CLASH OF THE CODES | Bikesportnz

A real ‘Clash of the Codes’ is gearing up for the Taupo Motorsport Park on July 22.

The Road Guide Motard Endurance Races – proudly brought to you by AXO, Michelin, Renthal, Troy Lee Design, Kiwi Rider magazine and Ricoh Taupo Motorsport Park – will no doubt again feature some close racing between the ‘tar babies’ and the ‘dust bunnies’.

Motocross star Daryl Hurley raced this event last year, as did enduro experts Damon and Mitchell Nield.

Track:

This will be approximately a 60% tar seal, 40% dirt circuit. The tar seal section is the 2.2kms part of the Taupo circuit. The start will be on tar seal, on the main grid on the start finish straight.

After the first lap, the track will exit the circuit via the pit lane, cross the car park area behind the pit complex to the dirt section, which will include jumps and berms, plus a flat track section.

Where the dirt section rejoins the car park tar seal, the track will then pass back into pit lane and on to turn 1 of the circuit. We envisage that a complete lap will be about 3.5kms. The finish line will be on the dirt section over the timing loop.

The two races: One hour ironman (one rider, one bike) and the two-hour teams’ race (two riders, two bikes from the same class).

License: Not required

Age Limit: All riders must be at least 16 years old on the day of the event.

Classes:

S1, motard bikes 0-450cc 4 strokes and 0-250cc 2 strokes; S2, motard bikes over 451cc 4 strokes and 251 cc and over 2 strokes; Stock 1, Standard MX/Trail/Enduro bikes 0-450cc 4 Strokes,0- 250 cc 2 strokes on standard rims; Stock 2, Standard/MX/Trail/Enduro bikes over 451 cc 4 strokes, 251cc and over 2 strokes on …

Tyres: S1 and S2 may use slicks, wets, or road tyres; Stock 1 and Stock 2 must use standard road legal tyres, which may be of road design, dual purpose design, but NOT road legal knobblies. “Knackered knobblies” will not be permitted.

Safety Gear: Helmets can be either road or MX, leathers may be one or two-piece, gloves will be made of leather, boots may be dirt or road design. Back protector MUST be worn.

These safety gear rules apply to all classes. NO MX GEAR will be permitted, with the exception of boots and helmets.

Timetable:

7.30-8.30am, Sign on.

8.30am, Riders briefing

9.10-9.30am, Practise One, Ironmen

9.40-10am, Practise Two, Teams, Rider A

10.10-10.30am, Practise Three Teams, Rider B

10.40-10.55 am, Ironmen qualifying

11.05-11.20 am, Teams Rider A qualifying

11.30-11.45 am, Teams Rider B qualifying

12.30-1.30 pm, Ironman 1 Hour Race

2-4 pm, Teams 2 Hour Race

4.30 pm, Winners announced

4.45 pm, everyone helps clear up

Registration: Ironman $120 ($150 on the day if numbers permit); Teams $240 ($290 on the day if numbers permit).

These prices include transponder hire and the use of a pit garage. All bikes will work out of a pit garage, not vans, trailers or ezi-ups.

Rules:

Riders in the teams category will be issued with one wrist band per team. This will be swapped between riders in the pit to the rider going out onto the track and checked by a marshal. Riding with no band will mean a black flag and a repit to get your wrist band

The minimum laps completed for a rider in the teams category is 40% of their team’s total. If one of the team does not attain this 40%, then the team will not be included in any results.

Pits:

At the entry to the pits will be a stop box. All riders will come to a complete stop with at least one foot on the ground in the box (two are permitted, three will be deemed a bit odd). From there all bikes are restricted to FIRST GEAR ONLY, until a marked point before rejoining the circuit. Failure to stop in the stop box, or using any other gear than first will result in a two-minute penalty.

All refuelling is to be with a stopped engine. No smoking in any area of the Pits.

Racing:

Jumping the start … two-minute penalty

Short cutting on the tar seal, or riding outside tape or marker pegs on the dirt section … two-minute penalty

In the event of a crash, only the rider is permitted to get the bike running again. Pit crews are not allowed on the circuit to help get the bike going. Breach of this rule will result in rider/team disqualification

If a bike is beyond restarting, the rider and marshals may push it to a safe position. If the rider is on the infield of the circuit, they will be able to return to the pits without crossing the track. However if the rider ends up on the OUTSIDE of the circuit, you will have to remain outside the circuit for the duration of the race/qualifying session as the pits are surrounded by the track. THIS IS NON-NEGOTIABLE, break this rule in practice/qualifying and you will not be racing. During the race, you will be disqualified.

Flags:

Single yellow; minor hazard, be aware

Full course yellow; slow down, no overtaking allowed. If you overtake you will be slapped with a two-minute penalty.

Full course red; slow down, no overtaking and return to the pits to await instructions.

When slowing for a flag, sit up and raise your left hand for the benefit of riders behind you.

Black flag; when waved and pointed at you just before the pit alley entrance, return to your pit for a full and frank discussion with the head marshal.

Further Points:

All vehicles will be parked on the gravel area by the track office before riders briefing, please allow time to unload in the pits and then clear your vehicles.

Things such as pit entrance and exit will be discussed at riders briefing.

You will be required to bring your helmet, boots and back protector to sign on

In all issues, the head marshals ruling will be binding, we don’t do appeals!

Spectators:

The organisers hope that you bring partners/spouses/kids/mechanics etc. One major problem they had last year was people thinking it was OK to nip across the track for whatever reason during practice/qualifying/racing. This will not be repeated this year.

There is great viewing of the whole track from the flat roof on top of the pit buildings or from behind the taped off areas near the dirt section. These will all be pointed out at riders briefing. Any person caught crossing the track when bikes are out will be traced to a rider, and they will be disqualified and ejected from the meeting. It will be put on the riders to explain this and the consequences to any people attending with them.

The organisers are not sorry if this sounds harsh. If you cannot get your head around this rule, then please do not bother attending. This is a major safety concern.

Other info: Specific safety issues with regards to pitting, racing and spectators will be discussed at the riders briefing. .

No dogs are permitted at the track, bringing a dog will result in a rider being expelled from the event.

Any further info, Steve Croad 021 485 655, Rob Edwards 0274 303 068

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