NZ AMONG THE TOP 10 | Bikesportnz

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) (pictured here) – 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.

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