It is a long way to go but the Bel Ray Suzuki Off-road team made the journey and were thankful that they had, doing enough to clinch the over-300cc four-stroke class at this year’s New Zealand Cross-country Championships.

The third round of four in the KTM-sponsored New Zealand Cross-country Championships was held near a rain-lashed Cheviot on Sunday, with Te Awamutu’s Mark Penny finishing the day fourth overall – behind repeat outright champion Adrian Smith (Yamaha YZ250), of Mokau, Morrinsville’s Simon Lansdaal (Husqvarna TCX250) and Maruia’s Ethan Bruce (Yamaha YZ250) – and this was enough for Penny to take the national title in his over-300cc four-stroke class with a round to spare.

He takes up the story …

“We flew into Christchurch and picked up my bike which we had sent to Avon City Suzuki. They loaned us a ute for the weekend and we were off to our accommodation in Amberley. It rained all day Saturday and Sunday, so the track was very wet and boggy.

“I got a good start on my Suzuki RM-X450 and left the first paddock in fourth place.

“The lead changed many times over the first few laps with Adrian Smith, Ethan Bruce, Simon Lansdaal and myself all leading at one time or another. A few big mistakes in some bogs lost me a lot of time and I lost sight of the leaders on lap two,” said the multi-time Suzuki Six-Hour marathon winner.

“After that it was survival mode as the track had become very difficult and with mud all over my hands and grips just holding on was a struggle.

“On the fourth lap, I made two more major mistakes and dropped another position. I stopped for fuel at the start of the last lap and got some fresh goggles and gloves, this made things so much easier and I was able to catch back up and pass for fourth place overall and 1st in the over 300cc 4 stroke class.

“This result gave me enough points to win the over 300cc 4 stroke class National title with a race to spare.

“I want to say thanks to all my sponsors for your help in achieving this goal.”

The fourth and final round of the series is set for Central Hawke’s Bay on May 18.

© Photo by Andy McGechan, www.BikesportNZ.com