A squad of top New Zealand riders are heading across the Tasman this weekend to tackle the Australian Moto Trials Championships.

The two-day event, August 29 and 30, will be held at Pacific Park, 60 minutes outside of Sydney on the Hawkesbury River near Windsor.

Wellington’s Jake Whitaker (Montesea) (pictured above), who finished runner-up last year in the open class and is on hot form, is favoured to win it this year.

Levin’s seven-time former New Zealand champion Warren Laugesen (Beta) is also going over “to have one last go in the open class”. He is a previous two-time winner in Australia.

“I don’t think I will be in the top few but hoping for a top five or six would be very good as I am getting a bit old for this level now,” said Laugesen.

Hamilton’s Steve Armistead (Sherco) is also making the trip to compete in the veterans’ class and has been a regular competitor over there in recent years.

Words and photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com