TROPHIES GALORE AT TAIKOREA
Bush Riders Motorcycle Club member Blair Davidson was on a mission to get a “trophies galore” motocross happening somewhere locally around the Manawatu.
So when former Kiwi international Paul Whibley suggested he organise it at his Taikorea Motorsport Park at Himatangi, the rest was history.
The fans turned out a beautiful sunny spring day for the Gary Worsley Motorcycles and Spectro-sponsored event last weekend and, with Tim Gibbes AMB Timing, riders were assured of an accurately-scored day and, to add to the excitement, there was a dash for cash at the end of class racing to spice it all up.
There was plenty to see with classes for minis, juniors, veterans, women, MX1 and MX2 operating over the day on two tracks.
The class to watch seemed to be the MX1 and MX2 combined with the lead swapping from race to race but Masterton’s Camden Butler (BikesportNZ.com Yamaha YZ250F) taking three wins from three starts for the day in MX2, but Kieran Bryant (Honda CRF450) (main photo above), also from Masterton, taking a win with three from three in MX1.
Junior 85 8-11yrs was won by Eketahuna’s Wade Bengston (Kawasaki KX85), again with 3 from 3, with Paraparaumu’s Brock Sullivan (KTM SX85) wrapping up the 12-16yrs unders with a second and two wins.
In the juniors’ premier class, Ekatahuna’s Chris Dickson powered his Suzuki RMZ250 to three wins and tried his luck in the dash for cash as well. Upper Hutt’s Glen Woods (TM450) took the vets silverware, while Michelle Ledbury (Yamaha YZ250F) won the women’s grade.
The dash for cash format was for the five top riders from MX1 and MX2 and the top two vets. The names were drawn out of a hat and two riders went head-to-head over one lap.
As seems to happen in motocross, the best riders rise to the occasion and the crowd were entertained by some flat out all-or-nothing racing.
After eliminations, it was local rider William Ogle (Yamaha YZ250F), from Shannon, versus MX2 class winner Butler.
Ogle took the holshot and lead most of the lap but dropped it with three corners remaining to let Butler by, who was right on his tail, and he took the chequered flag to win the cash to the cheers of the crowd watching a great way to finish the day.
© Words by Murray Searle
© Photos by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com
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