champs Rnd 1
Date: April 21
Venue: Carrol Farm near the end of No2 Line, Pohangina Valley East. Will be signposted from the Pohangina Valley East turn off on the Ashhurst to Pohangina road. Allow approx 20 mins from Ashhurst.
Sign on: 9.45 am
Start: 10.30 am Entry fee: Senior $15 Junior $10
All grades including non licence social. If your club membership has expired please renew it now.
2013 KTM NZ Cross-country Championships
MARCH 16, 2013: Adrian Smith is back on track.
The defending national champion put his title defence back on track at the second round of four in this years New Zealand Cross-country Championships in Taranaki on Saturday.
The 27-year-old from Mokau had troubles on the opening lap of the gruelling three-hour dirt bike marathon at Purangi, near Inglewood, on Saturday when he crashed and lost his rear brakes on the opening lap of the KTM-sponsored race.
He was in a strong second spot and decided that, even with his handicap, he wasn't losing too much ground on race leader Ben Exeter, of Woodville, so he continued to push for another lap before eventually coming into the pits for a refuel and repairs.
That decision proved crucial in the dusty conditions as staying in the race enabled him to preserve his position on the 30-kilometre circuit and a quick pit stop soon had him back on track, the Yamaha ace then able to take over the lead from the fast-starting Exeter at about the two-hour mark.
He pushed hard and managed to open out an advantage of about four minutes by the end of the race, Exeter (KTM) forced to settle for runner-up spot with Palmerston North's three-time former champion Adam Reeves (Yamaha) moving up from fourth on the opening lap to eventually take third spot on the podium, with Te Awamutu's Mark Penny (Suzuki) taking an impressive fourth spot overall.
Smith finished runner-up to Raglans Jason Dickey (Kawasaki) at round one in Southland last month, but his win on Saturday puts his title defence firmly back on track.
Dickey finished fifth overall on Saturday, still a remarkable performance considering he was only 11th at the end of lap one, but rival Smith is back in the driving seat for the championship as the riders head to Christchurch on April 21 for round three.
The championship wraps up in Hawkes Bay on May 18.
Motorcycling New Zealand cross-country commissioner Chris Smyth, of Dannevirke, said Saturdays racing went perfectly.
Everyone enjoyed themselves and, despite the dust, the track was fantastic, Smyth said. Craig Morrison did an excellent job of organising things and Greg
Ngeru and his team did a great job of setting out the track.
A bit of rain would have been nice, but it was the best track possible in drought conditions.
Cambridges Taylor Rae (Honda) won the 90-minute junior race earlier in the day, finishing ahead of Eketahunas Charlie Richardson (KTM) and Martons Ethan Breuer (Honda).
Leading overall results from the second round of four in this seasons KTM New Zealand Cross-country Championships in Taranaki on Saturday:
Senior (3-hour) race: 1. Adrian Smith (Mokau, Yamaha); 2. Ben Exeter (Woodville, KTM); 3. Adam Reeves (Palmerston North, Yamaha).
Junior (90-minute) race: 1. Taylor Rae (Hamilton, Honda); 2. Charlie Richardson (Eketahuna, KTM); 3. Ethan Breuer (Marton, Honda).
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan,
Yes it is almost time for the next Manawatu Orion mototrial. Details below. Event, MOMCC Club Mototrial Champs Rnd 1
Date, March 17 Venue , Boltons farm, Saddle Rd Ashhurst. Head up the Saddle Road on the alternate route to Woodville and it is the first gate on the right after crossing the bridge over the Pohangina river. Only about 1.5 km from Ashhurst. We will put a trial sign at the gate. Sign on 9.45am Start 10.30am
All grades including non licence. Section setters , Kevin and whoever wants to help me. Terrain, very dry dirt hills, banks etc. Cheers Kevin
Next moto trial on March 17 at Boltons farm on the Saddle Rd near Ashhurst. More details to follow.
Report and results from the MOMCC mototrial two weeks ago.
MOTORCYCLE TWINSHOCK TRIAL, THIS SATURDAY 23RD FEB, UPPER HUTT SUMMER CARNIVAl
Logs are being bought into the totara tree section of the venue, lots of fun.
10 sections x 4 rounds, sign on from 9am, start 10.30am. $20 per rider.
If you do not bring any lunch lots of traders and stalls amongst the carnival
You can camp at the venue at no cost on Friday & Sat evening
Hope to see lots of you there for a great event.
Sunday I will be heading to the North Island moto trials at Valley Road Kapiti.
There could be a spare twinshock bike or two available to ride at Carnival, ph or txt me on 022-154-0334
Cheers Robert Cochrane Media Consultant Legends Events & Media Ltd
2013 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships
FEBRUARY 19, 2013: Riders battered by a brutal opening round of racing in this seasons New Zealand Enduro Championships at Kawhia just over a fortnight ago will now be bracing themselves for another beating at round two on the Coromandel Peninsular this weekend.
Returning Kiwi international ace Chris Birch, of Auckland, won the Kawhia event outright, edging out Mokaus defending national champion Adrian Smith, but he will take nothing for granted as he steels himself for a backlash from Smith, and the many other contenders, near Whangamata this weekend.
The eight-round Yamaha-sponsored series heads into the Taungatara Forest for round two on Saturday with plenty at stake.
The Taungatara Forest is about 10 minutes drive north of Whangamata on State Highway 25 and could be regarded as home turf for Whangamatas former national enduro champion Jason Davis, certainly a venue where Davis will be both comfortable and fast.
Aucklands Mike Skinner makes a comeback from injury this weekend and he will be determined to make up lost ground, while typical frontrunners such as Auckland pair Chris Power and Freddie Milford-Cottam, Tuakaus Jonathan Hill and Tokoroas Sean Clarke could be expected to consolidate their positions near the top.
The course is 138 kilometres long and there will be six special tests on the day and, because of recent dry conditions, competitors will be expected to carry fire extinguishers on their bikes.
It is very dry in the forest at the moment, said Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Shaun Prescott, of Hikuai.
The course sends the riders through a lot of forest, with plenty of creek crossings thrown in. There will be logs, but no bogs.
After this weekend, the series continues with round three at Riverhead Forest on March 24 and wraps up near Tokoroa on September 21.
2013 Ymaha NZ Enduro Championships calendar:
Round 1, Feb 2, Oparau
Round 2, Feb 23, Whangamata
Round 3, March 24, Riverhead
Round 4 April 27, Wellington
Round 5, May 11, Waimiha
Round 6, June 1, Maramarua
Round 7, July 20, Taupo
Round 8, Sept 21, Tokoroa
Words Andy McGechan,
Moto Trials Event Pink & Manning Shield Moto trial Date Feb 17
Yes the time has come to kick start the moto trials season here in the Manawatu. Details as follows
Venue Christiansen Farm near the end of Opawe Road, Pohangina Vally East. Will be signposted from the usual intersection on the Ashhurst to Pohangina Rd. Opawe Rd is the 5th road on your right after turning onto the Pohangina East Road. Allow 30 mins from Ashhurst.
Time Sign on 9.45 Start 10.30
All grades including non licence
Section setters, Adrian Walcroft and ?
Cheers Kevin Pinfold
2013 KTM NZ Cross-country Championships FULL THROTTLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY
FEBRUARY 13, 2013: This seasons New Zealand Motorcycle Cross-country Championships kick off in Southland on Sunday with one of the most talent-packed fields in years.
Four rounds of intense action are on the calendar for the KTM-sponsored national series this year, with the first round blasting off near Te Anau on Sunday (February 17).
The competitors will be expected to tame some of the most rugged terrain in the Southern Hemisphere, on a course that has never before been used for the nationals and this fact alone makes it a particularly exciting way to begin the season.
It will challenge the riders and it is supposed to, said Motorcycling New Zealand cross-country commissioner Chris Smyth. If you like your tracks flat and smooth, you had best go road-racing, he laughed.
Round two in Taranaki on March 16 will also break in previously-untried ground, giving no rider any advantage over his rivals.
Palmerston Norths Adam Reeves will be keen to win back the title he held for three consecutive seasons between 2009 and 2011, although first he will have to find a way past the reigning national cross-country champion, Mokaus Adrian Smith.
I am keen to make it two cross-country title wins in a row, confessed the 27-year-old Smith. I have been on my bike quite a lot lately, so I am feeling pretty confident but I just have to make sure I do not do anything silly and stay consistent.
Both this weekend and round two will be on fresh terrain. It is not something that bothers me at all. If you put something in front of me I will tackle it.
Te Awamutus Mark Penny, Taurangas Reece Burgess, Pukekohes Matthew Vining, brothers Lance and John ODea, and New Plymouths Renny Johnston will threaten for the senior title, while Wellingtons Hugh Lintott, Hamiltons Sam Brown, Nelsons Sam Millson, Invercargills Greg Baynes, Onewheros Jim Orton, Blenheims Scott Orchard, Gores Jason Duff, Stratfords Karl Roberts, Southlands Cameron Wheeler, Raglans Jason Dickey and Christchurch trio Dean Baird, Scott Jennings and Steven Kelly could also feature among the leaders.
After this weekends racing, the series heads to Taranaki, followed by Christchurch on April 21 and, finally, it wraps up in Hawkes Bay on May 18.
The venue for round one is signposted from Lagoon Creek Road, off the Te Anau-Mossburn Highway (SH 94).
Round one: February 17, 2013, Southland;
Round two: March 16, 2013, Taranaki;
Round three: April 21, 2013, Christchurch;
Round four, May 18, 2013, Hawke's Bay.
2013 KTM NZ Cross-country Championships CROSS-COUNTRY EXPERTS PRIMED FOR ACTION
FEBRUARY 5, 2013: This seasons New Zealand Motorcycle Cross-country Championships are nearly upon us, with an exciting line-up of talented Kiwis getting ready to tame some of the most rugged terrain in the Southern Hemisphere.
Four rounds of intense action are on the calendar for the KTM-sponsored national series this year, with the first round due to kick off near Te Anau, at the bottom of the South Island in less than two weeks time, on February 17.
The Te Anau community has come to the party and it is great to be able to run an event down there. It is not just a North Island championships, it is a national event, said Motorcycling New Zealand cross-country commissioner Chris Smyth.
Round two in Taranaki on March 16 will also break in previously-untried ground, giving no rider any advantage over his rivals.
Palmerston Norths Adam Reeves will be keen to win back the title he held for three consecutive seasons between 2009 and 2011, although first he will have to find a way past reigning national cross-country champion Adrian Smith, of Mokau.
Te Awamutus Mark Penny, Pukekohes Matthew Vining, brothers Lance and John ODea, and New Plymouths Renny Johnston will also threaten for the senior title.
The series kicks off near Te Anau, in Fiordland, on February 17, with rounds to follow in Taranaki, Christchurch and, finally, it wraps up in Hawkes Bay on May 18.
The venue f or round one is signposted from Lagoon Creek Road, off the Te Anau-Mossburn Highway (SH 94).
Round one February 17, 2013, Southland;
Round two March 16, 2013, Taranaki;
Round three April 21, 2013, Christchurch;
Round four May 18, 2013, Hawkes Bay.
Words Andy McGechan
CAPTION: Aucklands Chris Birch (KTM), with a first-round victory under his belt.
FEBRUARY 3, 2013: It was the perfect homecoming for Aucklander Chris Birch at the weekend as he immediately got back into his winning ways on the national enduro racing scene.
The 32-year-old had only recently arrived back in the country after he and his wife Monica had spent a two-year stint in South Africa, Chris continuing to race international and domestic South African events while abroad.
Birch was in scintillating form as he raced to outright victory at the opening round of eight in this seasons Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships at Oparau, near Kawhia, on Saturday.
He eventually won four of the days six timed special tests to edge out defending national enduro and cross-country champion Adrian Smith (Yamaha), of Mokau, by two minutes overall at the end of a brutal day of racing on the steep and unforgiving, dusty farmland circuit.
That also gave Birch (KTM) the top spot in the over-300cc four-stroke class, while Smiths performance saw him finish top of the under-300cc two-stroke class.
Other expert grade class winners were Aucklands Freddie Milford-Cottam (KTM, under-200cc two-stroke class); Tuakaus Jonathan Hill (KTM, under-300cc four-stroke class); Tokoroas Sean Clarke (KTM, veterans, over-40 years class).
I have not raced a New Zealand enduro in a number of years and had forgotten how much I like them, said Birch afterwards. It was a great day.
Intermediate, womens and junior grade class winners were Mokaus Aaron Jones (Yamaha, under-200cc two-stroke); Te Kuitis Adam Benefield (Honda, over-200cc two-stroke); Ngaruawahias Kelvin Babington (KTM, under-0300cc four-stroke); Cambridges Dylan Yearbury (KTM, over-300cc four-stroke); Hamiltons Greg McWhannell (KTM, veterans 40-49 years); Te Kauwhatas Lewis Speedy (KTM, veterans over-50 years); Waipukuraus Hazel Rushworth (KTM, womens class); Oparaus James Scott (Kawasaki, junior 12-14 years); Helensvilles Tom Buxton (KTM, junior 15-16 years).
Event organiser Sean Clarke, of Tokoroa, said he was pleasantly surprised by the high number of entries at Oparau.
It shows the sport is in great shape. It was a good, challenging ride for all the different grades of competitors ... if a few people had followed the arrows properly, it would have been perfect, he laughed, referring to the half a dozen or so competitors who had headed down the wrong pathways and lost valuable time by then having to back-track.
The championship series continues with round two at Whangamata on February 23 and wraps up near Tokoroa on September 21.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
JANUARY 30, 2013: There will be no favours expected or granted when the nations top off-road motorcycle racers kick off the New Zealand Enduro Championships near Kawhia this weekend.
The series opener is set for steep and rugged terrain at Oparau, near Kawhia, this Saturday (February 2) and a lot will be riding on the results because this brutal venue has been a graveyard for title hopefuls in the past.
Boosted this season to an eight-round series, consistency will count more than ever before this time around, although none of the competitors will want to begin their respective campaigns on the wrong footing and therefore be forced to play catch-up over months of arduous battling.
As well as the usual suspects, the Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships has also attracted champion riders from several parallel codes, including Palmerston Norths three-time former national cross-country champion Adam Reeves and Wellingtons six-time national moto trials champion Jake Whitaker, a multi-talented athlete who is crossing over from trials to enduro riding this season.
The nation's elite riders will embrace the new series with Kiwi international Chris Birch returning home from South Africa, Whangamata's former national champion Jason Davis back from injury, current national cross-country and 2012 outright national enduro champion Adrian Smith, of Mokau, back from a stint in the United States and Aucklands Chris Power arriving at Kawhia fresh from taking his Yamaha WR450F to an impressive runner-up finish in the river race section of last weekends New Zealand Motocross Grand Prix at Woodville.
A lot of interest is also being shown in the series this year by riders who have never before tried enduro racing, so I guess we must be starting to tap into the trail bike riding scene, said Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Shaun Prescott, of Hikuai.
Basically, if you can ride a trail ride, you can ride an enduro championship round, it is just a fraction more intense.
The series will incorporate the Kiwi Rider Junior Cup competition as well this year, catering for younger riders at the same national championship rounds. They will ride the intermediate sections of the course.
This is a huge growth area for the sport, said Prescott. This is where our future national and world champions will come from.
The championship series wraps up near Tokoroa on September 21.
2013 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships calendar:
Round 1, Feb 2, Oparau
Round 2, Feb 23, Whangamata
Round 3, March 24, Riverhead
Round 4 April 27, Wellington
Round 5, May 11, Waimiha
Round 6, June 1, Maramarua
Round 7, July 20, Taupo
Round 8, Sept 21, Tokoroa
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
The shot gun fires then 30 of us run to our bikes. My Husaberg 125 fires first kick and I easily
take the $50 Waitawiti holeshot. Then I weaved my way through the drains and shot up
the hill. I had a comfortable lead coming towards the end of the first lap where there was a
slick tree section where I was struggling to find grip. After the first 10 minute lap I found
myself 40 seconds in the lead. Then I knew where I was going and got on the gas hard. But
by then KTM 150 rider and series leader, Charlie Richardson was in third place. Half way
around the second lap, Ethan Breuer who was in second place crashed into a water trough
and was out of the race. That put Charlie up into second place. By the time seven more laps
had passed Charlie was gaining. On the eighth lap of nine I was 20 seconds in the lead then
my front wheel found a tree root and I went down hard. As I was picking up the bike Charlie
sneaked past into the lead. I chased him down by the end of the lap. Then it was down to the
last lap. Charlie slid out on the side of the hill coming into the first part of the last lap. I took
the lead, then as I came over the ridge and down into a hair pin corner I dropped the front
wheel and I was down again. As I got going I heard Charlie right behind me. At the bottom
of this hill I got stuck behind a slow lapper through a tight section of the track. I tried to get
on the inside of him but I get blocked and Charlie canes past. I kept right behind him for the
rest of the lap and it came down to the last corner. I tried to sneak up the inside and we
banged handlebars but it was not worth causing a crash. I ended up in second place.
Event: Bush riders Cross Country rnd 2, Juniors. 20th jan 2013
Location: Atrig station, Dannevirke
Rider: James Galpin
Bike: Husaberg TE125
Result: 2nd
1st : Charlie Richardson KTM 150
2nd : James Galpin Husaberg 125
3rd : Daniel Alabaster KX 250
James Galpin race report
JANUARY 16, 2013: Off-road motorcycle riding typically combines strength, and endurance, balance and co-ordination, resourcefulness and tenacity in equal measures, but this year's national enduro series is going to be bigger and tougher than ever before.
Originally boosted from five to seven rounds this season, news has just come in that an additional event will now be added, making the 2013 Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships a bumper eight-round affair.
It flies in the face of current trends, other sports are scaling back in light of tough economic times, and shows just how healthy the Kiwi enduro scene is.
I am very excited about this development, said Motorcycling New Zealand enduro commissioner Shaun Prescott, of Hikuai.
We decided that, as long as the rounds are spread out, we could expand it easily and so now we have eight rounds. All rounds count for the outright winner, but riders can discard their one worst result, so only seven of the eight rounds are counted towards individual class titles.
A lot of interest is being shown in the series this year by riders who have never before tried enduro racing, so I guess we must be starting to tap into the trail bike riding scene.
Basically, if you can ride a trail ride, you can ride an enduro championship round, it is just a fraction more intense.
The series will incorporate the Kiwi Rider Junior Cup competition as well this year, catering for younger riders at the same national championship rounds.
They will ride the intermediate sections and be in separate age groups, 12-14 years and 15-16 years.
This is a huge growth area for the sport, said Prescott. This is where our future national and world champions will come from.
As well as the championship series being boosted this season, there will also be an additional three-day North Island Enduro Championships event, to be held at Maramarua, near Thames, over the Queens Birthday Weekend.
The nations elite riders are all expected to embrace the new series with Kiwi international Chris Birch returning home from South Africa, Whangamatas former national champion Jason Davis back from injury, current national cross-country and 2012 outright national enduro champion Adrian Smith, of Mokau, back from a stint in the United States and Wellingtons six-time national moto trials champion Jake Whitaker crossing over from trials to enduro riding this season.
These champions, and others, will go head-to-head when the 2013 enduro nationals kick off in just over two week's time, at Oparau, near Kawhia, on Saturday, February 2.
2013 Yamaha NZ Enduro Championships calendar:
Round 1, Feb 2, Oparau
Round 2, Feb 23, Whangamata
Round 3, March 24, Riverhead
Round 4 April 27, Wellington
Round 5, May 11, Waimiha
Round 6, June 1, Maramarua
Round 7, July 20, Taupo
Round 8, Sept 21, Tokoroa
Credit Andy McGechan
Hi Guys, TWINSHOCK TRIAL - SUNDAY 25TH NOV @ ASH KENTS WANGANUI?
Twinshock Trial at Ash Kents end of Delhi Ave this Sunday, sign on from 9am (will be signposted off Somme Parade)
Trial starts 10.30am 4 rounds of 10 sections
BBQ & refreshments after
Robert Cochrane
Media Consultant
Legends Events & Media Ltd
FIM Trial World Championship goes non-stop
In view of the current extremely difficult situation regarding participation in Trial events
that is also leading to the free fall of the Trial motorcycle market, the FIM together with the
Trial Manufacturers (Montesa-Honda, Gas Gas, Beta, Sherco & Ossa) has decided to take
measures in order to find ways to revitalise this discipline.
The first change concerns the sporting regulations of the FIM Trial World Championships
that, from 2013, will be non-stop. All categories of the discipline (World Pro, Open
International, Junior, 125cc, Women & Trial des Nations) will now apply more dynamic
With the aim of making Trial more accessible, reducing the level of the sections, creating
more dynamism, reducing the costs and increasing practice and participation, additional
measures will be taken in the coming months.
BSA Shield Hi Guys, going to be a great event
Details for this weekends Sunday 11th Nov. 2012, BSA Shield are sign on any time after 9am - trial will start at 10.30am, followed by BBQ, BYO refreshments. Look forward to seeing you there.
This is an MNZ event so your day license is paid for by the $20 entry on the day
It is the same Mangatukutuk Rd Kapiti as last weekends twinshock trial, just different spot, will be signposted
Cheers, Kev T
CAPTION: Tokoroas Sean Clarke, combining individual events into a new series.
NOVEMBER 7, 2012: New Zealand has a reputation for producing motorcycle hard men and the latest development in the sport of extreme enduro racing is set to enhance that even further.
With Auckland enduro ace Chris Birch now resident overseas, plying his trade in South Africa, and fellow Kiwi internationals Paul Whibley, Rory Mead and Adrian Smith making a huge impact racing in the United States, it is obvious that somebody is doing something right back here at home.
And that person is probably Tokoroas Sean Clarke.
New Zealand already has several popular and well-establish extreme enduro events on the racing calendar, but now Clarke and the KTM motorcycle company intend to bind them together to create a super competition, the KTM Extreme Enduro Series.
The four major extreme enduro events on the calendar will remain stand-alone events, if that is how riders want to treat them, perhaps picking and choosing which events suit their schedules, but Clarke is also bringing them together to form a KTM Extreme Enduro Series, with a special prize to the one outright winner in each bike class.
The KTM Extreme Enduro Series is a combination of four different events that will decide New Zealand's best extreme enduro rider. Points will be awarded in each round across four different grades, pro, expert, clubman and moto trials.
At the series final, the No Way In Hell extreme enduro, the riders with the best tally from any three of the events will take home the trophy and the bragging rights, said Clarke.
All the No.1 riders from all the motorcycling codes will likely come together for this. We have seen huge interest from top motocross riders such as Rotoruas Michael Phillips, enduro riders Chris Birch and Rory Mead and six-time national moto trials champion Jake Whitaker as well.
He said that having moto trials exponents entered would also add a new dimension to the events.
By the end of March we will know which rider and which motorcycling code can claim to be king of extreme.
Round one: November 18, Riverhead 100, Riverhead Forest, Auckland
Round two: December 1, Tokoroa Endurocross
Round three: February 9, Te Puke Endurocross
Round four: March 30-31, No Way In Hell, Oparau, near Kawhia
Words and photo by Andy McGechan
Hi Guys, What a fantastic trial in Kapiti on Sunday Oct 28th. The weather started damp but had cleared by lunch and was hot and sunny. What an amazing place to ride, through the bush and streams.
As it was a bit slippery the scores for some of us were a bit high but all the smiles at the end of the day were a mile wide.
Special thanks to Gerald Bull, and Julian & Joseph Rivers for setting out the sections, and to Tiffany for her admin work and cooking lunch on the day.
My bike expired at the start of the event but Rick Barber kindly leant me his KT so I did my 4 rounds after the lunch break, boy was I sore for the next few days.
But riding down tracks, over tree roots, through puddles, through ruts and sliding about in the mud behind 2 others KTs, what a magic sound. And the four KTs outnumbered the Hondas for the first time in over two years. Great to see you all and looking forward to this weekend.
BSA Shield this Sunday at Kapiti, Sunday November 11th, be there for an amazing days riding guys! Details to follow shortly
Cheers Robert Cochrane Media Consultant Legends Events & Media
MOMCC MOTO-TRIALS REPORT 14 October 2012, Club Championship: Rnd 5
A cold, blustery and showery day greeted the dozen hardy
riders prepared to brave the elements and take on the
slippery rocks at Stu Davidsons place up the end of Number
3 line. Merv and Adrian had set out eight sections the
previous day along the gully below the woolshed. The
smallish, innocuous looking rocks scattered around there are
real points grabbers, particularly when the lichens and
mosses growing on them have been well and truly soaked
with heavy rain the night before.
It was pretty tough day overall judging by the high scores, but most riders showed quite a lot of
improvement over the four laps. We will put it down to improving rider skill, but the drying rocks might also
have played a part.
The largest turnout was in the clubman grade where 6 riders vied for the lowest score. Once again the
Ixion members showed us how it is done with Oscar Alexander taking out the honours on his nice new
Factory Beta, followed closely by Paul Wheatley. Nick Tucker was not far behind and is certainly coming to
grips with his loaned Gas Gas, so much so that going back to his (t)rusty old Beta will not be easy (if it ever
starts again). I watched Andrew doing some great rides and he is improving in every trial. Merv and
Adrian took it upon themselves to chaperone the new riders for the day so were not in contention.
Second largest turnout was in social grade where we had four new riders trying out the sport. This is
fantastic and follows a trend in the last few trials, and hopefully bodes well for raising the profile of the
sport in the Manawatu. Chris Morrison brought along his very tidy Sherco and blitzed the field, recording
the day's lowest score of 10, not bad for your first trial! He certainly has the skills to take on the clubman
grade. Also competing for the first time were Richard Boardman and young Callum Walcroft. Both riders
were on older twin-shocks that struggled in the slippery conditions, but they still looked like they were
having fun. Tod Palenski only turned up to watch since his bike was in bits, but was persuaded to ride
Mervs Gas Gas over a few sections.
There was no contest in the intermediate and expert grades with only one rider in each, and both of
them were taking it easy on the day. Phil did not want to break his bike or his body ahead of the NZ
Championship 3-day trial in Alexandra (good luck Phil!), and Warrick was back for his first trial after
getting a wheel-alignment done on his ankle.
Next trial is the BSA shield on 11 November, this year hosted by Ixion. It will be in the Maungakotukutuku
Valley and will include the classic bikes and a BBQ afterwards. Last years event had 45 riders enter and
was a great day, so this years is not to be missed.
Details will follow in an email closer to the time.
Adrian Walcroft.
OCTOBER 23, 2012: Wellingtons Jake Whitaker made it six title wins in a row when he dominated the top category at the three-day New Zealand Moto Trials Championships near Alexandra at the weekend.
The extremely-talented 21-year-old Kiwi international had won the premier title at the New Zealand Moto Trials Championship for each of the past five years and he was clear favourite to extend that to six over the Labour Weekend.
He did not disappoint, riding faultlessly over the entire weekend to take the Expert Grade crown ahead of Nelsons Karl Clark and Rotoruas John Haynes.
It went pretty well for me, said Whitaker, in classic understatement.
I said before the event that it might be possible to complete the three days without dropping any points and that is what t I did. I do not know if thats ever been done before.
I could not afford any lapse of concentration, though, because the second and third riders were close behind. It was challenging to try and keep focussed.
Whitaker said the weather did not play any part in proceedings, although a light sprinkling of snow cooled things down on the third day.
The big granite rocks offered plenty of grip and it did not rain at all, so it was not slippery. The arrival of the snow did make us want to hurry along and get the contest over a bit earlier.
Whitaker had also collected his third consecutive Moto Trials Championship crown in Australia in September, making him a multiple and reigning champion on both sides of the Tasman.
Winner of the second tier competition, the A Grade, was rising young star Liam Draper, the teenage Aucklander edging out Wellingtons Carl Robson and Invercargills Jason Hibbs.
The Intermediate Grade was topped by Tauranga father-and-son duo Kevin and Jacob Gundry, who finished the weekend first and second respectively, with Nelsons Daniel Clark taking the third step on the podium.
Draper was also a dual-class winner, also collecting the top prize in the Junior Grade, this time finishing ahead of Jacob Gundry and Blenheims Gareth Wadsworth.
The top three Presidents Grade riders were, in order, Nelsons Stephen Oliver, Christchurchs Ross Bristol and Hamiltons Peter Osborne, while Pahiatuas Phillip Stephenson and Christchurchs Paul Jackson respectively won the Clubmans and Twin Shock divisions.
Andy McGechan
Hi Guys,
Another great trial coming up on Sunday 28th October, This time at Kapiti, set out by Gerald and Julian.
Tiffany and I are just off to the BSTT at Hampton Downs for the long weekend so look forward to catching up and riding with you next weekend.
Warm Regards, Tiffany & Rob, Legends Events & Media Ltd
Hi all, Manawatu Orion MCCs next mototrial is this coming Sunday. Details as follows.
Event: MOMCC Mototrials Champs Rnd 5 (final). Date: October 14
Venue: Davison farm, near the end of No 3 Line, off Pohangina Valley East Road. Will be sign posted from the Pohhangina Valley East Rd intersection on the Ashhurst – Pohangina road.
Sign on: 9.45 am Start: 10.30 am
All classes below including non licence class. Easiest class suitable for new riders and twin shock.
Weather: Unpredictable Sections: Rocky stream, grass climbs, banks etc.
Section setters: Merv and Adrian
WONDERFUL TRIAL TODAY, Sept 30th, Belray Oils Spring Twinshock Series
Hi Guys,
We had a number of the regulars unable to turn out today to Tony & Helen Woods property with 4 overseas, 2 injured and 2 at funerals
but boy did you miss a great one. The property is amazing and half way through my first round I was kicking myself for not riding more often,
not because I am rusty, but because of the amazing fun I am missing out on.
And the KT chugged away all day, but the rider hung on all day except on Section 2 when I lost it on the exit and nearly nicked the tip of my finger,
the bike had gone over in gear and the rear wheel was spinning as I fell forward trying to hold myself upright and my gloved finger brushed the spinning chain
as I fell down, rolled on the ground and burst out laughing.
After the trial I discovered 1 spit fingernail and a few drops of blood so a close call. I have noticed some guys riding in the past without gloves.
From now on, no gloves, no riding in the trial.
here are the dates through to Xmas
Sun Oct 28th Kapiti details soon there will be an area with a few easy learner sections for children and wives/partners able to try out a Honda TL50cc
Sun Nov 11th Kapiti BSA Shield Day, we are hosted by Ixion Club in their annual challenge with Manawatu Orion, been running since the 1940s
remember last year we had 25 Twinshocks and there were only 23 modern bikes. Was a great day
Sun Nov 25th Wanganui, Xmas tria venue TBA
Reserve these dates on your calendar today
Robert Cochrane, Media Consultant, Legends Events & Media Ltd Ph 06-343-7585
Belray Oils Spring Twinshock Series
When : Sunday September 30th
Time: Sign on from 9.30am
$20 per rider
Trial starts 10.30am
Venue: Woods Property
1913 Akatarawa Road
Akatarawa Valley
Belray Oils Spring TwinUpper Hutt
Will be signposted
Classes include Expert, A & B Grade
Novices and spectators welcome
For event listings, news, pics and results
like our fb page twinshocktrialsnz
MOMCC Club Champs Mototrial Rnd 4 September 2012
Those four weeks since the last mototrial went quickly? It only seems like a couple of weeks since I was at the Linton quarry watching the guys make fools of themselves and here I am again at the other Infracon quarry we use watching them again.
Phil and Nick put the big effort in on Saturday setting out eight sections in and around the limestone quarry (now called break leg quarry) near Mangatainoka and 19 riders turned up on Sunday to test their skills. There was a good cross section of riders from A grade level down to junior and also three female riders, albeit from the same Rushworth family and covering three generations, sort of. So certainly a good turnout covering all fields, let us hope it continues.
Even the threatening rain held off, well a few spits but nothing to warrant putting a rain jacket on for. But rain in the period leading up to the event did result in some sections not in the rocks being slippery and stealing marks, eh Nick. I would blame your sponsor for supplying a bike with a worn rear tyre.
As is normal at break leg quarry most sections always have horrible, small, loose, fist size rocks that find their way under tyres at the most inappropriate times and cause many points to be lost as riders fight the bike back on line. Usually as a rider is lining up for the next big obstacle. As a result the riders scores are often higher than the severity of the sections would suggest. And Sunday was typical of this as I saw many being caught out by the small insignificant looking rocks.
The Social grade had the easy lines and four rode this grade including Jane Bray and her 12 year old daughter Hannah Rushworth. Jane on a 125 Gas Gas and Hannah on an 80 Gas Gas. They have ridden a few events now and they are improving with every ride and enjoying it too. Also riding this grade was 12 year old AJ Wheatly from Wellington. Although a bit timid still he is coming along well. The star of this grade was young Dillon Ball from down Wellington way. I am not sure of his age, abought 8 I think. But on his wee Beta 80 he just blitzed the sections losing only two points all day. He is always been full of confidence and has spent a lot of time around NZ & Aus Champ, Jake Whitaker, so has had a good teacher. Dillons dad is Jakes minder at all the big events.
Clubman was the largest grade on the day with Ixion rider Jamie Mead once again doing the winning. But Manawatus Adrian Walcroft was not far behind in second place. It is good to see Nick Tucker and Andrew Pugh getting their teeth into this grade now, they certainly are not at the sharp end yet vying for a win but are improving. Keep up the practice. Hazel Rushworth brought up the rear in this grade with a bit of a cricket score but really enjoyed herself. It would be something like six years since she last rode a trial on her trusty Beta and by all accounts has not ridden seriously since competing in the ISDT (not on the Beta) when it was held here in NZ. Hopefully she has the riding bug again.
The Intermediate grade saw a close battle between Ixions Mark Sidebotham on his near new Beta 300 and our Tony Smith on his not so near new Sherco 290 fitted with a new rear tyre. Two points separated them at the competition end in Marks favour. Twenty odd points behind was a close battle for the minor placings with both Andy Anderson and Tony Ramshaw tying on 64 points and Phil Stephenson one behind on 65.
Only two Ixion riders lined up in the A grade. Both Warrick and myself are still on the mend and will not be riding for some time yet. Carl Robson and his mate Nick Ball had some quite hard sections to tackle which eventually saw Nick retire after crashing off a rock and breaking the rear guard on his Beta. He was ok, just a bit gutted he had broken his bike I think. Carl (never say die) Robson fought on and completed the day enjoying the challenge, I think.
The next MOMCC mototrial 14th October. Pohangina Valley, Kevin Pinfold
MOMCC Club Champs Mototrial Sept 16, 2012 Results A Grade Carl Robson Beta 77 Ixion Nick Ball Beta DNF Ixion Intermediate Mark Sidebotham Beta 41 Ixion Tony Smith Sherco 43 MOMCC Andy Anderson Beta 64 MOMCC 6 cleans Tony Ramshaw Scorpa 64 MOMCC 5 cleans Phil Stephenson Gas Gas 65 MOMCC Clubman Jamie Mead Beta 40 Ixion Adrian Walcroft Beta 46 MOMCC Ricky Winkle Ossa 47 Ixion Paul Wheatley Sherco 63 Ixion Merv George Gas Gas 69 MOMCC Nick Tucker Gas Gas 78 MOMCC Andrew Pugh Honda 85 MOMCC Hazel Rushworth Beta 112 CHBMCC Social Dillon Ball Beta 2 Ixion Hanna Rushworth Gas Gas 61 MOMCC Jane Bray Gas Gas 79 MOMCC AJ Wheatley Gas Gas 118 Ixion
MOMCC Club Champs Mototrial Sept 16, 2012 Results
A Grade
Carl Robson Beta 77 Ixion
Nick Ball Beta DNF Ixion
Mark Sidebotham Beta 41 Ixion
Tony Smith Sherco 43 MOMCC
Andy Anderson Beta 64 MOMCC 6 cleans
Tony Ramshaw Scorpa 64 MOMCC 5 cleans
Phil Stephenson Gas Gas 65 MOMCC
Jamie Mead Beta 40 Ixion
Adrian Walcroft Beta 46 MOMCC
Ricky Winkle Ossa 47 Ixion
Paul Wheatley Sherco 63 Ixion
Merv George Gas Gas 69 MOMCC
Nick Tucker Gas Gas 78 MOMCC
Andrew Pugh Honda 85 MOMCC
Hazel Rushworth Beta 112 CHBMCC
Dillon Ball Beta 2 Ixion
Hanna Rushworth Gas Gas 61 MOMCC
Jane Bray Gas Gas 79 MOMCC
AJ Wheatley Gas Gas 118 Ixion
The next Manawatu Orion mototrial is next Sunday. Details as follows.
Event MOMCC Mototrials Club Champs Rnd 4 Date September 16th
Venue Infracon (break leg) Quarry, Kohinui Road, Mangatainoka, near Pahiatua.
Trials sign will be put out on State Highway 2 at the Tui brewery. Venue is about 7 mins from there. Allow approx 40 mins from the Ashhurst end of the Manawatu Gorge which should be open if all this rain has not wrecked it again.
Sign in 9.45 am Start 10.30 am
Weather conditions Better than this weekend hopefully. Section setters Phil and Nick All grades catered for including new riders
Regards Kevin Pinfold
TWINSHOCK TRIALS & MODERN TRAINING SCHOOL, THIS SUNDAY, Sept 16, WANGANUI
Sorry, this event has been canceelled due to expected bad weather
Hi Guys, Trials training school for twinshock and modern riders, trail bikes also can be used
Carl Browns, Kai Iwi Rd, north of Wanganui
sign on from 9.30am, 11am start, $20 per rider
Trials Master John Lawton
Robert Cochrane Media Consultant Legends Events & Media Ltd Ph 06 343 7585
Managers Report from 2012 Oceania Championship.
I had the pleasure of managing this team it was a great honor to be with these great ambassadors
representing MNZ competing in the
2012 Smarter Than Smoking Australian Mototrials Championships on 1st & 2nd September, in combination with the 2012 Oceania Championship held near Perth WA.
The sections were rocky some small loose rocks and some large grippy for the higher grades, there was also a section in a creek bed.
The weather was fine and warm on Saturday, about 20c both days.
On Sunday afternoon the weather suited the Kiwis better as it rained quite heavily in the afternoon
The New Zealand Team:
Jake Whitaker, Open Solo
Blake Fox, Youth, 17 to 21 years
Liam Draper, Open Junior, 13 to 16 years
Stefanie Downes, Women,
Karl Clark, Masters, over 35 years
All the team performed exceptionally well to take out the Oceania Trophy 18 points 12.
The four Kiwi Boys all won their respective class's convincingly and our woman rider did very well to get a comfortable 2nd to the very experienced Australian competitor Kristie McKinnon
The total points for each rider for the weekend:
Open Solo:
1st: Jake Whitkaer 21
2nd Kyle Middleton 43
1st: Blake Fox 36
2nd: Jonathon Chellas 76
Open Junior:
1st: Liam Draper 19
3rd: James Wager 35
1st: Kristie McKinnon 38
2nd Stefanie Downes 45
1st: Karl Clark 25
2nd: Grant Morris 54
This means as well as the Oceania Trophy we also all brought home Australian TitleTrophies.
This made the Prize Giving Dinner very enjoyable, and was enjoyed by all the Kiwi Team and their small band of supporters.
The Banter with the Australians was great and the comments I received at the dinner as to how well "Team Kiwi"had acted as a team all weekend was great to hear.
I would like to thank all the Motorcycling NZ 2012 Oceania Team for such an awesome weekend I throughly enjoyed my time with each and every one of you.
On behalf of the MNZ 2012 Oceania team we would like to thank MNZ for support to this team
to make this competition possible.
Regards to all Vicky Fox
CAPTION: Napiers Warren Laugesen, making a rare appearance on home turf this weekend.
AUGUST 21, 2012: This years North Island Moto Trials Championships may go down to the wire as it wraps up with the final two rounds in Hawkes Bay this weekend, August 25 & 26.
The eight-round series kicked off with rounds one and two in Taranaki in February, followed by rounds three and four in the Bay of Plenty in April, while rounds five and six followed in the Wellington region last month.
This weekend the nations motorcycling elite converge on Hawkes Bay for the final two rounds, on Saturday and Sunday, and they can expect terrain that will challenge even the best of them.
Day one on Saturday is on McDermotts property, Maraetotara Road (signposted off Waimarama Road, Havelock North), with competition set to start at 10am.
This course will feature rocks a native bush and it is expected to be very slippery under the bikes wheels.
Day two on Sunday is set for Coupers property, on the back side of Te Mata Peak, again signposted from Waimarama Road, Havelock North. Steep, rocky outcrops will be the order of the day at this venue.
Among the rock stars expected to arrive this weekend are Nelsons Karl Clark and home-town favourite Warren Laugesen. Current national champion and Kiwi international Jake Whitaker is competing overseas and will not make an appearance here this weekend, leaving the North Island series title chase wide open.
Laugesen is a seven-time former national champion but he has scaled back his riding over the past few years as he concentrates on his role as a coach.
He said he will dust off helmet and boots to give it a crack this weekend, but modestly points out that he is not expecting miracles.
The premier Experts Grade is particularly fierce this season and, aside from Clark and Laugesen, top riders expected to feature this weekend include Reporoas John Haynes, Taurangas Phillip Shilton, Dunedins Blake Fox and Blenheims Jason Baker.
Teenager Haynes is one of the sports rising stars and, with recent mentoring from Laugesen, he could be the man to watch.
The prime requisites for the sport of Moto Trials is balance and throttle control and even riders at the bottom of the rankings exhibit scintillating skills in this regard.
Lower Hutts Carl Robson has stood out in the A Grade this year and he will again be expected to lead the way this weekend, although Nelsons Callum Anderson, Hawkes Bays Mark Ferguson and Te Kauwhatas Corey Davies should be a threat.
It is the battle of youth versus experience in the Intermediate Grade where Ashhurst veteran Kevin Pinfold faces a tough challenge from young Auckland rider Liam Draper.
Waihis Gary Samson is the defending champion in the Intermediate Grade and he will most likely again be battling with Aucklands James Snowden, Aucklands Peter Boettcher, Te Pukes Peter Blaymires and young Te Puke rider Benjamin McLeod.
Rangioras Paul Jackson and Taurangas Warwick Merriman have been outstanding in the Presidents Grade and they will be wary of the threats posed by men such as Te Pukes Paul McLeod, Blenheims Brendon Wadsworth and Paraparaumu pair John Lawton and Kevin Tither.
With this branch of motorcycling sport, the emphasis is not on speed. The prime aim is on conquering the extreme terrain without touching feet on the ground or falling off. Points are lost for these faults and a rider with the lowest score wins.
Access to both days riding will be signposted from the respective main roads. There is no charge for spectators. Riding starts at 10am on both days.
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
The next Manawatu Orion mototrial is next Sunday details are, Event Manawatu-Orion MCC Club Mototrials Champs, Rnd 3
Date is Sunday August 19
Venue is Infracon Quarry, Kendalls Line, Linton. Approx 2 km south of the BP service station at Linton off State Highway 57.
Terrain is Small rocks, medium rocks, big rocks, loose rocks, wet rocks (if it rains), clay banks.
Sign on is 9.45 am Start 10.30 am
All grades catered for.
Section setters are Tony Smith and Andrew Pugh.
15th July 2012, Winter Cup
The forecast was not flash for the July moto-trials event,
heavy rain followed by more heavy rain. I just hoped it would
stay dry enough for long enough. The road into the event
venue was a bit of a mission in itself, my Bongo van, with its
gingernut-skinny-wheels found fording the river a bit of a
challenge. I am glad my wife did not try to show up in her Yaris.
About ten of us gathered and after a quick chat from Andy, we were into it. Andy had suggested earlier
that I give the Clubman lines a go, so with Adrian Walcroft, Merv George & Nick Tucker we made a start
on section 1, and all the while keeping a sharp eye on the weather.
The first couple of sections were in the trees and quite dry. I am not suggesting they were easy, because
they were not, with quite a steep slope going down followed by an even steeper climb on section 2. I got
round section 1 okay, but I successfully fived section 2 all day! The climb at the end was just too much of
a challenge.
The next couple of sections were up a hill, over rocks and up a stream bed. Adrian showed us how to
clean this section on his first run, he then showed us the underside of his Beta on the next! This section
cost everyone points.
Section 6 was up the riverbed, but was quite do-able. I think all of us cleaned it at least once during the
day. A confidence booster for me, for sure, even though I did get cast on the large rock at the end more
than once!
Sections 7 and 8 were REAL challenges. The rain arrived on queue to turn marginal traction into nonexistent
traction. I had a quick look at section 7 and thought: Go here, go there, all done, no problem.
The problem was I had only done half the section!
Merv graciously let me have another go (do not tell the scorer) and I made a mental note to pay more
attention in the future.
Section 8 was okay while it was dry, but as it got progressively wetter the climb up the bank to exit just
got harder. It was so slippery that it got to the point that when I got on the gas, the bike went backwards.
Even Nick had trouble on a much lighter 125 that he had the turn of for the day.
Reports from other riders showed that it was not just us Clubman riders who found section 8 a challenge,
with Phil Stephenson apparently scoring a full set of fives on the Intermediate line. There were just two in
this grade for the day, and Andy Anderson once again took top honours, though high scores suggested it
was not an easy day.
Poor old Warrick George had A Grade all to himself, Kevin Pinfold having realised he was going to be
beaten to the Club Championship this year and decided to break his leg to avoid defeat (only joking,
Kevin, get well soon!). Warrick had a good ride, though, with just one five for the whole day, the result of a
particularly slippery patch of wet grass.
And with Warrick heading to hospital the following week to get repairs done to his ankle, the A grade is
for the time being empty. We will keep setting those sections for anyone from outside the area wants to
come along to future events, and fingers crossed we will see the boys back in action before the end of the
It was great to see the Hannah Rushworth and Jane Bray back for more, though Hannah was not 100% and
attempted just a few sections. Hope you are feeling better next time, Hannah. Jane was seen working her
way through the sections, and managed three laps before call it a day. It is easy to forget how hard it can
be when you start out in this game, so glad to hear that you are both still enjoying yourselves.
So, a big thank you to Andy and Nick who set the course. It was not too intimidating but provided a real
challenge all the same. I have to say I was proud of my (mere) 92 points round the Clubman lines. I even
got a zero on section 1. There is hope for me yet!
All in all it was a great day. It stayed mostly dry and the rain that we did get just gave everyone a bit more
of a challenge, and a bit more mud to hose off at home.
Thanks again for another great day. See you all on August 19th at the Linton Quarry.
Andrew Pugh
A Grade
Warrick George Gas Gas 57 MOMCC
Andy Anderson Beta 54 MOMCC
Phil Stephenson Gas Gas 82 MOMCC
Adrian Walcroft Beta 24 MOMCC
Merv George Gas Gas 44 MOMCC
Nick Tucker Gas Gas 66 MOMCC
Andrew Pugh Montesa 92 MOMCC
Hannah Rushworth Gas Gas DNS MOMCC
Jane Bray Gas Gas DNF MOMCC
CAPTION: Mokaus Adrian Smith (Yamaha), the new national enduro champion outright and a class winner as well.
JULY 22, 2012: The person who suggested that good guys finish last had probably never counted on Mokaus Adrian Smith.
One of the most liked and respected riders on the circuit, Smiths performance on Saturday earned him his first overall New Zealand Enduro Championship title.
It was certainly a popular victory, the affable 26-year-old actually finishing runner-up at the fifth and final round of the Yamaha-sponsored series on Saturday, the racing on a treacherous tree root-infested forestry circuit about 30 kilometres south-east of Taupo, but it was more than enough for him to claim the sport's paramount New Zealand title.
The man who beat him on Saturday, Aucklands Karl Power (Honda), had been forced to missed three of the series five rounds because of injury, so his result at the weekend was never going to be enough to make up the lost ground.
Inevitably, then, despite Powers trail blazing performance at Taupo, the day belonged to Smith, who on Saturday also snatched away the under-300cc four-stroke class win from his nearest bike class rivals Scott Birch, of Rotorua, and Jonathan Hill, of Auckland.
It is an amazing feeling, said Smith afterwards. I did not even do all five rounds myself. I had to skip the first round because I was injured. To win the title overall without doing all the rounds . I do not know if thats ever been done before, he gasped.
Class winners were also decided at this cliff-hanger final round, many of the categories going right down to the wire.
Class winners were: Aucklands Callan May (Yamaha, under-200cc two-stroke class); Hokiangas Mitchell Nield (Gas Gas, over-200cc two-stroke class); Mokaus Adrian Smith (Yamaha, under-300cc four-stroke); Aucklands Chris Power (Honda, over-300cc four-stroke class; Te Awamutus Kevin Archer (KTM, veterans over-40 years); Atiamuris Tony McLaren (KTM, intermediate under-200cc class); Putarurus Ryan Scherer (Yamaha, intermediate under-300cc four-stroke); Te Kuitis Adam Benefield (Honda, intermediate over-200cc two-stroke class); Kaukapakapas Wayne Bolger (Husaberg, intermediate over-300cc four-stroke class); Thames Natasha Cairns (Husaberg, womens class); Putarurus Phil Skinner (KTM, intermediate veterans 40-49 years' class); Whitiangas Tony Lingard (KTM, intermediate veterans over-50 years' class).
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
National Enduro CHAMPIONSHIPS GO DOWN TO THE WIRE
JULY 16, 2012: This seasons national enduro championships are going down to the wire.
The five-round series comes to a climax in forestry near Taupo on Saturday with any of half a dozen riders each capable of stealing off with the main prize.
Mokaus Adrian Smith is the hot favourite to win the Yamaha New Zealand Enduro Championships outright but, as always with this most physically demanding of sports, nothing is assured.
A flat tyre, a blown engine, a crash, fatigue or a navigating error and all of Smiths hard work to date will be for naught.
It is certainly going to be a big weekend for me, said Smith.
I just hope things go to plan. I had problems at the Tarawera 100 endurance race (just over a week ago) where I blew the clutch on my 250cc bike trying to get past a 450cc rider on the fast course.
Palmerston Norths Adam Reeves (Yamaha) and Aucklands Mike Skinner (KTM) are close enough to take the outright championship win away from me and 2011 national enduro champion Rory Mead (Yamaha, of Wellington) is back home from the United States to race at this final round. Rory could throw a spanner in the works too.
Aucklands Chris Power (Honda), Opotikis John ODea (Husqvarna), Hokiangas Mitchell Nield (Gas Gas), Whangamatas 2010 national champion Jason Davis (KTM), Aucklands Callan May (Yamaha) and Tokoroas Sean Clarke (Yamaha) are mathematically all capable of ruining Smiths big day.
However, in addition to outright honours, at stake there are the bragging rights for individual class titles and these are also very wide open.
All rounds are counted in the fight for outright glory but, in the battle for class honours, points from a riders worst round are to be discarded.
This means Skinner, Reeves, Clarke, Aucklands Freddie Milford-Cottam (KTM) and Aucklands Jonathan Hill (KTM), for example, are all in line for class honours, although each of them can take nothing for granted with rivals close in every case.
Saturdays race venue is located about 25 minutes drive south-east from Taupo at Wainui Forest, Taharua Road, State Highway 5, on the Taupo to Napier Road.
Words by Andy McGechan
FIM Trial World Championships
2013 Provisional calendars, 11 July
FIM Trial World Championship Date
27-28 April
25-26 May
United States
16 June
Sant Julia
23 June
07 July
14 July
Czech Republic
28 July
Great Britain
01 September
Isola 2000 TBC
FIM Trial des Nations Date
08-09 September
La Chatre
FIM Womens Trial World Championship Date
07 September
La Chatre
Hi all, MOMCC mototrial July 15th
The next MOMCC mototrial this Sunday, details as follows. Event Winter Cup Mototrial Date July 15th
Venue Galloways farm, Coppermine road, near Woodville. Will be signposted at intersection of SH2 and Pinfold Rd just north of Woodville and along Pinfold Road. Note the Manawatu Gorge is closed again so for those going over the Saddle Road from Ashhurst just keep going straight ahead once over the hill until you hit the T intersection with Pinfold Road and turn left.
Sign on 9.45 am Start 10.30 am
All grades including new riders catered for and welcome.
Section designers and builders Andy Anderson and Nick Tucker. Andy and Nick advise that this will NOT be a tough event.
Note access to this venue requires fording of the Coppermine stream once on the property. If we are unlucky enough to get lots of rain in the lead up to the trial and the creek floods, access could be tricky. And dropped out boy racer cars would have a problem flooding or not. Normal vehicles are ok.
Iam sure the weather will be good though.
Kevin Pinfold
17th June 2012, Club Championship: Rnd 2
It was a cool start on Saturday 17th, -5C at my place at
7.30am! I loaded up the van and made a quick trip through
the Gorge, checking out the slip on the way. Do not know
what the excitement was all about really,
Arriving at the venue at the end of Foley Road, it was a
beautiful day, cool, sunny, quite dry and a great day for a
winter trial.
I had had quite a good day at the previous trial at Telfords farm, so when Nick asked if I was up for riding
the Clubman lines, I thought: How hard can that be? Famous last words!
Six Clubman riders split into 2 groups. Adrian Walcroft and co. went one way. Nick Tucker , Mark Gray
(back down from Northland) and myself went the other. Then Nicks mighty Beta packed a sad and
would not start, so he was forced to borrow my TLR. It was going to be a bit slow round the sections for us.
Tony turned up and offered to give us some pointers and tuition round the sections. Excellent! When
you are relatively inexperienced at this trials game, you just do not see the alternative, right, best lines,
thanks heaps, Tony, your time and patience was much appreciated.
The first section was all good, no. 2 a bit trickier with an awkward downhill turn then up a bank and over a
nasty tree root to finish. Section 3 was okay except for two logs that just seemed to cause havoc. No. 4
had a tricky climb, No. 5 was a challenging, understatement, descent down a steep bank and then into a
stream, this gave me REAL grief, and we found out later the Clubman line did not even go that way,
No. 6 was along a bank and round a tree, a few dabs but nothing disastrous like a swim No. 5, Nick?,
and No. 7 was going well until I stalled the bike exiting, duh! Then the last section was a big hill climb
that was WELL out of my league! I think I need to be in the Social grade a little longer somehow.
This all took quite some time, but after a late lunch Nick, Mark and I were back into it. All was going well
until section 4, where Nick retired with a bung knee. I made it to section 5, but had a minor altercation
with an angry rock and broke the front brake lever, that was me out! Mark also had a skirmish with a
rock boulder and ripped off his rear brake pedal. We both had a crack at Section 6, but decided a fully
functioning brake system, both front and rear, was necessary. We retired.
There were four riders competing in the A Grade including Carl Robson from Wellington riding his second
trial back in NZ after completing the Scottish Six Day Trial, where he finished 162nd. Andrew Clement was
also down from Taranaki, and local MOMCC riders Warrick George and Kevin Pinfold rounded out the
grade, competing on the hardest of the routes in the eight sections.
The A grade sections had plenty of banks, steep climbs, tight turns and rocks to test their abilities with
some quite technical parts that required trick riding, front and rear wheel hopping, if riders wanted to
minimise their points loss. And the length of most sections made it physically demanding too. A good
level of fitness helped make the job easier.
Carl was having his first outing on a new Beta 300, and it took him a few laps to start coming to terms
with the beast, a bit more power to get used to than his old 250 version. Although he won the grade, he
probably would have lost less points had he been on his older, more familiar bike, but the only way to get
used to a new bike is ride it.
Warrick and Kevin had one of their familiar young vs. old close battles, with both struggling to get the
upper hand. Just when one looked to be gaining an advantage with a few good rides it would swing the
other way, and vice versa.
Both were still recovering from colds picked up on their recent trip to Aussie to watch the World Trials
Champs round there, although Kevin was probably slightly ahead on the road to recovery and also had
the advantage of having ridden an Ixion club event the previous weekend. That may well have been the
difference in the end that gave him a two point advantage over Warrick.
This was a Club Championship around, with most grades completing round 2, and the A graders round 3
(see last months report for an explanation). The intermediates were down to just two riders, Andy
Anderson and Phil Stephenson, and both seemed to be in good spirits throughout the event despite the
scores suggesting it was a fairly tough one.
And it was great to see Hannah and Rushworth and Jane return to tackle the Social Novice sections. With
Jane riding a newly acquired Gas Gas 125 in place of the old Beta Techno she had previously used, we are
hoping they did not find the sections too hard. There was a bit more bike trouble when Hannahs Gas Gas
50 decided it would only run for a few seconds at a time, but she was seen happily tackling the sections
on Janes 125, so all was not lost.
Overall, I had a good day, a little frustrating, but I guess I will have to try harder next time! Thanks Phil and
Kevin for setting the course, I hope your finger is okay, Phil, this course-setting can damage your health.
Iam already looking forward to the next trial on 15th July, just down the road at Galloways farm on
Coppermine Road, again off Pinfold Road, Woodville. It is the Winter Cup, which goes to the lowest score
by an MOMCC member on the day in any grade. So definitely back down to Social for me then,
Shiny side up!
Andrew Pugh / Kevin Pinfold
A Grade
Carl Robson Beta 53 IXION
Kevin Pinfold Ossa 59 MOMCC
Warrick George Gas Gas 61 MOMCC
Andrew Clement Ossa 93 TMCC
Andy Anderson Beta 61 MOMCC
Phil Stephenson Gas Gas 87 MOMCC
Ricky Winkle Ossa 42 IXION
Jamie Mead Beta 57 IXION
Adrian Walcroft Beta 65 MOMCC
Andrew Pugh Montesa DNF MOMCC
Mark Gray Gas Gas DNF MOMCC
Nick Tucker Beta DNF MOMCC
Hannah Rushworth Gas Gas 109
Race Report: SORCS Cross Country
Rider: Paul Whibley, NZ Team: AmPro Yamaha Bike: Yamaha YZ450 F Result: 2nd
Sunday is race day and on an off weekend between GNCCs we found a Southern Off road
Championship Series event to do.
Dry and extremely dusty conditions meant the start was going to be the key to the race. Get
the hole shot and your good for the day.
Russell Bobbitt lined up on the inside of me on the short start straight and managed to hold
me out going into turn one, also allowing Ben Hobbs past into 2nd. The dust really was bad,
having to come to a near stand-still with just two riders in front of me early in the lap. As they
got away and the dust cloud thinned a little I was able to pick up the pace. Mid lap I closed up
on Ben and could see him ahead on a switchback in the woods. Some more extreme dust late
in the lap allowed Ben to gap me again. For 3 laps I battled like this to try getting close enough
to make something happen and finally I was able to get by in the only non-dust filled creek
near scoring. Russell was out front, not in clean air as he was having to battle past lapped
riders but in a safe position. I pushed hard and closed in and was able to see him on the
switchback I had caught a glimpse of Ben earlier. I halved the gap to 12 seconds at one point
but there was no way to make any kind of attempt at a pass. On the last lap I got hung up with
lappers in some of the worst sections and lost some time.
In the end having to settle for second was pretty much my only option. Good practice ahead of
the next GNCC as many expect it to be a dust bowl as well.
Thanks to Katherine and Jim Belue for persevering in the dust and heat to man the IMS dump
can and keep me refuelled.
1st: Russell Bobbitt
2nd: Paul Whibley, NZ
3rd: Ben Hobbs
Aucklands Mike Skinner probably feels as if he has a target on his back.
The third and final round of this seasons Dirt Guide Cross-country Championships is set for this weekend JUNE 30 to July 1, 2012, with Skinner the favourite to win the crown.
But what is not so certain is which individual will actually win the day at this final round at The Pylons, near Atiamuri, on Saturday with different winners at both earlier rounds and plenty of other talented riders also pushing hard.
Skinner know he has a battle on his hands to fend off round one winner Chris Power, of Auckland, as the pair hunt for expert grade honours.
Skinner leads Power by just four points heading into this weekend and, with 25 points for a win, the glory could go anywhere.
In equal third spot after two rounds are Te Awamutus Kevin Archer and Aucklands Jonathan Hill, just 12 points behind Power.
Mokaus Adrian Smith, who won round two, and Powers cousin, fellow Aucklander Karl Power, also loom as likely winners on Saturday.
In the intermediate grade, Putarurus Phil Skinner and Reporoas Kane Stow are tied on points for the overall victory. Bennydales Duncan McLaren and Mangakinos Ben Gordon are also within strike range for the intermediate title.
The Kiwi Rider magazine-backed series typically attracts many of the top national championship contenders, and organiser Sean Clarke expects leading national enduro and cross-country riders such as Aucklanders Sam Greenslade and Callan May, Palmerston Norths Adam Reeves and Hamiltons Sam Brown will make the journey.
The Pylons course is set out at Tirohanga Road, just one kilometre from State Highway 1 at Atiamuri.
As well as a two-hour race for the countrys senior elite, classes have been provided for the countrys younger riders.
The junior classes are for children aged between six and 10 years and they will use a separate track from the juniors, the two classes will be 6-10 years motocross and 6-10 years trail bikes. The junior race is 75 minutes in duration.
The cross-country series is run parallel with but separate to the Dirt Guide Trail Ride Series, with that phase of the weekend's action set for the same venue following day.
The trail rides have also proven to be popular events with hundreds of riders taking the opportunity to tackle the trails traversed by the professionals just 24 hours earlier.
For any other information, call Sean Clarke on 0275 996 045
Credit:Andy McGechan
The next Manawatu Orion mototrial as follows.
Event MOMCC Champs Rnd 2
Date June 17th, 2012
Venue, Foley Road, off Pinfold Road near Woodville. Will be signposted from the Pinfold Rd/State Highway 2 intersection on the northern side of Woodville. Will also be signposted from the Oxford Rd/Pinfold Rd intersection for those going over the Saddle Road if the Manawatu Gorge is shut. The gorge is open again most of the time. Drive to the end of Foley Rd and follow the trial signs.
Sign on, 10.00 am
Start, 10.30 am
Section setters, Phil and Kevin
Weather, unknown
MotoTrials Report - Bruce & Bai Cup, 20/5/2012
Nice weather to greet a large turn out! To get in the right frame of mind we set out a practice section (10) with the idea that after this practice the rest of the trial would be a doddle. Hmmm not sure it worked. Some of the sections looked pretty mind boggling to start with, 2 complete new sections and lots of different ground conditions. However by the end of the Trial the riders seemed to have them sorted out and getting many zeros so I guess the challenge was there and they stepped up to it, good progress!
Great to see new riders along and thanks Andrew for escorting/assisting them! We hope it was not at the detriment of your own ride. Mark Evans from Whangarei (yes we draw riders from all over to our World famous in Manawatu MotoTrials) started out in Social and stepped up to Clubman, equalling most on last lap, well done. Great to see young Hannah Rushworth having a go and actually finishing, great effort. We hope Jane Bray, Steve Bird, Steve Chambers (& son?), Ben Nitschke and Owen Lum also enjoyed their experiences and we hope to see you all again soon. If there is enough interest we could run a training day. If you are interested email Merv at firstname.lastname@example.com and we will organise a day, maybe in July??
Some good tussles in Clubman with a good spread of scores.Only a few riders in Intermediate and A grade but tight competition to keep the pressure on for a good ride.Todays competition was for the "Bruce and Baiâ€Â cup which goes to the rider in any grade (MOMCC member) with the lowest score, congratulations to Andrew Pugh.
A Grade
Warrick George Gas Gas 28 MOMCC
Kevin Pinfold Ossa 47 MOMCC
Andy Anderson Beta 69 MOMCC
Phil Stephenson Gas Gas 71 MOMCC
Ricky Winkle Ossa 27 Ixion
Adrian Walcroft Beta 29 MOMCC
Dean Sorensen Gas Gas 38 MOMCC
Charlie Morrison Scorpa 46 MOMCC
Merv George Gas Gas 51 MOMCC
Nick Tucker Beta 66 MOMCC
Jamie Mead Beta DNF Ixion
Andrew Pugh Honda 25 MOMCC Winner Bruce &Bai Cup
Hannah Rushworth Gas Gas 143
Cross Country, MAXIMUM POWER MAY BE THE ANSWER
MAY 17, 2012: It is full throttle time as the popular Dirt Guide Cross-country Series jolts the Central North Island again this weekend.
It is the second round of three in the series, set for a venue called Pylons, near Atiamuri on Saturday, with a casual trail ride to follow at the same venue the next day.
The Pylons course is set out at Tirohanga Road, just one kilometre from State Highway 1 at Atiamuri.
The track at Pylons is the most open of the series and most of the course has had the bulldozer around it, clearing paths, said organiser Sean Clarke.
We had a big storm earlier in the year and about 300 trees came down across the track and the easiest way to get rid of them was just to bulldoze them out of the way, he explained.
We have had a fair bit of rain this week, but, as long as it is not raining on the day, the track will be perfect. The soil at Pylons is a lot more free draining than at (the previous round venue of) Tar Hill.
The series typically attracts many of the top national championship contenders, and Clarke expects leading national enduro rider Chris Power, of Auckland, will make the journey.
Power won round one and will be keen to consolidate his position at the top on Saturday.
Fellow Aucklander Mike Skinner pushed Power hard at round one and he will be looking to reverse the finish order this weekend.
Aucklands Sam Greenslade, Palmerston Norths Adam Reeves and Hamiltons Sam Brown also rate among the favourites to win on Saturday.
As well as a two-hour race for the countrys senior elite, two new classes have been added for this seasons fifth annual running of the Dirt Guide Cross Country Series, increasing the opportunity for involvement by and the development of the country's younger riders.
The new classes are for children aged between six and 10 years and they will use a separate track from the juniors, the two classes will be 6-10 years motocross and 6-10 years trail bikes.
These classes will race at the same time as the junior race and be 75 minutes duration, said Clarke.
This is the fifth time I have run the series and each time it is getting bigger and bigger, said Clarke, a former International Six Days Enduro medal winner and multi-time former national enduro champion.
He said there were classes to cater for all ages and abilities with the senior grade split in to two sections, for intermediate and expert riders. There are separate categories also for women and veteran riders.
The junior race starts at 9.30am and the two-hour senior race starts at 12.30pm.
The cross-country series is run parallel with but separate to the Dirt Guide Trail Ride Series, with that phase of the weekends action set for the same venue following day.
More than 120 senior riders lined up for the start of the Kiwi Rider-supported Dirt Guide series at round one and it looks like being a well-subscribed series once again this season.
CALENDAR (trail ride on day two in each case):
Round one, Tar Hill, Tokoroa, April 28-29.
Round two, The Pylons, Atiamuri, May 19-20.
Round three, Whakamaru, June 30-July 1.
For any other information, call Sean Clarke on 0275 996 045
Credit: Words and photo by Andy McGechan
MOMCC Mototrial details as follows. Event, Bruce & Bai Cup Mototrial Date, May 20th
Venue, Telford Farm, No 4 Line, off Awahou South Road, off Pohangina Vally East Road. Will be signposted from the usual intersection on the Ashhurst to
Pohangina Road. Allow approx 15 mins from Ashhurst.
Sign on - 10:00 am Start, 10:30 am Section design and build team, Andy Anderson & Tony Smith
Carl Robson from New Zealand Scottish Six Days Trial , h ere are the last updates from the last two days:
SSDT - Day 5 Friday. Day 5 was road race day as most of the riding between sections was on the roads. The weather threw a bit of everything at us with rain, sleet and a bit of sun. Carl enjoyed the day as it was a bit like home - a lot of rocks and creeks and I think his result for the day showed this. Some of the roads were very interesting to drive and a bit hairy at times.
SSDT - Day 6 Saturday. Well Carl finished the SSDT and not only did he finish but he got a second class award. He had an enjoyable day and the mileage was down on the previous 2 days. However, it was not easy by any means. The weather was also a bit better than the previous days. Carl moved up a couple of places. Out of 276 riders only 228 actually finished the week.
Carl ended up 162nd.
11th May, Carl Robson from New Zealand Scottish Six Days Trial, Day 4. Late start today, 11.51 am but this meant that Carl only finished at 8.39pm. Longest day today with Carl riding 126 miles and it rained and in places snowed all day. It was absolutely freezing and Carl has only just thawed out. Carl had some awesome rides and was quite pleased with some of the sections but he has commented that some of it comes down to whether the luck of the observers is on his side or not. He has also said that he has never ridden a trials bike as fast on either a road and across land as he did today.
10th May, Carl is riding a 2012 Beta 250. Apart from his first Trials bike, every Trials bike has been a Beta. John from Beta NZ helped with arranging the bike he is riding over there. Im not exactly sure on the arrangement, though I think its something like hiring it, though if he damages it badly he's brought himself a new bike. He dropped a few more places and is now 185th overall.
Here is a brief run down on day 3 from Carl's wife:
SSDT - Day 3. Today was Carl's earliest start day for the week. However, there was an impromptu delay checkpoint thrown in first thing as noone put out the route markers on the road to the first group of sections which meant noone knew where to go. This caused a bit of chaos. Heaps of moors to ride across today. Carl is still finding it hard to read which lines to take across the moors and put the bike half into a bog again. Tough day where pretty much everyone ran out of time and had to put their bike straight in. Heaps of waterfalls today. First time this week that Carl has been forced to take a 5 on some big sections. Rain held off again but still cool. Tomorrow he has a later start at about lunchtime. However, he is currently nursing some bruised and battered toes and will be looking forward to a sleep in tomorrow.
Here is an update message and photo from Carl Robson about Day 2 of Scottish 6 Days Trial
SSDT - Day 2. The rain held off today. Unfortunately a fatality on the road (not related to the event) caused massive traffic jams and meant that they had to shorten the day by 4 sections in order to get officials to the right places on time. Had a better day and enjoyed it more, even though it was about 92 miles. Sections were generally big rock slabs/cascading waterfalls.
Carl was 181st overall after Day 2, which in an event like this is good going. Look at the terrain, it is mean!
Carl Robson competing in Scottish 6 Days Trial, May 2012
So here is an early report of his progress. Carl is over there with his wife, daugther and our parents. Dad sent an email update Sunday night UK time:
Carls due to start the six day of competition tomorrow Scotland time at 9.30 am. He got the bike yesterday and went for a short ride to check local conditions and the bike was running as expected. There's 276 riders and lots of last minute action for all. It's due to rain for the next few days after promising some rain and snow for the last few days. It's been cool breezey mornings and generally fine days. Just have to see what eventuates.
We see Carl in a couple of early sections at the start of the day and then the last two sections at the end of the day. It's interesting seeing the trial riders riding the bikes on the road and will have to cover 45 mile tomorrow half of which is on the road. The following day is much more road riding on the 92 mile loop in and out of Fort William. Apparently these days the tyres stand up to it and you don't have to put the tyre pressure up and down between road and off road sections - just leave them at trial pressures all day!! the tires will looses there pressure from road riding when they cool down waiting to the section test.
Been looking at a few of the section locations and saw a classic trial for part of yesterday at one of the sections. There sure are lots of old trial bikes still functioning and old boys riding them with a varied level of skill.
There was another person I have seen at Trials here in New Zealand, riding pre 65 trail, Steve Armistead.
Carl finished day 1 in 177th with 56 marks, here is a link to day 1 results : http://www.ssdt.org/downloads/2012/2012%20Monday%20Results.pdf
After day 1 and getting used to how everything works I'm sure he will relax and find a groove, he had 45mins to spare at the end of day 1. From Carls wife: "SSDT - day 1 over. Started off cold but fine but the rain rolled in about midday. Carl thinks he rode a bit average but finished the day with 45 minutes left for maintenance on the bike. Learnt a lesson not to take too much as he got a bit hot. Waiting on the days results to come in. Off now to repack the bag for tomorrow and to study the route.
Thursday is the long day, 126 miles. This is the day he has his late start of 12pm. The trail is all based out of Fort William now. Simon via Peter Robson
Cross Country CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDER THIS WEEKEND
MAY 8, 2012: It has been a long time between drinks for Adrian Smith on the national cross-country scene but he intends ending the drought with a cork-popping performance this weekend.
The fourth and final round of this seasons Suzuki New Zealand Cross-country Championships is set for farmland at Cheviot, north of Christchurch, on Saturday and there is still everything to ride for.
Palmerston Norths defending national champion Adam Reeves won the first of four rounds in the Suzuki-sponsored series near Pahiatua in February and Mokaus Smith won the day at round two near Huntly last month.
Former champion Smith also reigned supreme at round three near Blenheim just over a fortnight ago and this puts him firmly in control of the series with riders to discard their worst result of the four rounds.
So, with only three of the four rounds counting towards the championship, all the leading contenders will be hoping to pocket a top result in Saturdays three-hour senior race.
As it stands, Smith will discard his sixth placing from round one, while Reeves will no doubt forget about his DNF from round three, Raglans Brandon Given will drop his non score from round two and Whakatanes Lance ODea will put aside his 18th placing from round three.
Riders such as Woodvilles Ben Exeter, New Plymouths Renny Johnston, Hamiltons Sam Brown and Onewheros Jim Orton could also cause an upset or two.
The racing is even tighter in the junior ranks where three riders are all level on points at the top after their worst results are omitted from the analysis.
Maruias Ethan Bruce, Raglans Mathew Quirke and Pahiatuas Scott Sowry have each scored a first and a second placing thus far and it will come down to Saturdays final 90-minute junior race to finally separate the trio.
Eketahunas Daniel Christie, Otorohangas Liam Hobbs, Gores Ben Turnbull and Mokaus Aaron Jones could also feature in the battle for podium honours on Saturday.
Credit: Words Andy McGechan,
MAY 6, 2012: There have now been four different winners in as many rounds of the New Zealand Enduro Championships as the series wrapped up the penultimate round in the King Country on Saturday.
Wellingtons Rory Mead won the day at round one near Kawhia in February, while Whangamatas Jason Davis won round two in Northland in March and Aucklands Karl Power returned from injury to win round three near Whangamata three weeks ago.
But it was Mokaus Adrian Smith who stepped up to take the win at the fourth round of five at Waimiha, near Bennydale, on Saturday, thrusting himself into prime position to continue on and seal the outright win when the championship eventually wraps up near Taupo on July 21.
Runner-up on Saturday was Davis, with Aucklands Mike Skinner, Palmerston Norths Adam Reeves and Aucklands Callan May rounding out the top five.